By: After a tough ending to a 4-3 loss to Lebanon Valley, Westminster (PA) was no match for Mariah Hedges as the Lady Blues earned their first victory of the season, 5-1.
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Illinois College softball team was able to salvage a split of two games on Monday at the Diamond 9 Sunkissed Games. After falling to Lebanon Valley College in eight innings by a score of 4-3, the Lady Blues rode strong pitching from
Mariah Hedges to a 5-1 victory over Westminster College (PA).
The Lady Blues reach the midway point of their trip to Florida tomorrow with matchups against Meredith College at 1:30 p.m. (EST) and Thiel College at 3:45 p.m. (EST).
Game One – Lebanon Valley 4, Illinois College 3 (8 innings)
The Lady Blues left 11 runners stranded in the game, then lost a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning with Lebanon Valley scoring the final two runs of the game on a two-out error.
The game opened with Illinois College loading the bases in the top of the first, but Lebanon Valley escaped the jam unscathed. IC also had runners stranded in the second and fourth innings before the Dutchmen took a lead in the bottom of the fourth. Pitcher Lexi Windsor laid down a perfect bunt with a runner on third to get LVC on top in the contest.
After Illinois College wasted chances again in the fifth and sixth innings, the Lady Blues tied the score in the top of the seventh as
Jackie Reilly jacked a one-out home run over the fence in left to knot the game at 1-1 and send the game to extras.
Using international rules, both teams began the eighth inning with a runner on second. Illinois College took a 3-1 lead in the top of the inning, scoring on a Lebanon Valley error and again later on a wild pitch. The Dutchmen started the inning off with a bunt single to put runners on the corners, then scored a run on a shallow fly ball to right. With two down in the inning, an error with runners on second and third allowed both runners to score, giving Lebanon Valley the walk-off win.
Despite pitching very well for 5.2 innings,
Jess Feig took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year. She allowed four hits and four runs, none of which were earned.
Game Two – Illinois College 5, Westminster (PA) 1
In the nightcap, Westminster College (PA) took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but managed only three hits against Hedges the rest of the way. Illinois College scored two runs in the bottom of the first and tacked on three more in the third to get the win.
A two-out single by cleanup hitter Breanna Tetirick brought in the opening run of the game for the Titans. Illinois College dominated from that point on, with
Frankie Sikora driving in Reilly to tie the score at 1-1 before
Lea Hall bunted
Maddy Morgan home to make it 2-1 after the first inning.
The bases were loaded for Illinois College in the bottom of the third with two outs when
Mikayla Greenwood attacked the first pitch of her at-bat and doubled to the wall, clearing the bags and giving the Lady Blues a 5-1 lead. Hedges handled it after that, allowing only three base-runners and setting the Titans down in order in both the fourth and seventh innings.
Hedges moved to 1-1 on the season, going the distance and scattering four hits while striking out two.
