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Western Illinois University Athletics

Maggio_Omaha
8
Omaha OMAHA 23-22
14
Winner Western Illinois WIU 11-28
Omaha OMAHA
23-22
8
Final
14
Western Illinois WIU
11-28
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Omaha OMAHA 2 2 1 1 0 1 1 8 11 4
Western Illinois WIU 0 3 8 2 0 1 X 14 15 2

W: Hart, Kacyee (3-11) L: Roecker (12-10) S: Ira, Emily (1)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Offense Propels Western to 14-8 Win over Omaha

Holly Hoelting went three-for-four with three hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois softball team defeated Omaha by a score of 14-8 Sunday (April 17) afternoon. The bats were alive at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium as the Leathernecks recorded a season-high 14 runs off of 15 hits, including an eight-run third inning. With the victory, Western moves to 4-5 in Summit League play (11-28 overall) while the Mavericks drop to 23-22 (9-2 Summit League).
 
"This was an exciting one. We really talked about continuing to make great adjustments and they let their swings happen, and they just played really loose. That's when we play our best, when we have fun and build off of each other so that's the approach that we need to take the whole time," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen.
 
Omaha had the early advantage as they led by a score of 4-0 through the first two innings. Western cut its deficit to one run in the bottom of the second when Taylor Messer produced an RBI bunt to score Nina Maggio and Karissa Kouchis hit a two-run double to score Holly Hoelting and Hailey Duwa. In the top of the third, the Mavericks would add one more run to advance their lead to 5-3.
 
Omaha's lead did not last long as the Leathernecks would score eight runs in the top of the third to take an 11-5 lead. The rally began with an infield single from Aly Compton to bring up Rachel Beatty who reached on a fielder's choice. Maggio then singled to left field to load the bases for Duwa who reached on an error to score Compton and Beatty. Maggio would then score on an illegal pitch to give Western the 6-5 lead.
 
After Kacyee Hart came in to pinch run for Duwa and Messer hit her second base hit of the day, Hoelting launched a double to left field to score Hart. Kouchis would then draw a walk to load the bases for Kelsey Marlow who smacked a three-run triple to left center. Compton would then hit her second single of the inning to score Marlow to give the Leathernecks a comfortable 11-5 lead.
 
The Mavericks hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth to lessen the Leathernecks' lead, but Western would tack on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth. Maggio hit a leadoff double to left and was brought home when Hoelting launched her second home run of the year over the center field fence to give Western a 13-6 lead.
 
The offensive momentum continued for both sides in the sixth inning. Omaha would score one run in the top of the sixth, and Western crossed the plate one more time when Tierney Bottino hit a single to left field that scored Amanda Manton who came in to pinch run after Messer drew a walk. 
 
UNO worked to rally off an RBI double in the top of the seventh, but they fell short as the Leathernecks went on to win 14-8.
 
Hoelting led the way for Western with three hits including a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs on the day. Maggio also collected three hits and scored three runs, while Marlow garnered two hits and drove in three runs. Messer and Compton each compiled two hits, while Messer crossed home plate twice. Kouchis drove in two RBIs off of one hit and scored one run.
 
Hart came in for relief and gave up four earned runs off of five hits and struck out four batters over three innings en route to her third win of the season. Emily Ira produced four innings of work, giving up one earned run off of four hits and striking out six batters.
 
The Purple and Gold will travel to Fargo, North Dakota for a tough road test against the North Dakota State Bison who sits atop in the league standings. Friday, April 23, will feature a doubleheader beginning at noon, and a single game is scheduled to be played the following day (April 24) beginning at 11 a.m.
 
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