WACO, Texas – Win by walk-off and lose by walk-off. Western Illinois softball fell on both sides of the spectrum Friday (Feb. 14), after a 6-5 success over Prairie View A&M and a 4-2 heartbreaker to Grand Canyon.

The games kicked off Western's appearance in Baylor's three-day Getterman Classic. 

Western Illinois 6, Prairie View A&M 5

Ashley Minyard stepped up to the plate with runners in scoring position, no outs, and didn't allow the game to go any further after an RBI double to left field. The timely hit marked her first of the day. 

The Leathernecks outhit Prairie View A&M, 9-7, but were forced to play catchup after the first 3.5 innings, where their opponent compiled a 3-0 lead. One swing of the bat by Kellie Marcheschi – a 3 RBI homer -- led to the first of three ties and the final sat at 5-all at the end of the sixth.

Maddy Anderson relieved Savannah Rodriguez in the fifth frame and pitched 2.2 innings in her first collegiate win. She allowed just two hits and one earned run.

Grand Canyon 4, Western Illinois 2 

Runs were scattered here and there through the innings, but the score was stuck at 2-2 heading into the seventh. 

Western pushed both of its runs in the third frame, where Piper Foote struck first on a solo home run down the left field line. In the circle, Abby Carlin did all she could do to limit GCU's offense, recording another stellar outing on four hits and one earned run in 6.2 innings of work. 

The Leathernecks left seven on base, including three in scoring position, before Grand Canyon's two-out, 2-run homer. 

Taking on Baylor, Western continues action in the Getterman Classic Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The semifinal round will see the No. 1 and No. 4 seeds face each other later in the day at 3 p.m. before the No. 2 and No. 3 teams play at 5:30 p.m.