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Western Illinois University Athletics

Marlow
2
Quinnipiac QU 0-2
6
Winner Western Illinois WIU 1-5
Quinnipiac QU
0-2
2
Final
6
Western Illinois WIU
1-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Quinnipiac QU 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 4 1
Western Illinois WIU 4 0 1 1 0 0 X 6 7 1

W: Ira, Emily (1-3) L: Herzog (0-1)

8
Winner Western Illinois WIU 2-5
4
Green Bay GB 3-5
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
2-5
8
Final
4
Green Bay GB
3-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 4 1 3 0 0 8 12 2
Green Bay GB 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 7 0

W: Hart, Kacyee (1-2) L: Smaney (2-2)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Softball Tops Quinnipiac, Green Bay

Leathernecks pick up first two victories of the season

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Western Illinois softball team picked up victories over Quinnipiac and Green Bay Saturday (Feb. 20) on the first day of the Total Control Sports Invitational. A four-run first inning helped the Leathernecks top the Bobcats by a score of 6-2 in game one. A season-high 12 hits moved Western past the Phoenix, 8-4. With the wins, Western moves to 2-5 on the season.

"I am very excited and happy about our performances. We worked hard. Last weekend wasn't what we wanted but we talked about the adjustments we needed to make and we came out and made those adjustments and really did a nice job at the plate and in the pitching circle," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "These two wins made the team feel more comfortable, at ease, and a little bit more relaxed. They know what we're capable of now and we can just continue to move upwards and onwards from here."

Game One: Western Illinois 6, Quinnipiac 2
 
The bats came alive for Western at the top of the first as Tierney Bottino got the offense started with a single to right field. One batter later, Hailey Duwa crushed a double to left field and advanced Bottino to third. After Payton Abbott reached first after being hit by a pitch, Kelsey Marlow hit the Leathernecks' second extra base hit of the inning, scoring Duwa and Bottino to give Western an early 2-0 lead. Nina Maggio reached first on error during the next at-bat, scoring Abbott and Marlow. At the end of the first inning, the Purple and Gold held a 4-0 advantage over the Bobcats.
 
In the bottom of the third, Duwa hit a lead-off double to left center and Sam Ralphs came in to pinch run. After Abbott walked, Maggio singled off a bunt and advanced Abbott and Ralphs to second and third. A wild pitch advanced the runners as Ralphs reached home safely to extend Western's lead to 5-0.
 
Western continued the momentum into the bottom of the fourth inning when Ralphs reached on a fielder's choice and stole second, sending Duwa in to pinch run. At the next at bat, Abbott launched an RBI triple to right center, scoring Duwa and giving the Leathernecks a 6-0 lead.
 
The Purple and Gold defense kept Quinnipiac scoreless until the top of the fifth when Emily Ira gave up her first hit of the game. Czaja hit an RBI double to right center to get the Bobcats on the board 6-1. Quinnipiac would score again at the top of sixth off of a sacrifice fly.
 
In the seventh, Ira struck out two consecutive batters to pick up her first career win as the Leathernecks took the final 6-2 decision. Ira pitched seven complete innings, only giving up four hits and two runs, and tying her career-high eight strikeouts.

Game Two: Western Illinois 8, Green Bay 4

Both sides were quiet until the top of the third inning when Kouchis launched a double to left field. One batter later, Abbott hit an RBI single to right field to score Kouchis and give the Leathernecks a 1-0 lead. A single from Duwa and a walk from Holly Hoelting left the bases loaded for Marlow who crushed an three-run triple to center field. By the end of the third inning, the Leathernecks had a 4-0 lead.
 
Taylor Messer walked to get the action started in the top of the fourth. After Kouchis singled and stole second, Bottino hit an RBI single up the right side to score Messer and gave the Purple and Gold a 5-0 edge.
 
Green Bay would rally during the second half on the inning, scoring four runs to bring the score within one. It was all Western after that as Hoelting hit a single in the top of the fifth. Back-to-back walks from Maggio and Marlow left the bases loaded for Messer, who had an RBI walk to give the Leathernecks a 6-4 advantage. Sacrifice flies from Rachel Beatty and Kouchis sent Marlow and Maggio home as Western pulled ahead 8-4.
 
The Western defense defended its four-run lead for the rest of the ball game and topped the Phoenix 8-4. Kacyee Hart pitched a complete game from the circle, striking out five batters and giving up seven hits in her first win of the season. Abbott had a career-high three hits in the victory.

The Purple and Gold will look to continue its momentum tomorrow morning against Loyola at 11:30 a.m. Action at the Total Control Sports Invitational will conclude at 2 with a game against UIC.

 
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