MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Early afternoon games made up Saturday afternoon for Western Illinois softball (8-10), as the crew began its two-day participation in Middle Tennessee State's tournament. Although matchups versus Mercer and the host resulted in losses for the Leathernecks, their batting pen had a few impressive moments.

Mercer 15, WIU 3

Shortly into the opening inning, with Sydney Hollings and Piper Foote on first and second, Rodriguez swung for a strong 3 RBI hit on her first attempt. Late in that same period, Mercer doubled to left-center for two runs and produced two more on the board in the second's bottom frame. The Bears put together several insurance runs during the third, extending the advantage to 10-3. A 2 RBI homer and a final pair of runs from singles ended the contest in five sets.

Maddy Anderson and Kellie Marcheschi had three and two hits, respectively. In her return to the infield, Abrianna Gracia collected four putouts. 

MTSU 3, WIU 2

Game two was not quite as high-scoring but nonetheless began with another Leatherneck homer, coming from Hollings as a second inning solo bomb. A MTSU RBI doubled evened things 1-1 late in the third.

Both sides' staggering defense continued well into the sixth until the Blue Raiders homered to the right center, going ahead 2-1. Hollings and Meghan Henson both reached base off of hits in the seventh's opening at-bats. An error by MTSU allowed Hollings to rush through home plate, and the score was again tied, 2-2.

MTSU's batters would then take over to advance a runner to third base and ultimately finished the afternoon on an RBI bunt.

Gracia and Hollings notched two hits each.

Western has a shot at both teams again tomorrow on the tournament's final day. The Leathernecks face Mercer at 10 a.m. and MTSU at 12:30 p.m. before heading home.