MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State softball team built an early lead, but could not hold off host Western Illinois as the Leathernecks won the third game of the series 3-2 on Saturday at the Mary Ellen McKee Stadium in Macomb, Ill.
Morehead State (10-15/4-8) won the first game of the day to capture the overall series, but Western Illinois (13-21/3-9) scored twice in the fourth and once in the seventh to claim the Ohio Valley Conference victory in the nightcap. It was MSU's third contest of a six-game road trip. WIU's win snapped a six-game skid.
"We carried the energy over with us into the last game. We scored first and kept battling. We struggled a bit on the mound in the fourth and that put us in a tough position," said coach
Megan Griffith. "The team fought fiercely 'til the end, but we had a few miscues in the seventh that got us."
The series now sits 2-2-1.
Morehead State had a chance to take the lead in the first inning. Junior center fielder
Darlene Montoya drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball and then was part of a double steal with junior shortstop
Samantha Cervantes. But the Leathernecks were able to get the final out and squash the threat.
The hosts also fell just short of getting on the board in the bottom of the frame. Freshman center fielder Malia Robertson singled to lead off the inning. However, she was called out trying to steal second after leaving early. Two batters later, senior third baseman Bella Alvarez doubled to right center, but the visitors were able to induce a ground out to end the inning.
The Eagles began the scoring in the second. Freshman third baseman
Sela Pickford drew a leadoff walk and senior second baseman
Peyton Jordan doubled to left-center field. Fifth-year designated player
Trinity Spear flew out to center field, but it was deep enough to allow Pickford to score. However, Jordan was thrown out on the play to end the inning.
Western Illinois continued the trend in the bottom of the second. Freshman shortstop Sophia Sanchez reached on an error and junior second baseman Beth Pavy walked. The pair was able to move up a base after a fly out to right field, but the inning ended with them stranded.
WIU led off the third with a single and then added another hit with one out, but the Eagles turned a double play (Pickford to freshman first baseman
Kendra Lewis) to end the threat.
MSU added its second run in the fourth. Junior left fielder
Ilencia Lightbody reached on an error, stole second and advanced to third. Pickford flied out, but the hit was deep enough to score Lightbody.
The Leathernecks tied the score in their half of the fourth. The first two batters reached base on a walk and hit by pitch, respectively. Pavy then loaded the bases with a bunt and senior first baseman Gabriela Drager singled to center field to drive in the first run. Another walk led to the second run, but the Eagles stopped the bleeding after getting the next two batters to ground out to freshman pitcher
Addie Stem, who threw the ball home for the force out.
Only 16 batters came to the plate from the fifth to the top of the seventh. But that pattern ended in the seventh as Robertson led off with a single. She stole second, and after an Alvarez walk, both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. With one out, freshman catcher Valerie Combs then hit a sharp ground ball to Cervantez at short, but Robertson beat the throw home, sliding under the tag for the game-ending run.
MSU finished with four hits, while the hosts tallied seven. Senior catcher
Kaytlyn Cripps was 2-for-3, with Jordan and sophomore right fielder
Taikibrea Campbell recording the other hits. Pickford had the lone RBI, while Pickford and Lightbody each scored.
Robertson led Western Illinois at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance. Alvarez added two hits. The Leathernecks sent 31 batters to the plate and finished the afternoon without striking out.
Stem picked up the loss to drop to 5-9. She pitched six and a third innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs and four walks.
Junior Raven Morrison started the game but was pulled after four innings. Senior Emily Price came in to finish it out and pick up the win to improve to 5-10. Morrison gave up three hits, two earned runs, with three walks and a strikeout. Price surrendered one hit, no runs and no walks, while striking out three in three innings of work.
MSU stays on the road to face Lindenwood next Saturday and Sunday in St. Charles, Mo. The Lions and Eagles will play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. ET on the first day and then finish with a 1 p.m. ET game on the second day.
Morehead State's next home outing is Wednesday, April 10, when it hosts Eastern Kentucky in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
