MACOMB, Ill. - Northern Iowa's Jaye Hutcheson hushed a potent Western Illinois offense in game one of the home double header on Tuesday (April 3). She held the Leathernecks to just five hits in her five innings of work en route to a Panther 8-0 run-rule victory.

Western Illinois stranded a total of seven runners, four in scoring position during the game.

After trading zeros in the first two innings, the Panthers ended the scoring drought in the third plating two runs on a double to right center. They piled on four more in the top of the fourth and an addition two in the fifth giving them the 8-0 advantage.

The Leathernecks threatened in the bottom of the third when designated hitter Hailey Bickford drew a two-out walk. Emma Jarrell followed with a single to left center that put runners aboard at second and third, but a ground out kept Western Illinois off the board.

In the fifth, Sammy Marshall started the inning off with a single and wheeled all the way to third on a KC Dunne sacrifice bunt. A pop out and groundout halted the scoring effort.

Kelsey Michelini was tabbed with the loss allowing six hits and five runs in her 3.1 innings of work bringing her overall record to 11-5. Bickford allowed the final three runs in her 1.2 innings of work in relief.

Marshall was a perfect three-for-three at the plate and was the only Leatherneck with a multiple hit performance. Jarrell was also perfect at the plate going one-for-one with a sacrifice bunt, while Jamie Goss was one-for-two with a walk stretching her reached base streak to 18.

Game two of the doubleheader was cancelled due to inclement weather and impending darkness.

Western Illinois returns to Summit League action against North Dakota State (24-12, 8-1) in Fargo, N.D. Friday's (April 6) doubleheader is slated to begin at 2 p.m. and Saturday's (April 7) single game is set for noon.

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