MACOMB, IL- The Western Illinois softball team closed out play at the Bellarmine Round Robin in Louisville with a 2-2 showing. In the first games the Leathernecks rolled past Bellarmine 17-3 before closing the day with a 5-2 victory over Northern Kentucky. Unfortunately the Leathernecks dropped their second games falling 0-6 against Bellarmine and 0-1 against Northern Kentucky.
G1 - Western Illinois 17, Bellarmine 3
The Leathernecks' offense exploded early and often in the opener, scoring in each of the five innings to cruise to a 17–3 win. Western Illinois tallied 14 hits and took advantage of five Bellarmine errors while showing patience at the plate with six walks.
Payton Brown drove in four runs and finished 3-for-5, while Angie Ortiz added three RBIs, including a two-run triple. Maria Luna went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Kam Utendorf scored three runs.
On the mound, Libby Spaulding picked up the win after working three innings, allowing three runs while striking out two. Lillie Wools followed with two scoreless innings to close out the game.
G2 - Western Illinois 5, Northern Kentucky 2
In a tighter contest later in the day, Western Illinois used timely hitting and strong pitching to secure a 5–2 win over Northern Kentucky. After trailing 0–1 in the fifth inning, the Leathernecks broke through with a two-run double from Ruby Tarr to take the lead. They added three more runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by a two run RBI single from Payton Brown.
Addie McLaughlin went 3-for-4 and scored a run, while Kam Utendorf also posted a multi-hit game.
Kaitlyn Green earned the win on the mound, throwing five innings and allowing two unearned runs. Libby Spaulding recorded the save with two shutout innings, striking out three.
G3 - Western Illinois 0, Bellarmine 6
Western Illinois was held to just two hits as Bellarmine secured a 6–0 victory Saturday.
The Leathernecks threatened early when Payton Brown singled and stole second in the opening frame, but Bellarmine starter Bennett settled in and kept Western Illinois off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Bennett tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing only two hits while striking out three.
Bellarmine broke through in the third inning when Manning delivered an RBI triple down the left-field line before an error allowed another run to score. The Knights added four runs in the fourth, highlighted by Guthrie's two-run single and an RBI double from Jones, stretching the lead to 6–0.
Western Illinois collected its only hits from Payton Brown and Maria Luna, but could not generate sustained offense.
On the mound, Audrey Clark took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) over 3.2 innings. Lillie Wools provided relief, surrendering one run across 2.1 innings.
G4 - Western Illinois 0, Northern Kentucky 1
Western Illinois dropped a tightly contested pitcher's duel, falling 1–0 to Northern Kentucky later Saturday.
The Norse scored the game's only run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from DiMemmo, bringing home Brow after a pair of early singles.
From there, both pitchers controlled the game. Western Illinois starter Libby Spaulding delivered a strong complete-game effort, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out two and keeping the Leathernecks within striking distance throughout.
Western Illinois' best scoring chance came in the first inning when Angie Ortiz doubled and advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt, but the Leathernecks were unable to push the run across. Ortiz finished with two of the team's three hits, while Sophia Sanchez added the other.
Northern Kentucky's Flores earned the shutout victory, limiting Western Illinois to three hits and no walks across seven innings.
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