Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Hollings
Sarah Twidwell
10
Winner North Dakota State NDSU 23-11
7
Western Illinois WIU 8-16
Winner
North Dakota State NDSU
23-11
10
Final
7
Western Illinois WIU
8-16
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
North Dakota State NDSU 1 4 1 3 1 0 0 10 14 0
Western Illinois WIU 1 1 0 1 0 0 4 7 14 2

W: Paige Vargas (9-4) L: Rodriguez, Savannah (0-2) S: KK Leddy (1)

5
Winner North Dakota State NDSU 24-11
4
Western Illinois WIU 8-17
Winner
North Dakota State NDSU
24-11
5
Final
4
Western Illinois WIU
8-17
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
North Dakota State NDSU 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 5 7 1
Western Illinois WIU 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 6 1

W: KK Leddy (13-6) L: Carlin, Abby (1-7)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Pair of Late Rallies Fall Short

The Leathernecks showed tenacity but lost both games of a doubleheader to NDSU

MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois (8-17, 1-5) softball team displayed power at the plate but dropped the two remaining games of the series to North Dakota State (24-11, 6-0) on Sunday, March 31. 
 
Game One (North Dakota State 10, Western Illinois 7)
 
The Bison snagged an early lead in the top of the first, but Sydney Hollings answered with a solo home run that sailed over the wall in left center. Katie Shoultz doubled home the go-ahead run in the top of the second inning and Zoe Stavrou broke the game open with a three-run homer to dead centerfield.
 
Savannah Rodriguez (0-2) started in the circle and lasted 3.2 innings with one strikeout. She helped her own cause by blasting a solo shot that cleared the fence in right field and cut the deficit to 5-2. The home run was her first collegiate hit. Up 6-2 in the top of the fourth, North Dakota State used another two-out, three-run long ball, this time from Vanessa Anderson for a 9-2 advantage.
 
The Leathernecks trailed 10-3 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, but they were not done fighting. With two runners on and nobody out, Payton Abbott grounded a single through the left side of the infield to score Alyssa Ealy from second base. The rally knocked Paige Vargas out of the contest and the Bison were forced to turn to KK Leddy with the bases loaded.
 
Hailey Duwa poked a two-run single to right field and Danielle Olson punched a single to right center as Hollings crossed home plate with NDSU trying to hold on leading 10-7. Sidney Bottino singled with two down to bring the winning run to the plate in the form of Ealy. She hit a sharp ground ball up the middle, but it was collected by the Bison infield for the force out.
 
Game Two (North Dakota State 5, Western Illinois 4)
 
The Leathernecks got off to a hot start in the series finale when Hollings doubled to the gap in right center to plate Abbott and Jasmine Lara. An inning later in the bottom of the second, Abby Carlin (1-7) reached base and scored on a Meghan Henson double at the wall for a 3-0 lead. Carlin struck out three batters over seven innings in a starting role.
 
Maddie Hansen changed the complexion of the game on a game-tying three-run homer in the top of the fifth. The score remained tied, 3-3 until Lauren Reimers connected on a solo shot in the top of the seventh to regain the lead before the Bison collected a run for cushion heading to the bottom half.
 
Hollings laced a one-out single down the right field line to score Lara and come within a run at 5-4. A groundout advanced Hollings to second as the tying run, but Olson struck out looking to draw the series to a close.
 
Western Illinois returns to action in Summit League play April 6-7 at South Dakota State.  
 
Print Friendly Version