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Western Illinois University Athletics

Team_Omaha
7
Winner Omaha OMAHA 22-21
3
Western Illinois WIU 10-26
Winner
Omaha OMAHA
22-21
7
Final
3
Western Illinois WIU
10-26
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Omaha OMAHA 0 0 3 0 2 1 1 7 10 3
Western Illinois WIU 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 6 1

W: Roecker (12-9) L: Ira, Emily (5-12)

2
Winner Omaha OMAHA 23-21
0
Western Illinois WIU 10-28
Winner
Omaha OMAHA
23-21
2
Final
0
Western Illinois WIU
10-28
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Omaha OMAHA 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1

W: Clanton, Abbie (9-9) L: Hart, Kacyee (2-12)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Drop Two to Omaha

Series finale begins tomorrow at 11 a.m.

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois softball team welcomed Summit League foe Omaha to town for the first two games of a three-game series on Saturday (April 16). The Leathernecks were unable to defeat the Mavericks, dropping the pair of games by scores of 7-3 and 2-0. Western falls to 10-28 (3-5 Summit League) on the year after the losses, while Omaha improves to 23-21 (9-1 Summit League).
 
"I think our girls came out here, and they were ready to go and playing hard from the very beginning," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "In the first game, we needed to come through a little bit more, but in the last game I was very proud of them and thought they had great at bats. They hit the ball hard, they just happened to be right at them and their outfield was playing at the fence and we couldn't get it over their heads."
 
GAME ONE: Omaha 7, Western Illinois 3
 
In game one, Omaha's long balls got the best of Western as the Mavericks scored all seven runs off of five home runs.
 
The Leathernecks scored first in the bottom of the second off of an RBI double from Rachel Beatty to right field to score Aly Compton. Compton hit a leadoff double earlier in the inning.
 
The Mavericks would respond in the top of the third in the form of a solo home run from Lia Mancuso to tie the game at 1-1. Omaha took a 3-1 lead later in the inning after Campbell Ditto hit a two-run shot to left field. In the top of the fifth, UNO would tack on two more runs with another two-run home run to advance their lead to 5-1.
 
Western answered back in the bottom of the fifth when Holly Hoelting and Karissa Kouchis each reached on fielder's choices. The next at bat, Tierney Bottino singled to score Hoelting from second base and the Leathernecks cut their deficit to three runs, 5-2.
 
Omaha then hit a pinch-hit solo home run to in the bottom of the sixth, and another solo home run in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 7-2.
 
The Purple and Gold would not go down without a fight in the bottom of the seventh. Hailey Duwa reached on a fielder's choice that brought on Payton Abbott to pinch run. Kouchis then singled to center field to score Abbott and bring the score to 7-3. However, the rally fell short as the Leathernecks dropped the decision, 7-3.
 
Emily Ira got the nod in the circle, pitching four innings and giving up five earned runs off of five hits. Abbott came in for relief, putting in three innings of work and giving up two hits and two earned runs. Compton led the team with two hits.
 
"We never gave up. They hit some home runs and we could have easily just rolled over but we continued to fight," added Van Vlymen. "Emily and Payton are just freshman and this year they're only going to continue to get better and better. It was a good experience and we'll just keep getting stronger from here."
 
GAME TWO: Omaha 2, Western Illinois 0
 
Omaha got off to a hot start in the beginning of game two when Lizzie Noble hit an RBI double to give the Mavericks an early 2-0 lead.
 
Senior Kacyee Hart was dominant in the circle after the first inning, only allowing four more hits and struck out five batters in a complete seven-inning performance.
 
"I was really proud of Kacyee and her game. She really dominated on the mound and kept them guessing," said Van Vlymen. "Her change-up was on today so that was a huge factor. We formulated a plan and Kacyee did a great job sticking with it."
 
The Leathernecks were unable to come up with any offensive momentum to back up Hart's play in the circle. Western's best chance to score came in the bottom of the fifth when Maggio hit a leadoff single and advanced to second. Hart then hit a sacrifice bunt to move Maggio to third, but she was left stranded at the end of the inning.
 
Kouchis hit a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth in attempt to get a rally going, but she was left stranded. At the end of seven innings of play, the Leathernecks fell, 2-0.
 
The series finale will begin tomorrow at 11 a.m.
 
 
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