Lady Blues Shut Down Eureka

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College softball team posted a pair of shutouts in a doubleheader sweep of Eureka in the final non-conference contests of the regular season on Wednesday at Jessica Kamp Field.

The Lady Blues won the opener, 8-0, and took the nightcap, 5-0.

IC is now 24-10 overall. Eureka fell to 7-19.

Game 1: IC 8 EC 0 (6 innings)
The early portion of the game was a pitcher's duel as neither team was able to light the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth inning when IC scored five times. 

Gabby Miller got the scoring parade started when she stole third base and scored after the Eureka throw went into left field. Alivia Darbe then followed by blasting a solo home run to left. Shelby Seiler stroked an RBI triple to right field before Brooke Loveall smacked an RBI single. Ezzy Mauermann closed out the inning's scoring with an RBI double.

The Lady Blues put the game away with three runs in the sixth inning. Maddie Adams stole third and scampered home after another throwing error. Kendall Cole rapped a sacrifice fly to drive in a run and Casey Navarro closed out the contest with an RBI single.

IC's Jordan Closs had another brilliant outing, working the first five innings and allowing just one hit with five strikeouts to win her 11th game of the season. Christine Myers worked the final inning in the circle, retiring all three batters she faced. 

Darbe, Loveall, Mauermann, and Seiler all had two hits to pace IC's 11-hit attack.

Game 2: IC 5 EC 0
The Lady Blues jumped out early, getting a run in the first inning when Cole singled home Miller.  IC added another run in the fifth when Adams singled home Mauermann.

IC broke the contest open in the sixth with three runs thanks to an RBI double from Megan Doolittle that scored Elysia Hand, a single by Halie Williams that drove home Doolittle, and an Adams single to score Cambria Currie.

The IC pitching staff did the rest. Currie worked the first five innings to get the win, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts. Avery Fritz earned her first save of the season, tossing the final two frames and allowing three hits with a pair of strikeouts.

Adams had three hits and a pair of RBI for the offense, while Miller added two hits.

Up Next
The Lady Blues will be home for the final time in the 2026 regular season on Saturday when they host Knox in a Midwest Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.. IC's Senior Class will be honored before the game at 12:45 p.m.