MACOMB, Ill. - Thrilled to be back on its home field for a second consecutive weekend, Western Illinois softball (11-17, 2-4) welcomed South Dakota State (21-4, 6-0) to McKee Stadium. The Leathernecks fought hard but dropped two outings on Friday afternoon (Apr. 2).
 

Game One

SDSU 12, WIU 3

Stepping to her plate in her first at-bat, Savannah Rodriguez once again wasted zero time in setting the tempo. The junior laced a 3 RBI homer down right-center and out of the park, giving WIU an opening lead.

SDSU became alive in the second inning, tallying five hits in a five-run frame. In the third, the Jackrabbits added six more runs on four hits. Three dingers occurred during that period, with SDSU producing an insurance run on one more home run in the fourth. The first contest ultimately ended early in five innings.

Along with Rodriguez, Abrianna Gracia, Piper Foote, and Ashley Minyard all chipped in a hit apiece. Kellie Marcheschi racked up five putouts at the first-baseman spot.
 

Game Two

SDSU 7, WIU 0

Homers continued to fall for SDSU in game two, as the team delivered one each in the second, fifth, and seventh innings. 

WIU's first hits arrived from Gracia and Rodriguez in the fourth's bottom half. Gracia first singled to shortstop, and Rodriguez followed with a single to right-field. Sydney Hollings' walk gave the Leathernecks one more chance to make something happen in the seventh, but SDSU's defense ended things on two strikeouts.

Marcheschi again paced the infield with five putouts, while Bella Alvarez added four.

The Leathernecks and Jackrabbits will face off again for two more tomorrow (Apr. 3). Saturday's action starts at 11 a.m.