MOREHEAD, Ky. — Morehead State scored twice in the fifth but host Western Illinois answer with four unanswered runs over their last two at-bats to pull away to a 4-2 victory in the final game of a three-game softball series on Sunday at the Mary Ellen McKee Stadium in Macomb, Ill.
Neither team was able to generate much offense through the first four innings that included a total of seven hits and nine baserunners.
MSU picked up a pair of singles from freshman right fielder Cheyenne Christman and sophomore designated player Sophie Collins in the second, and then got another from junior center fielder Maddy Christopher in the third. Junior second baseman Sage VanDemark's third-inning double nearly got the visitors on the board. However, VanDemark was caught in a rundown between second and third, leaving Christopher at third base.
However, Morehead State (2-21/1-8) broke things open in the fifth. Freshman shortstop Kyle Mann started with a one-out infield single and then junior first baseman Noemye Letendre followed with a single to center field. After a ground out advanced both runners a base, Sage VanDemark singled to center to drive both home. Junior third baseman Sela Pickford added another single and advanced to second on a throw, but both she and VanDemark were left stranded when the inning ended.
Western Illinois (8-17/3-5) responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the score. A trio of singles did the trick, with Payton Brown and Sophia Sanchez driving run a run apiece. The Leathernecks nearly added to their total, but Angie Ortiz's bases-loaded poop outs ended the inning.
After the Eagles went down in order in the top of the sixth, the hosts kept the pressure on in the bottom of the stanza. A single, sacrifice, walk, single and error did the trick as WIU tacked on a pair of runs to surge ahead 4-2.
Morehead State sent four batters to the plate in the top of the seventh, but the Blue and Gold could only get junior first baseman Nome Letendre on base after being hit by a pitch, before the game drew to a close.
MSU finished with eight hits, three errors and left six runners on base. Western Illinois accounted for nine hits, no errors and stranded 10.
VanDemark was the Eagles' offensive standout, finishing 2-for-4, with two RBI. Six others tacked on a hit: Christopher, Pickford, freshman right fielder Cheyenne Christman, Collins, Mann and Letendre. Mann and Letendre scored the runs.
The Blue and Gold did a nice job putting the bat on the ball, finishing the contest with just one strikeout, its fewest in a game since April 27, 2025, when it did not strike out at all against Western Illinois at home.
Addie McLaughlin and Kam Uttendorf topped the Leathernecks with two hits apiece. Brown added a pair of RBI, while McLaughlin scored twice.
Junior Ainsley Stubbs (2-7) suffered the loss working an inning and a third in relief. She finished with two runs on two hits, with one strikeout and one walk. Only one of her runs was earned. Freshman Alice Harris started the game and pitched for four and two-thirds innings. She surrendered seven hits, two runs (both earned), with three strikeouts and a walk.
Libby Spaulding (6-7) earned the win after pitching for two and two-thirds scoreless innings. She gave up just two hits, without a walk or strikeout. Audrey Clark got the start and threw four and a third innings, allowing six hits, with two (earned) runs, with one strikeout and no walks.
Morehead State will look to reverse its fortunes as it returns home to host Tennessee Tech for a three-game series next weekend. The teams will meet twice on Saturday, with first pitch for game one at noon, then conclude with a single game on Sunday at noon.
