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Western Illinois University Athletics

Lia Romeo
5
Winner North Dakota State NDSU 23-5
3
Western Illinois WIU 8-10
Winner
North Dakota State NDSU
23-5
5
Final
3
Western Illinois WIU
8-10
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
North Dakota State NDSU 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 5 8 2
Western Illinois WIU 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 5 4

W: Krista Menke (16-2) L: Hart, Kacyee (4-4)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Drop Heartbreaking Finale to Bison

The Fighting Leathernecks were defeated 5-3 by North Dakota State on Sunday (March 22).

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois softball dropped a tough 5-3 decision to North Dakota State on Sunday (March 22). Western Illinois moves to 8-10 overall and 0-3 in Summit League play.

"North Dakota State is a great team and probably the best team we'll face in The Summit League," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "Knowing we are within one strike of them is huge. We have to clean up our defense a little bit more, make sure our pitching is a little bit tighter, and come through with runners in scoring position. We have a lot to learn from this series."

A leadoff double and an early defensive miscue put runners at the corners to lead off the game for North Dakota State against Kacyee Hart. The junior responded, forcing a pop out for the first out of the inning. Then, of a fly out to right, Karissa Kouchis threw out the lead Bison runner trying to score, keeping the game scoreless heading into the bottom of the first.

Western took the lead for the first time in the series on a two-out rally. After Tierney Bottino was hit by a pitch, Lia Romeo crushed a double to left. North Dakota State would put runners at first and second in the second inning, but Hart recorded her first strikeout of the afternoon to end the inning. 

The Bison left the bases loaded in the third before scoring twice in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Western regained the lead in the fifth however, taking advantage of two Bison errors with the bases loaded. With the lead again, Hart retired NDSU in order in the 6th, allowing Western to try to tack on some insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning. 

Sammy Marshall reached on an infield single with one out before Teagan Walsh was hit by a pitch. After a Bottino fly out moved Marshall to third, Romeo nearly gave Western another run, but a running catch in right-center field denied the senior of another RBI and potentially extra bases. 

Hart began the seventh with her fourth strikeout before allowing a single and a walk. Hart added another strikeout before the Bison struck on a three-run home run to left. Hart ended the inning two batters later on a ground out to third.

The Leathernecks brought the tying run to the plate with two outs, but could not continue the late rally, falling 5-3.  

Western Illinois was scheduled to play Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday, however due to expected weather conditions and travelling concerns for the RedHawks, the game has been moved to Monday (March 23). The two teams meet for the second and third time this year, with Miami taking the previous contest 7-0 to open the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic in Bay Lake, Florida. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium. 
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