ROSEMONT, Ill. - Day one of the 2021 DePaul Dome Tournament had some fun moments for Western Illinois softball (3-1), but there is no denying that day two ended on an epic note. Following another win over Loyola-Chicago, Western dug themselves out of a hole to defeat DePaul, 8-7, in a contest that went eight innings.
"Our squad flat out competed today," head coach Alisa Goler emphasized. "Going against the same opponent (Loyola-Chicago) on back-to-back days is always a challenge and we showed up ready to play. Game two against DePaul was won by pure fight. I've never coached in a game that saw a six-run comeback in the seventh inning. I am so proud of this team!"
WIU 6, Loyola-Chicago 3
Following a lead-off walk, Loyola stole a base and scored a run off of an RBI single. Several outs happened for both teams for a stretch before Loyola reached second off an error in the third's bottom half. Déjà vu then arose once the Ramblers stole another base and teed off an RBI single to left field for a 2-0 lead.
Opening the fourth inning, Ill took a second walk and again stole second to begin a momentous shift for her Leathernecks. Piper Foote walked to first, and Savannah Rodriguez's single loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Sydney Hollings allowed Ill to score first, and then Piper Foote reached home plate off of a Loyola throw to even things. A bases-loaded walk for Western led to a third scored run (Kyra Kroll) for the Leathernecks' first lead of the morning, 3-2. WIU ultimately piled together a 3-0 burst in the fourth while only registering one hit.
Foote split the gap to center field with a triple in the fifth, and Ashley Minyard reached first on a walk. After the latter took second, Hollings blasted a 3 RBI homer to right field, expanding Western's lead to 6-2. Maddy Anderson followed up with a two-out single. Again, Western posted three spots in one inning - this time while also connecting on three hits. Late in the sixth, an RBI single by Loyola cut the deficit to 6-3, but that was the closest the Ramblers would get.
Rodriguez (2-0) was awarded the win as a relief pitcher. She struck out seven in 4.0 innings and only allowed one earned run. Ill, Kroll, and Minyard combined to steal four bases, while Hollings contributed four RBIs.
WIU 8, DePaul 7
Foote started game two with a single before being caught stealing. DePaul placed two runners on the corner bases, but an Abby Carlin strikeout and putout by Abrianna Gracia ended the first. WIU's defense did not allow the Blue Demons to advance any further after stealing bases twice in the first two innings.
A defensive game persisted until the bottom of the fourth when DePaul struck first with an RBI double. Hollings responded by sending home a solo bomb in the fifth's top half, and Meghan Henson singled shortly after. In the blink of an eye, DePaul tallied a triple and single - both good for RBIs. A center field homer immediately followed, bringing in three runs and extending the Blue Demons' lead to 6-1.
Anderson checked into the circle and put away three of the first four batters she faced. After seeing DePaul knock another RBI triple, WIU would make an incredible late push. Six unanswered runs erupted from the Leathernecks - with Henson, Bella Alvarez, and Rodriguez all totaling hits. Underway in the eighth, Minyard's sacrifice bunt gave Western its first lead of the game, 8-7. DePaul made a sacrifice bunt on their own, but two more putouts and a sliding fly-out catch by Hollings ceased the afternoon in WIU's favor.
Rodriguez had four RBIs, and Anderson (1-0) picked up her first win of the spring. She retired five in 3.2 innings.
WIU remains in-state for its next challenge - facing Bradley University in a double-header on Friday (Feb. 19). Taking place at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex (Peoria, Ill.), game times are set for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
