OMAHA - Taking on one more series in an ongoing road stretch, Western Illinois softball (15-23, 5-9) spent its afternoon battling the Omaha Mavericks (8-22, 3-7) on Saturday (April 17).
A strong start and finish in game one led to a 3-1 victory for the 'Necks. After trailing for several innings in game two, WIU gave itself a chance but ultimately fell short in securing the win.
Savannah Rodriguez played like an absolute stud throughout the entire day. The junior homered in both games, upping her season total to seven.
Game One
WIU 3, Omaha 1
It did not take long for Western to land on the board. In her first at-bat during the opening inning, Kellie Marcheschi delivered an RBI double down the middle, running in Sydney Hollings.
Following a small stint of nice defensive plays, the Leatherneck offense again stood out in the third's top frame. Ami Ill smacked a leadoff double for her second hit. Rodriguez then brought in her classmate on an RBI infield single, and WIU went up 2-0.
Omaha filled the corner bases during its half in the third. A sacrifice fly was made shortly after to mark the Mavericks' first run.
Both teams reached bases quite a few times throughout the next stretch of periods. Nonetheless, constant defensive efforts continued to prevent any score changes until early in the seventh. Rodriguez smacked a high solo homer right through the center of Connie Clausen Field. It ended up being the nail in the coffin, as Western retired three consecutive Omaha batters to end game one.
Abby Carlin (6-11) shined in the circle, pitching all seven innings and putting away five Mavericks. Rodriguez's three hits and two RBI were both game-highs. Her home run was a sixth personal one of the season, which ranks second-highest on the Western roster.
The Leathernecks outhit Omaha 9-7.
Game Two
Omaha 4, WIU 3
Jorja Hudson took credit for WIU's first hit - an early infield single. Play remained scoreless until the bottom of the third when an Omaha baserunner made her way around to home on an RBI single.
Rodriguez couldn't have stepped up in a perfect time during the sixth. With Hollings and Ill on corner bases, Rodriguez smacked her second homer of the afternoon to left-center, piling in three RBI for Western's first lead.
Omaha had a quick answer when it was its turn to bat in the sixth. First, the Mavericks evened things 3-3 by plating two runs on a double. On the following at-bat, a triple to right-field racked in a go-ahead run. WIU aimed to make something happen in the seventh, but three straight outs ended the contest with a walk-off.
The Leathernecks will be right back at it tomorrow at noon for another doubleheader against Omaha.
