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Western Illinois University Athletics

AlyCompton
4
Western Illinois WIU 0-1
6
Winner Green Bay GB 2-0
Western Illinois WIU
0-1
4
Final
6
Green Bay GB
2-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 4 11 1
Green Bay GB 0 0 2 1 0 3 X 6 8 1

W: Mikkelson (1-0) L: Ira, Emily (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Softball Falls to Green Bay 6-4 in Season Opener

Leathernecks rally but are unable to defeat Phoenix

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Western Illinois softball team dropped its season opener to Green Bay on Friday (Feb. 12) by a score of 6-4 on the first day of the UNI-Dome Classic. With the loss, the Leathernecks fall to 0-1, while the Phoenix improve to 2-0.
 
"It is a little disapointing that we fell short of what we wanted, but I think we had some very good bright spots along the way. Karissa, Aly, Payton and Kelsey all did a great job at the plate today and I'm really proud of their performances," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "Emily Ira had her very first collegiate start in the regular season and pitched right around five innings, with no walks, and five strikeouts, I was very happy with her performance as well. Taylor did a great job behind the plate and I think on defense we were solid and I was really happy with those points of the game and I think we'll just continue to get better the more that we play and the more that we can just get out there and be put into that situation."

Freshman Emily Ira made her Leatherneck debut in the circle, pitching 5.2 innings and collecting five strikeouts. Aly Compton and Payton Abbott also had solid debuts as they each went 2-4 with an RBI. Senior Karissa Kouchis also went 2-4 at the plate with an RBI, a run, and a stolen base.
 
The first inning started off strong for the Purple and Gold, as Kouchis connected on the first pitch she saw for a single. Following that at bat, Tierney Bottino reached base on a fielder's choice. After Holly Hoelting was hit by a pitch, Compton reached base on her first hit as a Leatherneck. However, Western was unable to bring anyone home and three runners were left on base.
 
Green Bay got on the board first in the bottom of third inning due to an error and sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead. Western would respond in the top of the fourth as Taylor Messer and Kelsey Marlow hit back-to-back singles. Sam Ralphs would come in to pinch run for Messer, and Payton Abbott would bring her in with a single to center field and the Leathernecks would bring the score within one.
 
The Phoenix would not back down, as Allie Taylor hit a solo home run to extend the lead to 3-1. 
 
Western rallied in the fifth inning after Kouchis reached for the second time that day. After T. Bottino reached on an error and advanced Kouchis to second, the two had a double-steal and put themselves in scoring position. After Kouchis scored on a passed ball to make the score 3-2, Compton singled down the left field line to bring T. Bottino home safely and tie the game, 3-3.
 
Ira would retire two of the next three batters in the bottom of the fifth inning to keep things close for Western. At the top of the sixth, Abbott launched a double into center field and Rachel Beatty followed up with a single at the next at-bat. Kouchis would then reach on a fielder's choice, sending Abbott home and giving the Leathernecks their first lead of the game. T. Bottino reached to make the bases loaded for Hoelting who hit a sac fly to left field, but Beatty was called out for leaving early and the Leathernecks would leave two on.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Kacyee Hart relieved Ira after Taylor hit her second home run of the game and the Phoenix tied the game up at 4-4. Green Bay extended their lead to 6-4 after two runners reached on a single and a walk and were eventually brought home.
 
The Leathernecks looked to rally in the top of the seventh as Marlow singled with two outs and then stole second. After Nina Maggio walked, Abbott reached on a fielder's choice that appeared to send Marlow home to bring the score within one, however, Marlow was called for interference to end the inning and Western fell to Green Bay by a final score of 6-4.

The Purple and Gold will be back in action tomorrow morning for day two of the UNI-Dome Classic at 8 a.m. against Nebraska, followed by a game against St. Louis at 12:30.
 
"Tomorrow our defense will need to continue to be as solid as they were today, and we need to work on the base running and get that cleaned up a little bit. We'll just need to make a few adjustments here and there and I think tomorrow will be a better day," added Van Vlymen. 
 





 
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