SAINT LOUIS, Mo. - Western Illinois softball (8-7) showed a clear focus once again as the afternoon progressed during Saturday (March 13) of the Billiken Spring Tournament. Bouncing back from a late morning loss and making yet another late comeback were both highlights of day two.
 

Loyola-Chicago 5, WIU 4

Early in the first, Loyola plugged in a run after WIU committed an error. Still, the Leatherneck batting lineup got off to a great start, tallying three big hits in their first four at-bats. Sydney Hollings doubled to left field, and Piper Foote emulated the same on an RBI. Savannah Rodriguez then approached the plate and sent away a 2 RBI homer, driving in herself and Foote. It was Rodriguez's first long ball of the year. Western surged ahead 3-1 in the opening period with three hits and three runs.

The Ramblers reeled in two more runs on a homer of their own in the second, evening the score at 3-3. Two more unearned runs gave them another advantage in runs, 5-3. 

Defense on both sides made plays for the next few innings before Foote doubled again in the fourth. Alyssa Ealy brought Foote around on a single not long after, and WIU trailed 5-4. Foote and Kellie Marcheschi gave the Leathernecks a pair of hits in the seven's bottom portion, but Loyola kept just enough distance for a narrow victory.

Foote's three hits were highest for Western, and Rodriguez had two RBI. The latter (3-2) also struck out three batters in 4.0 innings pitched, while Maddy Anderson did the same in 3.0 frames. Anderson also contributed four putouts in her first season infield start. WIU outhit the Ramblers 9-5. 
 

WIU 5, SLU 4

Rodriguez continued her standout batting into game two of Saturday - rallying an RBI single for Hollings to cross home plate in the top of the first. Anderson picked up her first homer of the spring on a lead-off hit in the second, as WIU extended its advantage to 2-0.

Saint Louis' first run happened on a single midway of the second inning. Two errors hurt the Leathernecks one frame later, while SLU took advantage by piling up three more unearned runs in the third.

Down 4-2 and entering the sixth inning, Western caught fire in its hitting game. It first started with singles from Foote and Rodriguez before Bella Alvarez loaded the bases. A wild pitch gave Foote a chance to score, and Marcheschi doubled through the right side for two additional RBI. Totaling three runs and four hits during the stretch, WIU regained the lead, 5-4.

SLU made another shot at a run in the bottom of the seventh by tripling up the middle. A walk then followed, filling the corner bases. Nonetheless, two final groundouts scooped up from the Leathernecks' defense ended the win in stellar fashion.

Anderson moved to 3-1 in her season pitching record after contributing solidly in a relief role. Hollings and Rodriguez notched two hits apiece, while Gabriela Drager had eight putouts.

Western rounds out its stay tomorrow (March 14) with an 11 a.m. rematch against Loyola.