CONWAY, Ark. - For the second straight day, Western Illinois softball (7-3) split in two games at the Michelle Short Memorial Collegiate Classic. Motivated by a game one setback versus Missouri State, the Leathernecks arguably produced their most impressive offensive performance of the spring. Runs (14), hits (13), and RBIs (13) all saw new season-highs in a dominant 13-4 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
 

Missouri State 12, WIU 2

The Bears opened the gate with three runs and four hits to take an early 3-0 advantage. They added another run in the third with an RBI double to left-center field. Six more runs happened by Missouri State in the fourth, ending with a 3 RBI homer. 

Piper Foote doubled to right field in the bottom of the fourth, giving Western its first hit. Moments later, Kellie Marcheschi tallied her first hit of the season on a 2 RBI double and put her Leathernecks in the scoring column, down 10-2. However, two additional Missouri State insurance scores ultimately ended the contest in five innings.

Marcheschi and Maddy Anderson struck out three batters each as relief pitchers, while Jorja Hudson finished with a team-high seven putouts.
 

WIU 14, UAPB 3

Shaking off the Missouri State loss, Western stepped into game two with a clear focus. Sydney Hollings and Kyra Kroll both earned a walk to open the first frame. A Pine Bluff passed ball helped the two advance one more base before Foote's 2 RBI single ran them in. The next period saw another 2 RBI swing by WIU, as Kroll doubled to left field with Ashley Minyard and Bella Alvarez on second and third, respectively.

The Leathernecks continued their impressive batting display into the third. Savannah Rodriguez notched her first hit of the day on a single, and Meghan Henson doubled down to left field. Alvarez completed a hit in mimic-like fashion immediately after, as Henson scored. Torrance Muczynski delivered WIU's third consecutive hit on a single. Alvarez reached third and then maneuvered to home base in the midst of a UAPB throwing error.

Leading 6-0, Western refused to cool off in the fourth inning - totaling five consecutive runs. Alvarez, Gracia, and Henson all had a hit and RBI apiece during the remarkable stretch. Rodriguez and Muczynski also contributed RBIs. Pine Bluff eventually jumped on the board in that same inning - first on a throwing error, and a subsequent sacrifice fly out - trimming WIU's lead to 11-2. The Purple and Gold would not be quite finished yet, however. Kroll scored on a Gracia ground out, followed by Henson's 2 RBI double to plug in extra runs in the fifth. A 14-3 advantage was more than enough to close the night in five frames.

Abby Carlin (2-2) received the win - only allowing one earned run in 5.0 innings and striking out six Lady Lions. Kroll's three runs scored tied for third all-time in the program's game records. Additionally, eight Leathernecks all had at least one hit. Alvarez and Henson each chipped in two doubles. Henson's three RBIs led the team, while four WIU batters contributed two apiece.

Western's 14 runs are the most in a single game since March 31, 2018: a 20-12 win at South Dakota.

WIU concludes tournament play with a showdown versus the host team, Central Arkansas, tomorrow (Feb. 27). Game time is marked for 11:15 a.m.