MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois softball dropped both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday (April 5) to Fort Wayne. The Leathernecks (17-14-1, 3-5) lost a pitcher's duel in Game One 2-0, before falling 10-2 in six innings in Game Two.

GAME ONE:  WESTERN ILLINOIS 0, FORT WAYNE 2:

Hailey Bickford allowed only four hits in a complete game loss on Saturday (April 5) as Western dropped a 2-0 decision, in which both teams combined for only seven hits.

“I was very happy with the team in the first game,” said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. “We just need to come through with more timely hits. I think we were putting pressure and getting on base. Hailey was getting ahead in the count and her pitches were working well and the defense was playing well behind her.”

After both teams went scoreless into the third, Fort Wayne picked up a pair of runs on back-to-back singles to take a 2-0 lead.

The Leatherneck offense threatened in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with two out in the inning but they could not find a crucial hit to cut into the lead.

Bickford responded, allowing only one hit in the remaining four inning, giving Western a chance.

The Leathernecks had a chance in the fifth, putting runners at second and third, but the clutch hit eluded the Leathernecks.

Bickford struck out three batters, allowing two runs on four hits in the loss.

GAME TWO:  WESTERN ILLINOIS 2, FORT WAYNE 10 (6 INNINGS):

After falling behind in the second on an unearned run, Western Illinois took a 2-1 advantage in the third thanks to a Lia Romeo double and a Karissa Kouchis single scoring Sammy Marshall and Romeo respectively.

IPFW came back with a four-run fourth, including a three-run home run to retake the lead. The Mastodons threatened again in the fifth loading the bases with nobody out but Teagan Walsh allowed only one run to score in the inning.

Trailing 6-2, Fort Wayne scored four more times in the sixth before shutting down the Leatherneck offense in the bottom half of the inning and completing the sweep.

“In the first game we didn't have the hits but in the second game it was the opposite of the first game,” Van Vlymen said. “We had more hits in the second game but we just got more frustrated as the game went on. And that's something I talked about afterwards. We can't play like that and we don't play like that.”

Kacyee Hart got the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits in four innings of work. Walsh worked 1.1 innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits. Kayla Kirkpatrick recorded the final two outs in the top of the sixth on four pitches.

“If we can put the two games together we'll be in a good position. IPFW is a great team and this is a good challenge for us but we need to rise to the occasion,” Van Vlymen said.

Western Illinois looks to take the finale of the three-game series on Sunday (April 6) at 12 p.m. at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium.