Eureka softball splits a pair with Alverno

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka College softball team kicked off the home slate of the 2016 campaign with a non-conference double header split against the Alverno Inferno. Eureka won game one, 5-0, behind the arm and bat of sophomore Kali George (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) before falling in extra innings, 6-5, in game two.

The split pushes Eureka's record to 8-2 through the first ten contests of the season.

In the circle George fired a complete-game shutout, scattering six hits while walking and striking out a pair. At the plate she drove in three runs, including a two-run triple to right field in the fifth.

Junior catcher Lexi Litwiller (Eureka, Ill./Eureka [Lincoln College]) finished game one with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate, driving in the game-winning run in the first on double down the left field line that scored senior Savanna Tapper(East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria).

Litwiller and freshman Kerrigan Dura (Brimfield, Ill./Brimfield) led the offensive charge in game two, each blasting their first home runs of the season and tallying three hits apiece. Dura's slam came in the first inning after Tapper was hit by her seventh pitch of the season, giving the Red Devils an early 2-0 advantage.

With the score knotted at three-all, Alverno tacked on two runs in the top of the eighth to break the tie and take a 5-3 lead. Litwiller answered the Inferno's pair of runs with one swing of the bat in the home half of the eighth inning, sending a 2-run bomb to center to even the score.

Alverno placed another run across in the top of the ninth and the Red Devils were unable to counter with their final three outs.

Junior Rachel Patterson (Tremont, Ill./Tremont [Illinois Central]) took a tough-earned loss in game two, tossing all nine innings. Patterson gave up 15 hits, struck out three and walked two.

The Red Devils continue non-conference action at home on Wednesday against the Rockford Regents. First pitch of the double header is scheduled for 3 p.m.