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Western Illinois University Athletics

Bottino 2015
WIU Visual Productions Center
20
Winner Western Illinois WIU 10-12, 1-4 Summit
3
IPFW IPFW 1-25, 1-4 Summit
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
10-12, 1-4 Summit
20
Final
3
IPFW IPFW
1-25, 1-4 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 3 7 9 0 1 20 14 0
IPFW IPFW 0 0 0 3 0 3 6 3

W: Kirkpatrick, Kayla (3-6) L: S.Lazarowich (0-10)

8
Winner Western Illinois WIU 11-12, 2-5 Summit
0
IPFW IPFW 1-26, 1-5 Summit
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
11-12, 2-5 Summit
8
Final
0
IPFW IPFW
1-26, 1-5 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 7 1 0 8 7 0
IPFW IPFW 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1

W: Hart, Kacyee (5-5) L: K. Biere (1-13)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Record Day Helps Western to Two Wins Over Mastodons

Western Illinois scored a total of 28 runs, including a record-tying 20 runs in the wins.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Career days for Holly Hoelting, Tierney Bottino, and Nina Maggio paved the way for a pair of Western wins over Fort Wayne on Monday (March 30). Western Illinois had a record-tying performance as a team to begin the day as 20 runs crossed the plate in a 20-3 Leatherneck win, before Western completed the sweep with an 8-0 victory.

"It was great to see them come through with the bats," said assistant coach Beth Golitko. "We had an off day yesterday but today we were more patient, we were focusing on quality at bats today, and that's all they needed to do. Yesterday was a tough one but they just kept saying next game, and next pitch and we just moved on. We forgot about it and moved on and we didn't let go. We strung the hits together. We got two big conference wins and now there's nowhere to go but up."

GAME ONE: Western Illinois 20, Fort Wayne 3 (5 Innings) –

The Leatherneck offense exploded, scoring 20 runs and tying the NCAA Division I program record for runs scored in a game. Western wasted no time getting on the board, scoring three runs in the first inning. Sammy Marshall led off the game with a single, stole second and moved to third on a ground ball from Walsh. Tierney Bottino then brought home the senior, giving Western a 1-0 lead. Lia Romeo followed the first of two doubles in the ballgame, putting runners at second and third. Kelsey Marlow loaded the bases by getting hit by a pitch and Holly Hoelting brought in two with a single to left.

In the second, Western scored seven runs on just two hits, taking advantage of two Mastodon errors. After Rachel Beatty led off the inning with a walk, Karissa Kouchis reached on an error. Teagan Walsh then singled to score both runners. Bottino reached on an error and Romeo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A fielder's choice scored one, before Hoelting cleared the bases with her first career triple. The sophomore later would score on a wild pitch, bringing Western's lead to 10-0.

The Leatherneck bats didn't stop there, scoring nine runs in the third. Marshall led off with a walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Walsh then picked up her first RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field. After Bottino walked, Romeo hit her second double of the day, putting runners at second and third for Marlow, who hit a double of her own, scoring both runners. Hoelting and Maggio both reached and came around to score when Kouchis reached on an error by the pitcher. After Marshall singled, Walsh brought in Marshall and Kouchis with a single. Bottino followed with a double to center to score the senior, and give Western a 19-0 lead.

The Mastodons used back-to-back homers to cut into the Leatherneck lead in the fourth, but Western added a run in the fifth before Kayla Kirkpatrick completed the victory by retiring Fort Wayne in order in the bottom half of the frame.

The 20 runs scored is the most since March 26, 2011, when Western scored 20 against IUPUI. The most runs scored in program history occurred in 1978, when Western scored 23 runs against DePaul. The nine-run third inning is tied for sixth-most in the NCAA Division I era. Western hit five doubles in the ballgame, third-most since 1983. Western recorded 15 RBI as a team, tied for fifth in a single game since 1983.

Kirkpatrick picked up her third win of the season, pitching five innings, striking out two and walking two. Marshall, Walsh, Bottino, Romeo, Hoelting and Maggio all had multi-hit games. Hoelting led the way with five RBIs, Walsh added four, and Marlow drove in three. Marshall scored four runs in the contest, tying the Western Illinois single game record and moving into sixth all-time in Summit League history. Romeo was hit by the 53rd pitch of her career, moving her into sole possession of second place in Summit League history.

GAME TWO: Western Illinois 8, Fort Wayne 0 (5 Innings) -

Both offenses were held in check through the first two innings of play. Fort Wayne put a runner at third base in each of the first two innings, but Kacyee Hart forced a pop out and a fly out to end the first two frames respectively, as the Leathernecks and Mastodons went into the third tied.

Rachel Beatty reached on an infield single to lead off the third and stole second. The freshman moved to third on a Sammy Marshall single before Teagan Walsh walked to load the bases. Tierney Bottino hit her first career grand slam to center field to put Western in front 4-0. After a fly out, Kelsey Marlow walked and Holly Hoelting singled, setting the table for Nina Maggio who crushed a 1-1 pitch to center field, giving the Leathernecks a 7-0 lead. The home run was Maggio's second of her career.

"They both have been hitting the fence in practice so it was great to see them finally hit one over. They both have the power so it's good to see it come together," Golitko said.

Hart again worked out of a first and third situation in the bottom half of the third, allowing Western to head into the fourth with the chance to put the run-rule into effect. With two outs in the inning, Walsh doubled and came around to score on an error, giving Western an 8-0 lead.

Hart sent Fort Wayne down in the bottom of the fourth before Walsh came in to pitch the fifth. The senior allowed one base hit, but shut the door, completing the 8-0 victory for Western. Hart picked up her fifth win of the season, working four innings of shutout softball. The junior fanned three, allowing four hits and two walks.

Holly Hoelting went 2-for-3 from the plate, while Maggio and Bottino drove in three and four runs respectively.

Western Illinois faces a short turnaround, as the Leathernecks travel to Peoria, Illinois on Tuesday (March 31) to face Bradley. First pitch for the non-conference matchup is scheduled for 4 p.m. 
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