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Western Illinois University Athletics

Bottino 2015 vs. Bona
Pete Kouchis
3
Winner Western Illinois WIU 7-7
2
Columbia COL 2-5
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
7-7
3
Final
2
Columbia COL
2-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 9 1
Columbia COL 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 6 1

W: Stulga, Brooke (2-1) L: Tonia Wu (2-2)

0
St. Bonaventure SBU 3-9
2
Winner Western Illinois WIU 8-7
St. Bonaventure SBU
3-9
0
Final
2
Western Illinois WIU
8-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
St. Bonaventure SBU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 1 1 0 0 X 2 6 1

W: Hart, Kacyee (4-2) L: HICKLING, K (0-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Take Two on Final Day of Rainbow Wahine Classic

Western Illinois defeated Columbia 3-2 before taking down St. Bonaventure 2-0.

HONOLULU, Hi. – Brooke Stulga and Kacyee Hart provided the framework for a pair of Leatherneck victories as Western wrapped up play at the 2015 Rainbow Wahine Classic on Saturday (March 14). Western Illinois defeated Columbia 3-2 and St. Bonaventure 2-0 to move to 8-7 overall.

"These games were awesome heading into the North Dakota State series because these were tough teams we played against this week," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "This proved to us that we don't need large leads to win. We're able to get it done with our pitching and our defense and that's really nice to see heading into this weekend. I'm really proud of our girls and the way they finished the week off after a frustrating day yesterday."

GAME ONE: Western Illinois 3, Columbia 2 -
The Leathernecks put five runners on in the first three innings but were unable to score first as the game entered the bottom of the third inning. Columbia then used a squeeze and another base hit to go in front 2-0 heading into the fourth inning of play.

Holly Hoelting doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning for Western, followed by a Nina Maggio single to center. After a foul out and a fly out, Sammy Marshall reached on an infield single to load the bases for Teagan Walsh. The senior didn't hesitate, sending the first pitch to the wall in left, clearing the bases and putting Western in front 3-2.

Freshman Brooke Stulga forced two ground outs and a fly out to get out of the fourth, and worked around a leadoff walk in the fifth by striking out her third batter of the day. Stulga would later retire the Lions in order in the fifth, including her fourth strikeout of the game, setting a new single-game high.

The Leathernecks threatened in the sixth, but left the bases loaded. Stulga didn't need any more insurance, allowing only one hit and one walk through the final four innings of work, retiring the final six batters of the game. Stulga moved to 2-1 in 2015, allowing two runs on 6 hits, walking one and striking out four. Walsh and Hoelting both finished with a single and a double offensively for the Leathernecks.

GAME TWO: Western Illinois 2, St. Bonaventure 0 –

The Bonnies put runners at second and third in the first inning, only for Kacyee Hart to send the next three batters down on strikes. Hart continued her strong start, striking out two in the second inning and retiring nine of ten batters following the second and third situation.

Western broke through in the third with a Teagan Walsh RBI single to right, scoring Karissa Kouchis who led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. The Leathernecks tacked on another in the fourth on a Tierney Bottino solo home run to left.

Leading 2-0, St. Bonaventure would again put runners at second and third with nobody out, this time in the sixth inning. Once again, Hart struck out a Bonnie, before forcing a foul out to Nina Maggio, who made the catch against the Leatherneck dugout before firing to third to double off the runner and end the inning.

Hart recorded her seventh strikeout of the game in the seventh before forcing two groundouts to secure the 2-0 win for the Leathernecks.  

Bottino added a single in addition to her home run in the win for Western. Holly Hoelting drew two walks and singled. Hart went recorded her second shutout of the year, striking out seven and scattering six hits.

"I'm really proud of Brooke and Kacyee," Van Vlymen said. "They worked ahead and made pitches work, which is all they can control. They really did a nice job. Our defense did a nice job today behind the pitchers as well."

The Leathernecks will return to Macomb and begin conference play against defending regular season and tournament champions, North Dakota State. The three-game series begins on Saturday (March 21) at 11 a.m. at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium. 
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