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For Immediate ReleaseEureka, Illinois
April 8, 2009
Ropp's triple, 2 RBIs not enough as greenville takes SLIAC twin bill
The EC Red Devils returned to their home diamond for their first games in Eureka in 18 days, but fell in both ends of a SLIAC doubleheader to Greenville College 8-2 and 2-0 Wednesday afternoon.
Nicole Ropp (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest) was the hitting star of the day for Eureka (5-17, 1-5 SLIAC). The senior went 2-for-3 in the opening game, including a triple and two runs batted in.
She drove in both runs in the bottom of the first inning of game one after a single by Carissa Alig (Metamora, Ill./HS) and sacrifice bunt by Amy Scammahorn (Decatur, Ill./Warrensburg-Latham) set up runners on first and third with no outs after the throw on the bunt play was mishandled at first base. Scammahorn stole second and Jill Doty (Metamora, Ill./HS) walked to fill the bases ahead of a two-run single to center by Ropp.
Unfortunately for Eureka, that hit would be the only one for the Red Devils in nine at bats with runners in scoring position. Greenville (10-14, 3-1 SLIAC), meanwhile, maintained a .429 batting average (6-for-14) with runners in scoring position. The Panthers scored in each of the first three frames, tallying four in the first, two in the second and one in the third to grab a 7-2 lead.
Both squads struggled defensively as eight of the 10 runs scored were unearned. Eureka starter Kelsey Brandt (Morton, Ill./HS) was the victim of five of those unearned tallies over her three innings pitched. Abby Segal (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) came on from the bullpen to toss no-hit ball over the final four frames for EC. The only run she allowed came on a passed ball in the sixth. Segal walked three and struck out four.
Brandt came back with renewed grit in the nightcap as she recorded a complete game, giving up just one earned run (two total) on six hits and no walks. The only runs Greenville could manage came in the first and third innings. The Panthers put together three consecutive singles in the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead, then manufactured an insurance tally in the third with a single, stolen base and a pair of sacrifices.
Greenville's Dana Fleshren, who was tagged with the loss in Eureka's 1-0 victory over the Panthers on March 25, gained some revenge against the Red Devils with a two-hit shutout. Both hits for Eureka came with two outs. Alig lined a solid single to center in the third and Scammahorn beat out an infield hit in the sixth.
As it turned out, Ropp's triple in the sixth inning of game one was the only hit on the day for extra bases for either team. All of Greenville's 16 hits (10 in game one and six in game two) were singles.
The Red Devils next will be in action Thursday, April 9 at 3:00 pm at Knox College in non-conference play.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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