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Western Illinois University Athletics

5
Winner Western Illinois WIU 8-22, 1-0 Summit
3
South Dakota USD 13-22, 3-1 Summit
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
8-22, 1-0 Summit
5
Final
3
South Dakota USD
13-22, 3-1 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 5 10 1
South Dakota USD 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 5 0

W: Ira, Emily (4-7) L: Dustie Durham (8-8)

7
Winner Western Illinois WIU 9-22, 2-0 Summit
4
South Dakota USD 13-23, 3-2 Summit
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
9-22, 2-0 Summit
7
Final
4
South Dakota USD
13-23, 3-2 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 1 0 2 1 1 2 7 15 0
South Dakota USD 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 8 1

W: Abbott, Payton (1-2) L: Sarah Lisko (5-7)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Stifle Coyotes' Power To Win Twice

WIU beat USD 5-3, 7-4 in the first weekend of Summit League play

VERMILLION, S.D. – The Leathernecks countered the South Dakota Coyotes' six home runs with 25 hits between two games and won twice, 5-3 and 7-4. The Leathernecks moved to 2-0  league play while handing South Dakota its first losses.
 
"The biggest thing we have worked on since last time out was just playing together as a team and trusting each other. If the first person can't get it done, we trust that the next person will," said head coach Beth Golitko. "We have the easy stuff down. We have our swings and our defense down, but we put everything together today."

GAME ONE
 
To begin the contest, South Dakota took a 2-0 lead in the first inning after a two-run two out home run to right center field. The Leathernecks threatened in the top of the second, as Halle Hollatz and Emily Ira pieced together back-to-back hits to begin the inning. WIU loaded the bases after Jasmine Lara drew her second walk of the contest, but were unable to cut into the Coyote lead.
 
The Western Illinois' bats came alive in the fifth inning as Kelsey Marlow took advantage of loaded bases as she doubled off of the right field wall to take a 3-2 lead. During the ensuing at-bat, Hailey Duwa crushed her second home run of the season and gave the Purple and Gold a 5-2 advantage.
 
USD catcher Jessica Rogers hit her second home run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut into the Leatherneck lead to make the game 5-3, but WIU did not allow any more damage.
 
Emily Ira was impressive in her eighth complete game of the season, giving up just five hits while dealing nine strikeouts. Marlow and Duwa led the Leathernecks at the plate, as each recorded two hits.
 
GAME TWO
 
Western Illinois' bats continued to impress in the second game, as the Leathernecks amassed 15 hits. Abbott was impressive in the circle as well, tossing 4.2 innings, while striking out six Coyotes.
 
"I am really proud of Payton (Abbott). I like to call her our 'closer' or 'saver'. I never think twice about putting her in, no matter what is happening. I have the upmost confidence in her," said Golitko. "Sydney (Hollings) has been wanting to get up to the plate and it was great to see her on fire. She has had some tough times this season and I think that she is using that to fuel her and that is really helping."
 
The Leathernecks loaded the bases in the second inning with no outs, but only managed one run in the frame. The Coyotes hit their third and fourth home runs of the day in the bottom of the second, and took a 2-1 advantage. South Dakota's power did not end there, as the Coyotes hit two more solo home runs in the third inning to extend the lead to 4-1.
 
Sydney Hollings took advantage of her first at-bat of the season in the fourth inning as she tripled to right field and plated Hollatz. Rachel Beatty brought home Hollings during the next at-bat with a single to left field and cut the Coyote lead to one run, 4-3.
 
Duwa tied up the game in the fifth inning as she followed Ashley Minyard's double with one of her own that evened the ballgame at four runs.

Hollings continued her impressive afternoon by doubling to leadoff the sixth inning. Bottino singled to center field to drive in Hollings and put the Purple and Gold on top, 5-4.
 
Western Illinois was not done, as they tacked on two runs in the top half of the seventh inning to push the advantage to 7-4. Abbott capped off her day in the circle with her sixth strikeout of the afternoon.
 
The Leathernecks look for the sweep tomorrow at 1 p.m.
 
   
 
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