CONWAY, Ark. - Western Illinois softball (6-2) fell on both sides of the spectrum during day one of the Michelle Short Memorial Collegiate Classic. A tournament-opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff was the second time WIU made a late comeback win this season and the team's first nine-inning game in 2021. Quickly transitioning from those heavy frames of play, the Leathernecks suffered a hard-fought loss at Missouri State in game two.
WIU 6, UAPB 5
Savannah Rodriguez took control early on the mound by putting away six of the first seven batters faced. The junior also notched Western's first hit of the day in the second period. This sparked an impressive inning for her Leathernecks, which saw three runs and four hits. Maddy Anderson singled first, as Daytona Dooley came around from second base. Jorja Hudson stepped up to load the bases, and Abrianna Gracia struck a 2 RBI single through the left side.
Down 3-0, the Lady Lions responded with a three-run burst of their own in the third. A 2 RBI double happened first, and a single brought in another UAPB runner. Piper Foote and Rodriguez each provided a single for WIU in the bottom of the third.
A Western throwing error led to UAPB taking its first lead of the evening, 4-3, in the sixth's first half. Trailing in the seventh, the Leathernecks displayed poise. Kyra Kroll stepped in at pinch hitter and singled. The junior then made her way to third on a wild pitch, and Foote's sacrifice fly tied things at four. After the Lady Lions drove in another run in the eighth, another sacrifice fly by WIU arrived - this time from Bella Alvarez.
Key pitching from Anderson helped her group reach the bottom of nine innings, where Western put things to rest. Gracia made a sacrifice bunt, advancing Hudson to third, and the latter rushed to home plate on a UAPB error.
Anderson (2-0) took her second win as a relief pitcher. The sophomore struck out four in 6.0 innings of work and did not allow one earned run. For the third straight game, WIU totaled ten hits as a team. Rodriguez had four of those, and Gracia added two RBIs. Hudson's 13 putouts were a game-high.
Missouri State 2, WIU 0
Game two had a different flow - one full of defense and a pitching duel in seven innings.
Late in the third, the Lady Bears placed on the board first by doubling to right-center field for an RBI. Western's first hits happened in the top of the fifth, as Sydney Hollings and Gracia both singled. Additionally, Piper Foote lined a two-out single up the middle in the sixth. However, that was the closest WIU would get, as Missouri State used a Leatherneck error to add another run in the sixth's bottom portion and ended the night on a walk-off.
Carlin (1-2) struck out 11 batters - making it the third time she has ended in double-digit strikeout numbers this year. A trio of Foote, Gracia, and Hollings rattled a hit apiece.
The Leathernecks face both opponents again tomorrow (Feb. 26). A 2:30 p.m. rematch with Missouri State kicks off the afternoon, followed by a 4:45 p.m. contest against UAPB. Live stats will be available for each game.
