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For Immediate Release
April 22, 2010
Eureka Softball Sweeps Twinbill From Principia
EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka College softball team continued its march to its first-ever St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament berth on Thursday, sweeping a SLIAC doubleheader from Principia in Eureka. Senior outfielder Amy Scammahorn (Decatur, Ill./Warrensburg-Latham H.S./Parkland) singled home the winning run to give Eureka a 3-2 walk-off victory in the opener, while the Eureka offense smashed 15 hits in support of a two-hit shutout by sophomore pitcher Sarah Jesse (Bloomington, Ill./Dee-Mack H.S.) in a 12-0 win in game two.
Principia (0-16, 0-12 SLIAC) took control of game one with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning for an early lead. Marina Whitney and Jocelyn Shoemake smacked back-to-back RBI doubles, each with two outs, to push the Panthers in front, 2-0.
The Red Devils (11-17, 9-5 SLIAC) responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single from senior catcher Cathy Kalnicky (Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield H.S.) to trim the deficit to 2-1. Eureka scored again one inning later on an RBI groundout from Jesse to score sophomore shortstop Carissa Alig (Metamora, Ill./Metamora H.S.) to force a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning. Principia threatened to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning when it loaded the bases with only one out, but Eureka starting pitcher Kelsey Brandt (Morton, Ill./Morton H.S.) fielded a soft ground ball hit by Maggie Sweeney and turned a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning, the second 1-2-3 double play of the game executed by the Red Devils.
In the bottom of the seventh, senior third baseman Jill Doty (Metamora, Ill./Metamora H.S./Illinois Central) drew a one-out walk to set the stage for Scammahorn, who singled to right field two batters later. Sweeney misplayed the bloop single in right field, allowing Doty to score the winning run from first base and secure a 3-2 win for the hosts.
Brandt was sharp in the circle for Eureka, allowing two runs on five hits for her sixth victory of the season. Scammahorn finished the game 2-for-3 and collected her first extra-base hit of the season when she hit a one-out double in the fifth inning.
Eureka pounced on the Panthers early in the nightcap, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning behind an RBI single from Kalnicky. The Red Devils pushed their lead to 4-0 in the second before breaking the game wide open with a six-run third inning for a 10-0 lead. Freshman outfielder Lauren Kao (Normal, Ill./Normal Community H.S.) delivered the big blow in the inning with a two-run home run to left-center field. Eureka knocked out seven hits in the inning, four of which went for extra bases. The Red Devils added two more runs in the fifth thanks to a two-run single from sophomore outfielder Allie Trainer (Manito, Ill./Midwest Central H.S.). The game ended after the fifth inning via the SLIAC’s eight-run rule.
The offensive outburst was more than enough for Jesse, who allowed only two hits through five innings for her second complete game shutout of the season. She struck out three and walked none. Kalnicky went 3-for-4 in the nightcap, while Doty was 2-for-3 with her first career triple and a career-high five RBI.
The doubleheader sweep improves Eureka’s SLIAC record to 9-5. As of early Monday evening, the Red Devils own a half-game lead over Greenville for the third spot in the tournament and a two-game lead over MacMurray for the fourth and final berth. Eureka will close the 16-game SLIAC schedule this Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. doubleheader against Spalding in Louisville, Ky.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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