For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

April 22, 2008

Segal shutout in game 2 keeps Eureka's playoff hopes alive

Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2

EUREKA — Eureka College split its third consecutive St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader as the Red Devils opened a six-game homestand Monday.  Fontbonne University won the opener 6-3 before EC took game two 4-0 behind a four-hit shutout by Abby Segal (Peoria, Ill./Limestone).

Eureka's overall record is at the .500 mark for the seventh time this season at 13-13.  At 6-6 in the SLIAC, EC is still in the mix for a conference tournament spot, but will likely need to win its final two league contests and get help from other squads in order to qualify.  Fontbonne is now 7-15, 5-3 SLIAC.

Emily Forbes (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) went 3-for-4 and Cathy Kalnicky (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield) had two hits to provide some offensive punch for Eureka in game one, but it as the visiting Griffins that had the upper hand at the end.

Three of the first four Red Devil hitters singled in the bottom of the first as Eureka grabbed quick 1-0 lead.  Kalnicky drove in Molly Wolber (Rock Falls, Ill./HS), who had lined a lead off single to center, with a base hit to center of her own.  However, EC would leave the bases loaded in the first, and be held to one hit and no runs over the next four frames.

Fontbonne enjoyed a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the sixth.  The Red Devils appeared to be ready to seize control of the game again when Forbes scored after a Kalnicky single when the throw to get Forbes out at third base bounced into the dugout allowing her to score.  Despite Kalnicky reaching third base with one out, she was unable to score the tying run and Fontbonne held on to a 3-2 edge.

The crushing blow came in the seventh when Griffins pitcher Brittany Kirn helped her own cause by lifting a three-run double to left, padding the Fontbonne cushion to 6-2.  Eureka came back with a run in the bottom of the seventh after a lead off double by Jill Doty (Metamora, Ill./HS) and RBI ground out, but the damage had been done.

Fontbonne recorded half of their 12 hits with two outs leading to five two-out runs batted in.  Eureka had seven hits.  Both sides left six runners on base.

Kirn gave up three runs (one earned) over seven innings pitched for Fontbonne.  She struck out six and walked two.  She started the nightcap in the circle as well, but was undone by untimely miscues by her defense.

The Griffins committed an error in each of the first three innings, and the Red Devils took advantage, denting the scoreboard in each frame for a total of four runs.

Again it was Forbes and Kalnicky igniting the Eureka offense right out of the gates in the first inning.  Forbes beat out an infield single with two outs, went to second on a wild throw on the same play, then raced home on an RBI double by Kalnicky to again put EC in front 1-0.

This time, Eureka would expand the lead.  Brandi Payne (Eureka, Ill./HS) and Nicole Ropp (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest) each sent base hits into center and stole second to set the table.  A two-out walk to Wolber later loaded the bases with two outs.  It looked like Fontbonne would elude any further trouble when
Brittany Gardner (Mooresville, Ind./HS) skied a pop up to the shortstop, but it was mishandled.  Payne and Ropp scored in the process, moving Eureka ahead 3-0.

The final run of the game came in the third as Payne smashed a liner to center that tipped off the fielder's glove allowing Kalnicky to score from second.  Kalnicky, who registered three hits in the game to go 5-for-7 in the doubleheader, singled to lead off the stanza.

After eluding a bases loaded jam with one out in the first inning, Segal effectively shut Fontbonne down the rest of the way.  The Griffins managed just two hits over the final six innings.  Their best chance to get back in the game came in the third, but Segal pitched around two errors and stranded a pair Fontbonne runners in scoring position.

Segal posted her third shutout of the season by striking out seven, walking two and allowing four hits over seven innings.  She held Fontbonne to a .118 average (2-for-17) with runners on base.  The Red Devils
out-hit Fontbonne 8-4.  One of those was a single by Wolber that extended her hitting streak to nine games.

The Red Devils will try to get over .500 for good Wednesday as they hose Lincoln Christian College for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 pm.

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For More Information Contact:

Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu