CONWAY, Ark. - Western Illinois softball scored a total of 21 runs to start the Central Arkansas Invite 2-0 and move to 8-3 overall in 2014. The Fighting Leathernecks defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6-4 and Alabama State 15-3 on Saturday (Feb. 22).

GAME ONE: WESTERN ILLINOIS 6, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 4

After a scoreless first, Western Illinois jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second when Monica Rondón crushed a solo home run to right field. Western increased its advantage in the third when Sammy Marshall singled, stole a pair of bases and scored on a throwing error.

But Arkansas-Pine Bluff responded in the bottom half of the third, tying the game on a bases loaded single to right off starting pitcher Kayla Kirkpatrick, plating two runs and tying the game.

Western bounced back however, scoring twice in the top half of the fourth when Lia Romeo drove in Alexis Ensminger who was running for Megg Kelly. After an error from the second baseman, Karissa Kouchis singled home Romeo to give Western a 4-2 lead.

The Leathernecks grabbed runs in the fifth and sixth thanks to a Romeo double and a Kouchis triple.

Western took a 6-2 advantage into the seventh but two batters later, would find the lead cut in half after a two-run home run. Kirkpatrick would force the Lady Lions to strand a pair of runners to record her third complete game of the year and move to 3-1.

"I was starting to have flashbacks to last week but I could see they were starting to take charge and they weren't going to let the lead slip away again," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "It was great to see them learn from previous games and continue to win ballgames."

Romeo and Kouchis each picked up two RBI in the game.

"We picked it up and we came through when we needed to," Van Vlymen said. "We did the things we needed to do but it wasn't one of our prettiest games. We just need to make sure when we come out we're ready to play."

GAME TWO: WESTERN ILLINOIS 15, ALABAMA STATE 3:

The Leathernecks fell behind early, after Alabama State put the first two batters on base, a two out single gave the Lady Hornets a 1-0 lead. The lead would not last though because in the bottom half of the first, Western Illinois sent nine batters to the plate and scored five times.

The inning started off with an infield from Sammy Marshall who stole second and went to third on a Briana Williams single. With runners at first and third, Marshall stole home to tie the game. Teagan Walsh reached on an error which allowed Williams to score. After walks to Megg Kelly and Monica Rondón, Tierney Bottino cleared the bases with a double to make it 5-2 Western.

"I've said it all year; I don't want to rely on two or three people to score all of our runs and today proved any part of the order can produce. We made some changes and the coaches and I never question about putting anyone in the lineup. We have a deep bench and a really solid team," Van Vlymen said.

The Lady Hornets cut into the lead in the following inning with a two-run home run and Western would take that lead into the third where the Leathernecks once again sent all nine batters to the plate.

With two outs, starting pitcher Kacyee Hart helped out her own cause, driving in Rondón who kept the inning alive with a walk. After Kouchis walked to load the bases, Bottino scored on a Marshall infield single. Williams then broke the game open with a two-RBI single and Marshall scored on a throwing error, bringing the lead to 10-3.

Hart responded in the bottom half of the third, striking out the side. It was all part of a career day for Hart as the sophomore recorded her first career hit, RBI and struck out a career-high six batters on the day.

"I'm so proud of her, after last year we looked at some things and she worked hard all summer. She worked on her pitch selection and she's throwing harder. Mentally, she doesn't worry as much," Van Vlymen said of her sophomore pitcher.

Western scored five more times in the fourth. Kelly led off the inning with a walk and Ensminger came in to run for the senior. Lia Romeo then hit a double to the fence to put runners at second and third. After Bottino walked, Hart and Kouchis each singled to score a pair of runs followed by a Marshall RBI ground out. With two on and two out in the inning, Williams drove in two more on a single to right to bring the Western lead to 15-3.

Hart then forced three ground outs in the bottom of the fifth to wrap up her second complete game and her third win of 2014.

Williams' four RBI is a new career high and with a pair of walks, Kelly moved into a tie for second place with Natalie Salerno (78) for most walks in program history.

Western Illinois continues play in the Central Arkansas Invitational Sunday, Feb, 23 with games at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. against Drexel and Central Arkansas respectively.