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Western Illinois University Athletics

Holly Hoelting
1
Western Illinois WIU 2-6
4
Winner WKU WKU 5-3
Western Illinois WIU
2-6
1
Final
4
WKU WKU
5-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 1
WKU WKU 0 0 0 3 0 1 X 4 4 0

W: DOWNING, Kathryn (4-0) L: Ira, Emily (0-4)

8
Western Illinois WIU 2-7
9
Winner Belmont BEL 8-0
Western Illinois WIU
2-7
8
Final
9
Belmont BEL
8-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 2 0 0 5 0 1 8 11 1
Belmont BEL 2 3 2 0 0 1 1 9 9 2

W: ROUSE, Lexi (2-0) L: Abbott, Payton (0-2)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Softball Drops Two on Final Day of Hilltopper Classic

Leathernecks fall to Western Kentucky and Belmont

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Western Illinois softball team closed out its second weekend of the season at the Hilltopper Classic on Sunday (Feb. 19) with games against hosts Western Kentucky and Belmont. The Leathernecks fell to both WKU 4-1 and the Bruins 9-8. With the losses, Western drops to 2-7 on the season.
 
GAME ONE: Western Kentucky 4, Western Illinois 1
 
In a scoreless top of the third, Halle Hollatz drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second base following a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Messer. After Hollatz moved to third on a groundout, Nina Maggio drove her in with a single down the right field line and the Leathernecks took a 1-0 lead.
 
The Hilltoppers scored their first runs of the game and took the lead in the fourth inning following a solo home run, single and two-run home run that gave them the 3-1 advantage.
 
WKU tacked on one more insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning to move ahead 4-1 as they claimed the victory.
 
Five different Leathernecks garnered hits in the loss, while Maggio had one RBI. Emily Ira pitched a complete game with a season-high eight strikeouts, four runs and no walks.
 
GAME TWO: Belmont 9, Western Illinois 8
 
The Leathernecks fought back from a 7-2 deficit and outhit the Bruins 11 to 9, but it wasn't enough for the victory.
 
Down 2-0 in the top of the second, Aly Compton drew a leadoff walk and moved to second following a sacrifice bunt from Hollatz. Meghan Henson then hit a double to put runners in scoring position for Kelsey Marlow, who hit a two-run double to right-center to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Belmont scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-2 lead and two in the third to go up 7-2.
 
The Leathernecks came fighting back in the top of the fifth. The rally started when Jasmine Lara hit a double to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Beatty then drew a walk and moved to second base after Maggio reached on an error. Holly Hoelting then launched her second home run of the season to left field and put the Leathernecks within one run, 7-6.
 
After Compton singled through the left side, Hollatz advanced her to second base with a single to the same spot. Marlow then hit the game-tying single that scored Hollatz from third. 

The game remained tied until the Bruins hit a home run to center field to take an 8-7 lead.
 
In the top of the seventh, Hollatz blasted her first career home run to left-center to tie the game back up at 8-8.
 
However, a sacrifice fly would win it for the Bruins in the bottom of the seventh inning, as they held on for the 9-8 victory.
 
Brooke Stulga got the start in the circle, pitching two innings before Payton Abbott came in on relief. Abbott threw 4.1 innings, striking out two and giving up three runs.
 
Compton, Hollatz and Marlow each had two hits, while Marlow and Hoelting each raked in three RBI.
 
The Leathernecks travel to the Central Arkansas Invitational on Feb. 24-26, when they face Houston Baptist, Central Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Louisiana-Monroe over three days.

 
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