Season Ends With Loss to Bison

Box Score FARGO, N.D. – The 2014 season came to an end on Saturday (May 10) for Western Illinois softball with a 9-1 defeat in six innings to North Dakota State. The Leathernecks end the year 19-28-1.

Sammy Marshall led the game off with a single to center but was left at second base in the top of the first inning.

North Dakota State also had a runner on, but the Leatherneck defense turned two to end the inning.

Megg Kelly then led off the second with a walk but Alexis Ensminger would be left at first as the second inning came to a close.

The Bison took the lead on a two-run home run in the second inning.

The Leathernecks cut into the lead in the third after Briana Williams drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a Nina Maggio sacrifice.

NDSU scored twice in the fourth to increase the deficit to 4-1.

Williams nearly sparked a two-out rally by hitting the first of back-to-back singles as Marshall followed with a single of her own. But with runners at second and third, Western could not capitalize on the situation.

The Bison scored in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 5-1 lead into the 6th. The game would end after two Leatherneck errors, the first of the tournament, would allow four runs to score.

Kayla Kirkpatrick suffered the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. Hailey Bickford came on in relief, allowing four runs, only one earned in 1.2 innings. Teagan Walsh worked the final third of an inning, allowing one unearned run.

Marshall was two-for-two from the plate and Williams was one-for-one with a walk and a run scored.

Marshall's .478 average and 77 hits are new single-season records. Walsh's 16 doubles ties her for seventh in a single-season while her 38 runs batted in is also tied for 10th.

Williams moved into second place all-time with 75 stolen bases. Marshall now holds a Summit League record 108 stolen bases. Megg Kelly finishes her career in the top-10 in walks (84), RBIs (91) and home runs (18).

As a team, the Leathernecks .298 average is the fifth best in program history.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Hailey Bickford: P/UT; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

#10 Sammy Marshall: SS; 5' 7"; Junior; L/R

#11 Megg Kelly: IF; 5' 2"; Senior; R/R

#20 Briana Williams: UT; 5' 3"; Senior; L/R

#6 Teagan Walsh: P/UT; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

#24 Kayla Kirkpatrick: P; 5' 8"; Junior; R/R

#23 Alexis Ensminger: UT; 5' 8"; Freshman; L/R

#18 Nina Maggio: IF; 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#5 Hailey Bickford
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: P/UT

#10 Sammy Marshall
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/R
: SS

#11 Megg Kelly
: 5' 2"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#20 Briana Williams
: 5' 3"; Senior; L/R
: UT

#6 Teagan Walsh
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: P/UT

#24 Kayla Kirkpatrick
: 5' 8"; Junior; R/R
: P

#23 Alexis Ensminger
: 5' 8"; Freshman; L/R
: UT

#18 Nina Maggio
: 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R
: IF