Western Drops a Pair on Final Day of UNI-Dome Classic

Leathernecks fall to Drake and Northern Iowa on Sunday

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Western Illinois softball team dropped its final two games of the UNI-Dome Classic to Drake and Northern Iowa on Sunday (Feb. 14). An early lead and a seventh inning rally were not enough as the Leathernecks fell to the Bulldogs by a score of 5-2. Western was unable to get the bats going in the finale against the Panthers and were defeated 8-0 in five innings. With the losses, the Leathernecks sit at 0-5 after the opening weekend of competition.

Game One: Drake 5, Western Illinois 2

Karissa Kouchis and Tierney Bottino hit back-to-back singles to get the offense going for the Leathernecks in the top of the first. After a wild pitch advanced the two to second and third, freshman Hailey Duwa hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Kouchis and gave Western an early 1-0 lead.

The Leatherneck defense held the Bulldogs scoreless until the top of the third when an RBI double by Tayn Pena tied the game up at 1-1. In the next inning, Megan Sowa hit a three-run homerun to give Drake a 4-1 lead.

At the bottom of the seventh, the Leathernecks were down 5-1 and would look to come back as Payton Abbott hit a single. A batter later, freshman Aly Compton crushed a double to right center that scored Abbott. Rachel Beatty added to the rally with a single, but the comeback fell short and the Leathernecks fell to the Bulldogs by a score of 5-2.

Freshman Emily Ira made her second consecutive start in the circle, pitching a complete seven innings with eight hits and four strikeouts. Abbott led the team with two hits.

Game Two: UNI 8, Western Illinois 0

For the fifth straight game, Kouchis reached base safely in the leadoff spot for the Leathernecks, but was unfortunately left stranded at the end of the first.

It was all Northern Iowa from then on as the Panthers worked its way to a 6-0 lead at the end of the fourth.

Western looked to rally behind the bat of Rachel Beatty who led the Leathernecks with two hits, but a two-run homerun by Northern Iowa's Anna Varriano gave the Panthers an 8-0 lead and the Leathernecks would fall in five innings.

Kacyee Hart made the start, pitching 3 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and eight hits.

The Purple and Gold will be back in action at the Total Control Sports Invitational next weekend (Feb. 20-21) in Rosemont, Illinois. Western will take on Quinnipiac and Green Bay beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Action against Loyola and UIC will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Rachel Beatty: OF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/L

#27 Tierney Bottino: OF; 5' 2"; Senior; R/R

#7 Kacyee Hart: P; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#25 Karissa Kouchis: OF; 4' 11"; Senior; L/R

#34 Payton Abbott: P/IF; 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R

#12 Aly Compton: OF/C; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#5 Hailey Duwa: IF; 5' 10"; Freshman; L/R

#17 Emily Ira: P/OF; 5' 7"; Freshman; L/L

Players Mentioned

#14 Rachel Beatty
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/L
: OF

#27 Tierney Bottino
: 5' 2"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#7 Kacyee Hart
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: P

#25 Karissa Kouchis
: 4' 11"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#34 Payton Abbott
: 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R
: P/IF

#12 Aly Compton
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: OF/C

#5 Hailey Duwa
: 5' 10"; Freshman; L/R
: IF

#17 Emily Ira
: 5' 7"; Freshman; L/L
: P/OF