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Western Illinois University Athletics

Taylor Messer FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
1
IUPUI Jaguars IUPUI 15-23
6
Winner Western Illinois WIU 17-23
IUPUI Jaguars IUPUI
15-23
1
Final
6
Western Illinois WIU
17-23
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
IUPUI Jaguars IUPUI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2
Western Illinois WIU 0 2 1 1 0 2 X 6 9 1

W: Ira, Emily (9-11) L: Erica Tharp (6-13)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

WIU Softball Hits 3 Home Runs in Victory Over IUPUI Friday

The Leathernecks topped the Jaguars 6-1 behind another dominant pitching performance from Emily Ira

PHOTOS

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois used three home runs and another strong pitching performance from Emily Ira to power past the IUPUI Jaguars Friday (April 14) in Summit League action.
 
"Today was awesome, even with the rain delay. We thought people were going to leave, and we wouldn't have anyone stay at the game, but all of our fans hung around and were awesome," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "I think we were all still a little upset about our tough loss at Missouri earlier this week, but the girls came out today and took care of business. IUPUI did a great job, especially their pitchers. It was a great win… they're a great team."
 
WIU improves to 8-2 in Summit League play and now sits first in the league standings after the win. IUPUI is right behind Western in the standings at 5-2 after its loss.
 
The two teams were originally scheduled to play a doubleheader, but weather moved the start time to 4 p.m., which only allowed for one game to be played.  A doubleheader is now scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday (April 15).
 
The Jaguars struck first right away in the top of the first inning. After Ira retired the first two batters, IUPUI's Taylor Chitwood reached and advanced to second base on a fielding error on a deep hit ball to center field. Fellow Jaguar Roni Patterson then hit an RBI single through the left side to put IUPUI 1-0 after plating Chitwood.
 
WIU's bats came alive in the bottom of the second when Hailey Duwa and Emily Ira hit back-to-back solo home runs to give the Leathernecks a 2-1 lead. Duwa's homer was her first of the season and was to right center, while Ira's was her second of the year and sailed over the right field fence.
 
Holly Hoelting added another Western run in the third to make it 3-1 in favor of the Leathernecks with an RBI single through the right side. Kelsey Marlow scored on the Hoelting's single after hitting a single of her own and stealing second base.
 
The Leathernecks made it 4-1 in the fourth. Ira hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a fielding error in left. Taylor Messer then laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to move her over to third with only one out. Rachel Beatty then grounded out to second base allowing Ira to score.
 
After a scoreless fifth, Duwa singled to leadoff the inning before Messer crushed her fourth home run of the season over the left field fence, giving WIU a 5-run advantage at 6-1.
 
Ira then finished the game by retiring the Jags 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh on the way to her ninth win and 18th complete game of the season. Ira improves to 5-0 in Summit League play in six starts. She totaled seven strikeouts, giving up one unearned run on only two hits and no walks.
 
At the plate, Marlow, Duwa and Ira all went 2-for-3 to lead the Leathernecks. Messer's 2-run home run gave her a team-best two RBIs.
 
IUPUI was led by Roni Patterson who recorded one of the Jags' two hits and tallied their lone RBI. Starting pitcher Erica Tharp suffered the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings. Nickole Finch pitched the remainder of the game for IUPUI, giving up four runs on six hits.
 
 
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