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For Immediate Release
Softball -- March 13, 2011
Berry Surges Past Eureka Softball, 9-1
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Eureka College softball team opened its 2011 season Sunday morning, dropping a 9-1 decision in six innings to Berry (Ga.) at the Cici’s Spring Break Challenge on the campus of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
Playing as the visitors and batting first, the Red Devils struck in the first inning for a 1-0 advantage. Freshman right fielder Caty Eeten (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S./Illinois Central) recorded an infield single in her first collegiate at-bat and later stole second base to start the rally. A groundout moved Eeten to third before junior center fielder Sara Hamilton (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S./Illinois Central) drove home Eeten with a two-out single up the middle to push Eureka in front, 1-0.
Berry found the equalizer in the bottom of the second inning. Eureka starting pitcher Kelsey Cochran (Galva, Ill./Galva H.S.) retired the first two batters of the inning before the next two Vikings reached base via infield single and a hit batsman. Blaze Wilson put Berry’s run-scoring play in motion, reaching on a bunt single to Cochran. When Cochran threw to first, Sara Vigue scored all the way from second base on the play to force the 1-1 tie.
Eureka sophomore left fielder Lauren Kao (Normal, Ill./Normal Community H.S.) blooped a double down the left field line to open the third inning, but a pair of groundouts and a strikeout ended the threat with Kao stranded at third base. The Vikings took the lead for good with a three-run third inning. Denice Aleman, Vigue and Hailley Oxner each collected run-scoring hits during the inning before Cochran coaxed a groundout to escape the inning with the bases loaded.
The Red Devils threatened in the fourth inning, but were unable to take advantage of a pair of Berry throwing errors and couldn’t push a run across. The Vikings scored another run in the fifth inning and broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning. Chelsea Usher’s RBI single up the middle put the NCAA eight-run rule into effect.
Five different Red Devils recorded a hit during the contest, including the first career hits for Eeten and Cochran. Kao’s leadoff double in the third inning was Eureka’s lone extra base hit of the morning. Vigue led the Vikings with two RBI and two runs scored in a 3-for-3 showing. Berry starter Caillee Shamound tossed a complete game, allowing one run on five hits over 6.0 innings. She struck out five and walked only one.
The Red Devils will play their second game of the day at 1 p.m. against host Rhodes.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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