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Softball Senior Day FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
WIU's seniors with their families prior to Sunday's game
5
Winner North Dakota State NDSU 20-26
4
Western Illinois WIU 19-26
Winner
North Dakota State NDSU
20-26
5
Final
4
Western Illinois WIU
19-26
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
North Dakota State NDSU 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 5 11 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 4 2

W: Sertic (13-19) L: Abbott, Payton (3-6)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

NDSU Tops First-Place Western Illinois in Extra Innings on Senior Day

The Bison tied the game in the top of the seventh and scored the game-winning run in the eighth

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois held a 2-run advantage heading into the seventh inning, but North Dakota State was able to tie the contest and score the game-winning run in the eighth inning to beat the Leathernecks, 5-4.
 
The Leathernecks, who are still in first place in The Summit League, fall to 10-5 in league action and 19-26 overall after the loss, while NDSU improves to 7-5 in league play and 20-26 overall.
 
"Today was a tough loss. We came out, were fired up and ready to go. It was senior day… but I'm very proud of our team and the way they came out and played a tough North Dakota State team," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. Sometimes when you lose games you learn a little bit more than when you win games, so there were definitely some learning moments that we had in this game that we'll be able to use going into the final part of the season."
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Leathernecks were able to score the first two runs of the game. Senior Holly Hoelting led off the bottom of the second with a walk before Hailey Duwa hit her fourth home run of the season over the left field fence to put WIU up 2-0.
 
One inning later Kelsey Marlow used a sacrifice fly to left to make it 3-0 in favor of WIU. Rachel Beatty hit a single down the right field line to lead off the inning. Senior Nina Maggio then laid down a sac bunt to move Beatty to second before a wild pitch put Beatty on third with one out. Marlow launched her sac fly to left, sending Beatty in to score.
 
NDSU scores its first run of the game in the fourth courtesy of a RBI single, and then added another run in the fifth thanks to a solo home run to cut its deficit to one run, 3-2.
 
In the bottom half of the fifth WIU regained its 2-run advantage. With two outs, Maggio struck out swinging but reached first base on a passed ball. Marlow then walked to put runners on first and second. Hoelting then reached on a throwing error, allowing Maggio to score from second and put Western up 4-2.
 
Emily Ira looked to finish the game off in the top of the seventh, but NDSU was able to tie the game up. After NDSU's Montana DeCamp hit a leadoff single, Renner hit a 1-out double to center field to put Bison on second and third. Left fielder Aly Compton appeared to have camped underneath the ball before losing it in the sun, which allowed for the ball to land safely just short of the fence. Madyson Camacho then hit a 2-run single, knotting the game at 4-4.
 
The Bison then scored an unearned run in the top of the eighth, which proved to be the game winner. With two outs, WIU's Halle Hollatz dropped a foul ball and the batter, Dani Renner, then doubled to right center and scored on a DeCamp single.
 
Ira started and pitched the first seven innings of action, giving up four runs on nine hits while striking out five and walking zero. After her 20 strikeouts on the weekend, Ira now has 189 on the year which moves her into fifth-place all time at WIU for strikeouts in a season.
 
Jacquelyn Sertic picked up the win for NDSU, going all eight innings and giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits, while striking out nine and walking four.
 
Duwa led Western at the plate going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored and a walk. Beatty and Marlow were the two other Leathernecks to record a hit.
 
The Western Illinois softball program recognized its 2017 seniors class for all of their contributions to the program and Western Illinois University. The class includes: Holly Hoelting, Nina Maggio, Amanda Manton, Taylor Messer and Erin Rossetto.
 
"These five seniors have been integral part of this program and helping turn our program around. We haven't been at the top of The Summit League standings in recent years, and this year we are and it's been awesome. And that turn around is a credit to all five of them. All five of them have been phenomenal leaders, motivators and great teammates. They are all definitely going to be missed," concluded Van Vlymen.
 
WIU takes a week off from league play this week with a midweek game at Iowa on Wednesday (April 26) and a doubleheader at Iowa State Saturday (April 29).
 
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