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For Immediate Releaseeureka, illinois
March 17, 2009
St. Patrick's Day home opener brings no change of luck for devils
It may have been St. Patrick's Day, but the luck of the Red Devils softball team did not improve in dropping the home opening doubleheader to Robert Morris College of Springfield Tuesday afternoon by scores of 1-0 and 8-2.
Neither pitcher in game one was charged with an earned run as Abby Segal (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) of Eureka (0-8) and Allie Neff of Robert Morris (4-5) combined for 19 strikeouts in 14 innings, allowing just nine hits.
The Eagles managed only two hits off of Segal through the first four innings, but the Red Devils could not take advantage. Eureka's lead off hitter, Carissa Alig (Metamora, Ill./HS), gave EC its best chance in the first inning when she singled to left, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch all with no outs. However, the next three hitters were retired in succession.
Robert Morris got the only run it would need in the fifth, taking advantage of a defensive miscue. Renae Kruger reached base with one out on a bloop single to third base that appeared would spin foul, but stopped right on top of the line. After a stolen base, Kruger raced home with the game's only tally when a fly ball to the outfield was misplayed on the windy day.
Segal finished the game giving up just five hits in seven innings, while striking out eight and walking one. She has kept the Red Devils close in games this season despite EC being shut out in all four of her starts. Against Robert Morris, she was able to pitch around two errors in the sixth to keep EC within 1-0.
The Red Devils' Allie Trainer (Manito, Ill./Midwest Central) got as far as second base in the fifth after a one out single only to be stranded. Nicole Ropp (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest) then gave Eureka some life in the last at bat when she doubled to right center representing the tying run. Eureka had two chances to bring her in to tie the game up, but both hitters when down on strikes to end the home team's hopes.
Game two began in much the same fashion, except Eureka cashed in on its opportunity in the first inning. Alig was originally called out to lead off the bottom of the first, but a wise move by EC coach Stacey Sparks to ask for an appeal resulted in the umpires overturning the call, saying the first baseman pulled her foot off the base. Alig, who went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Amy Scammahorn (Decatur, Ill./Warrensburg-Latham), advanced to third on a wild pitch and lifted Eureka to a 1-0 lead by racing home on a passed ball.
That is where the count stayed until the third when Robert Morris pushed across four runs. The Eagles benefitted from three errors, which caused all of the runs to be unearned. Eureka starter Kelsey Brandt (Morton, Ill./HS) was taken out after the third inning not having surrendered an earned run or walk.
The Eagles got on the board twice more in the fifth and seventh, finishing with eight runs on seven hits. They were efficient, leaving just three runners on base.
Scammahorn gave the Eureka fans some excitement in the sixth as she circled the bases with her first career hit. She lined a base hit up the middle, which got by the center fielder, allowing Scammahorn to round third base standing up. When the relay throw to home plate bounced away, Scammahorn took off toward home and narrowly beat the play with a nice slide to bring EC within 6-2.
The Red Devils are next slated to travel to Monmouth College for a doubleheader starting at 3:00 pm on Thursday, March 19. They will finish off the week with a home twin bill versus Rockford College in Eureka at 1:00 pm.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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