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Western Illinois University Athletics

Hart
1
Fort Wayne IPFW 11-40
3
Winner Western Illinois WIU 16-31
Fort Wayne IPFW
11-40
1
Final
3
Western Illinois WIU
16-31
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Fort Wayne IPFW 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 2 0 1 X 3 5 2

W: Hart, Kacyee (5-13) L: Sarah Lazarowich (5-22) S: Abbott, Payton (1)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Softball Earns Senior Weekend Sweep Over IPFW

Kacyee Hart pitched six innings and hit a two-run home run

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois softball team edged out Fort Wayne on Saturday (May 7) by a final score of 3-1 to pick up the sweep over the Mastodons. Prior to the game, seniors Tierney Bottino, Kacyee Hart and Karissa Kouchis were honored as they took to Mary Ellen McKee Stadium one last time as a part of Senior Day.
 
"This was a hard fought victory. We knew IPFW was going to come out and battle hard, especially because they knew going into this that this was their last game of the season. We had to come out and we planned to have fun and come away with the win," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen.
 
With the victory, the Leathernecks finish third in The Summit League with a 9-8 league record (16-31 overall), their best finish since the 2009 season. Western ended league play with five straight victories and earned a third-seed berth in the 2016 Summit League Championship.
 
IPFW got on the board first in the top of the second inning following a solo home run from Demetra Burns. Hart then got herself into a jam when runners reached consecutively following a walk, a fielder's choice and a hit by pitch. Hart was able to get out of the situation unscathed as she struck out three straight batters to end the inning.
 
Both teams' bats were silent until the bottom of the fourth inning when Payton Abbott hit a two-out single to right field in her first appearance at the plate of league play. Hart then stepped up to the plate and launched a two-run home run over the center field fence to give the Leathernecks a 2-1 lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Nina Maggio drew a one-out walk. She was then brought home when Abbott hit an RBI double to center field as Western pulled ahead 3-1.
 
Abbott then came in for relief of Hart in the top of the seventh inning to record the final three outs and a save as Western cruised to a 3-1 Senior Day win.
 
Hart put in a solid six innings of work and only allowed four hits and one earned run while compiling six strikeouts. Abbott pitched one inning and her save was the first over her career.
 
Abbott and Hart also had solid days offensively. Abbott led the team with two hits and an RBI while Hart picked up two RBIs.
 
"For Kacyee and Payton to come through and have all the RBIs for this game, that was awesome," added Van Vlymen. "Payton has been our go to all season to come in on relief and we have a lot of trust and faith in her that she's going to come in and get it done. She hasn't been able to play defense for us all season due to injury, so now that she's clear and able to come back it was great to put her out on defense. I'm really proud of our girls."
 
The Purple and Gold will now turn their focus to The Summit League Championship where they face IUPUI in the first round on Wednesday, May 11. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m. CT in Fargo, North Dakota.
 
 
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