OMAHA - Resilience.

That simple yet powerful term can best describe Western Illinois softball (16-24, 6-10) this 2021 campaign. Audiences have grown accustomed to seeing the Leathernecks grind out wins amid tests of adversity. 

On Sunday (April 18), the team displayed the same narrative again in a road doubleheader at Omaha (9-23, 4-8). After enduring a 9-1 loss in game one, WIU stayed the course to win a closer that likely kept most fans on the edge of their seats. The Summit League series ended on a 2-2 split.

"Abby Carlin was phenomenal in the circle during our win," noted WIU head softball coach Alisa Goler. "She willed us to that victory. I was proud of our defense for coming up clutch in big situations." 

In another familiar story, Sydney Hollings had a standout moment when she homered during the first game. It was a tenth dinger of the year for her, now tying for eighth-best in a WIU single season.
 

Game One

Omaha 9, WIU 1

An Omaha batter doubled to left-center at the bottom of the second before reaching third base on a groundout. She then completed the first run of the day on an RBI single. An inning later, with runners in scoring position, the Mavericks plugged in another run to go up 2-0.

Seeking to cause some damage, WIU found its answer in Hollings. The fifth-year connected on a solo homer on the first pitch in the fourth period. It was the Leathernecks' first hit of the outing.

Late in the fifth, seeing players on the corner bases, an RBI single gave Omaha an unearned run. A scoring burst happened for the team in the sixth: six runs on six hits. Rattling a final RBI triple led game one ending early due to the NCAA's 'run rule.'

Hollings ended with WIU's lone hit of the contest. She, Savannah Rodriguez, and Gabriela Drager all drew a walk each. Drager and Kellie Marcheschi paced the defense with four putouts apiece.
 

Game Two

WIU 3, Omaha 2

Western got off to a much quicker start, offensively, in the series closer. After an Ami Ill walk, Piper Foote made a sacrifice hit to help Ill advance to second. Rodriguez doubled to left-field for WIU's first run. Following up was Abrianna Gracia for another RBI - singling to around the same area where Rodriguez's hit landed.

Success on the batting end continued for the Leathernecks in the next inning. Drager singled and reached second base, with Ashley Minyard getting to first. Ill singled through the left side, bringing in the former and increasing the advantage to 3-0.

Omaha saw daylight during its turn to bat in the second. A dinger right down the left line plated two runs as the Mavericks trailed 3-2.

In what initially looked like a shootout, the game's pace slowed down considerably. A few more WIU hits were scattered through the next few innings. Omaha also found its way on base during the stretch, but Western did an admirable job keeping its defensive focus in not allowing any further runs. Two Carlin strikeouts and a spectacular diving catch by Minyard highlighted the Leathernecks' final defensive appearance.

Carlin (7-12) picked up the win after performing work in all seven innings. In addition, the senior struck out seven Mavericks. 

Rodriguez and Drager both finished with two hits, while four other WIU batters chipped in one apiece. Each of Western's three RBI also surfaced from a different player.

Western is back home for a slate of games this upcoming week. First up is a non-league, single-game matchup versus Eastern Illinois on Thursday (April 22).