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hit
George Hartmann
8
St. Thomas UST 4-20
9
Winner Western Illinois WIU 5-19
St. Thomas UST
4-20
8
Final
9
Western Illinois WIU
5-19
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
St. Thomas UST 0 1 0 6 1 0 0 8 10 4
Western Illinois WIU 0 1 3 4 1 0 X 9 9 5

W: Carlin, Abby (5-6) L: Hopkins, Kendall (0-2)

13
Winner St. Thomas UST 5-20
5
Western Illinois WIU 5-20
Winner
St. Thomas UST
5-20
13
Final
5
Western Illinois WIU
5-20
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
St. Thomas UST 7 1 0 4 1 13 9 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 4 1 0 5 8 5

W: Baniecke, Megan (2-9) L: Carlin, Abby (5-7)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Split League Opening Doubleheader

The offense found a groove, scoring 14 runs across two games.

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois University Fighting Leatherneck softball team played on Saturday (March 26), splitting a doubleheader with the St. Thomas Tommies in the opening day of Summit League action. Game one was a back-and-forth affair that saw the lead change four times as both offenses were clicking, and game two saw the Tommy offense come to life for 13 total runs.

"It was great to start Summit League play with a win, and I think our youth showed a bit during game two – it's not an excuse, we've just got to get tougher at closing the door so it's something to build on. Regardless, I'm proud of the offensive production in both games because we were behind… to be able to come back like that is a good sign," head coach Alisa Goler said. "Game one we got the big hit, game two we had runners on base often but did not get the big hit. Overall, in both games, we did not make the plays that we should and I hope to build on that."
 
Game one: Western Illinois 9 – 8 St. Thomas
Maddy Anderson got the start in the circle for Western Illinois in game one, going three and a third innings while allowing six hits and five runs (three earned) but striking out four Tommies. Emily Price then allowed two hits and two runs (both earned) in just under one inning of relief, before Abby Carlin came in to pitch the final three innings. Carlin pitched quite well in relief, giving up just two hits and one run while striking out four across three full innings of work.

After going down 1-0 early in the second, Gabriela Drager doubled to score Savannah Rodriguez and tie the game. Rodriguez would then hit a two-run double in the third after St. Thomas' left fielder lost the ball in the sun and wind, and Bella Alvarez hit another double to left to score Rodriguez. Though the Tommy offense would put six runs on the board in the top of the fourth, Western responded with four of their own to regain the lead.
 
Ami Ill and Georgia Rea both walked with the bases loaded to score two, before Bella Alvarez hit a sacrifice fly to right to push Kaylee Ketcherside across the plate. An error by the St. Thomas catcher opened the door for Ami Ill, who bolted from third base to score and take the lead. In the fifth inning, Torince Muczynski hit a single up the middle and Megan Leonard crossed the plate to give Western a one-run lead that would hold. Rodriguez and Alvarez both finished the game with multiple RBIs, as six different Leathernecks batted in runners. Leathernecks combined for nine runs on nine hits, with five errors.
 
Game two: Western Illinois 5 – 13 St. Thomas
Abby Carlin started in game two and pitched three innings, allowing eight runs (one earned) and five hits while striking out five. Emily Price pitched the game's final two innings, giving up four hits and five runs (three earned) as the Leatherneck defense struggled with five total errors.
 
The third inning saw Western Illinois' offense come alive, hitting seven-straight singles to cut into St. Thomas' lead. Torince Mucynzki, Ami Ill and Kaylee Ketcherside singled to start the inning, with Georgia Rea, Savanna Rodriguez, Bella Alvarez and Gabriela Drager hitting four more consecutive singles to earn all four Leatherneck runs in the inning. Alvarez would walk with the bases loaded in the fifth inning to push the fifth run across, as she finished the day with a team-high four RBIs.
 
"Bella had a really good day on both sides of the ball, and I know she's been working through some stuff so I'm really proud of her for showing up like that. I think Ami Ill also made some great catches in center - especially with the wind. I don't know if Ami has hit a ball softly in the last eight games, she's had some balls ripped right at people," Goler said. "Those two really stood out to me."
 
The teams will play once more, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday (March 27).
 
 
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