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Western Illinois University Athletics

Emily Ira
10
Winner Houston Baptist HBU 5-4
9
Western Illinois WIU 2-8
Winner
Houston Baptist HBU
5-4
10
Final
9
Western Illinois WIU
2-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston Baptist HBU 0 0 0 2 3 4 0 0 1 10 13 0
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 2 0 0 6 1 0 0 9 13 0

W: Mueller, Emily (3-2) L: Stulga, Brooke (2-2)

6
Winner Western Illinois WIU 3-8
3
Central Arkansas UCA 2-9
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
3-8
6
Final
3
Central Arkansas UCA
2-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 6 13 0
Central Arkansas UCA 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 3 6 3

W: Ira, Emily (1-4) L: Reaves, Ellie (1-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Softball Splits on First Day of Central Arkansas Invitational

Leathernecks fall to Houston Baptist in extras before taking down UCA

CONWAY, Ark. – On the opening day of the Central Arkansas Invitational on Friday (Feb. 24), the Western Illinois softball team split a pair of games. After falling to Houston Baptist by a score of 10-9 in extra innings, the Leathernecks bounced back to defeat invite host UCA by a score of 6-3. With the decisions, WIU moves to 3-8 on the year.
 
GAME ONE: Houston Baptist 10, Western Illinois 9 (9 innings)
 
In the bottom of the third, Kelsey Marlow hit a double to left center and stole third. Jasmine Lara then drew a walk and stole second. Rachel Beatty hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Marlow and Lara was brought home following an RBI double from Nina Maggio, giving Western a 2-0 lead.
 
In the top of the fourth, Houston Baptist tied the game with a two-run home run. They would tack on three more runs in the top of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. The Huskies' success continued into the top of the sixth when they scored four runs to extend their lead to 9-2.
 
Western Illinois refused to surrender as Aly Compton hit a leadoff double to left center and Payton Abbott took a base after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth. Meghan Henson then batted Compton in with a single through the left side. After Brittanee Knepper came on to pinch run for Henson, Marlow garnered her second base hit of the day to load the bases.
 
After a balk scored Abbott from third, Brooke Stulga launched a two-RBI double to left center to put the Leathernecks within three, 9-6. Jasmine Lara came in to pinch run for Stulga and she crossed home plate when Rachel Beatty tripled down the left field line. WIU tacked on one more run in the sixth inning following a sacrifice fly from Nina Maggio that scored Beatty. After one inning, the Leathernecks had cut their seven-run deficit to just one, 9-8.
 
The momentum continued into Western's last chance in the bottom of the seventh. After Compton hit a leadoff single, Henson singled to right field to put runners on the corners. Marlow then secured an infield single as Compton crossed the plate to tie the game.
 
After a scoreless eighth inning, Houston Baptist came through in the top of the ninth and took a one-run lead off of a solo home run. The Leathernecks could not answer as they fell by a final score of 10-9 in nine innings of play.
 
Five Leathernecks garnered multiple hit games, including Marlow who had three. Beatty, Stulga and Maggio each batted in two runs. In the circle, Abbott struck out a career-high seven batters in just four and a third innings of work. Stulga came in on relief and threw three and a third innings, giving up five earned runs and striking out three.
 
GAME TWO: Western Illinois 6, Central Arkansas 3
 
Central Arkansas struck first in the bottom of the second following an RBI-double that gave the Bears a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, UCA added on two more runs to pull ahead 3-0.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Leathernecks got on the board when Emily Ira doubled to left center and advanced to third follow a single from Lara. Knepper then singled down the left field line to score Ira. Beatty would tie the game with a two-RBI double, scoring both Knepper and Lara and evening the score at 3-3.
 
After Maggio singled up the middle and advanced Beatty to third, she was caught steal second base, but not before Beatty stole home to give Western a 4-3 lead.
 
In the top of the seventh, Western looked to put the game away after Maggio drew a leadoff walk and moved to second after Marlow singled through the left side. The duo then advanced a base on a wild pitch and were brought home when Holly Hoelting hit a two-RBI single to right center, giving Western a 6-3 lead.
 
The Leathernecks kept the Bears from responding in the bottom of the seventh as they cruised to a 6-3 victory.
 
Four Leathernecks had multi-hit performances at the plate in Marlow, Hoelting, Ira and Knepper. Both Beatty and Hoelting led the team with two RBIs.
 
Ira earned the win in the circle, throwing a complete game with five strikeouts and three earned runs.
 
The Central Arkansas Invitational continues tomorrow, Feb. 25, with a single game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 3 p.m.
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