ATHENS, Ga. - Western Illinois softball dropped the first two games of the Ninth Annual Georgia Classic Friday (Feb. 17). The Fighting Leathernecks (2-4) fell to Winthrop, 5-2, in the morning and dropped an afternoon matchup with Connecticut, 4-2.

The Fighting Leathernecks conclude the Ninth Annual Georgia Classic with two games Saturday morning (Feb. 18). Western Illinois takes on Buffalo at 8 a.m. before playing the hosts Georgia at 10 a.m. at Jack Turner Stadium.

Winthrop 5, Western Illinois 2
February 17 - 8 a.m.

Winthrop (3-2) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead when Kathryn Eberlin doubled driving in McKenzie Corn and Melania Andrea collected an RBI single. The Eagles collected some insurance in the second when Megan Champan drove in Kristin Noble.

Sophomore Hailey Bickford (0-3) took over from there allowing just three hits over the final four innings. Despite the effort, Bickford was tagged with the loss as she gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits while striking out three.

Western Illinois collected its first official hit in the fifth when Ashley Campbell singled to right. Trailing 5-0, the Leathernecks rallied late and sent eight batters to the box in the bottom of the seventh.

Emma Jarrell led the inning off a walk and scored on Campbell's double. Briana Williams walked and was followed by a Sammy Marshall single. With the bases loaded, KC Dunne scored Campbell with an infield single. Williams has reached based in five straight games while Dunne has driven in a team-high three runs this season.

Winthrop's Natalie Becker (1-1) got both Jamie Goss and Megan Kelly to pop out, ending the threat and the game. Becker went all seven innings and gave up two runs on six hits while striking out seven.

Connecticut 4, Western Illinois 2
February 17 - Noon

Sammy Marshall led the game off by reaching on an error. After stealing second and attempting to swipe third, she scored on a two-base error by catcher Andrea Heulsenbeck.

Connecticut responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Kim Silva tripled to lead off the inning and Jennifer Ward drove her home. Emily O'Donnell brought home Ward with a single. Amy Vaughn recorded the final RBI of the inning on a single, scoring O'Donnell.

Junior Kelsey Michelini (2-1) kept Western Illinois in the game by not allowing another run until the fifth. She gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out three.

Michelini received some help from her defense in the third when KC Dunne made a spectacular catch in center field. The grab robbed Brittany Duclos of extras bases and an RBI.

Western Illinois attempted a comeback in the seventh inning as Marshall reached on an infield single, stole second and was driven in by an Emma Jarrell single. With the bases loaded and two outs, Lia Romero grounded out to second base, ending the game.

Kiki Saveriano (1-1) collected the win for the Huskies. She finished with four strikeouts while giving up two runs (one earned) in a complete game effort.

Teagan Walsh drew three walks while Megan Kelly collected two hits and a walk. Through six games, Kelly is hitting .333 (7-for-21) with two doubles and two RBI.

Marshall ignited the top of the order with two hits, two runs scored and three stolen bases. On the season, she is hitting .391 (9-for-23) and has scored a team-high seven runs. Marshall, who has recorded a hit and reached based in each game, is a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts.