Greenville Halts Red Devils’ Win Streak With Sweep

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka College softball team saw its six-game St. Louis Intercollege Athletic Conference win streak come to an end Monday, dropping both games of a league doubleheader to Greenville in Eureka. The Panthers held off a late EC rally to win game one, 4-1, before pulling away to beat the Red Devils 12-4 in game two.

The visitors broke a scoreless tie in game one when back-to-back doubles from Kate Jolliff and Becca Oldham pushed Greenville to a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Cassandra Lueking's leadoff homer in the fifth made it 2-0 and Cayla Speaks hit a solo shot in the sixth for a 3-0 cushion. The GC lead ultimately swelled to 4-0 in the seventh when Tiffany Samsoe doubled and later scored on Jolliff's single.

Down by four runs in the seventh inning, EC took advantage of a Greenville error and back-to-back singles from sophomore Kylie Whightsil (Spring Valley, Ill./Hall H.S.) and Erin Smith (Dunlap, Ill./Dunlap H.S.) to pull within 4-1. With Eureka's tying run at the plate, the Panthers finished the contest by turning a double play to secure a 4-1 win.

Eureka was limited to five hits in the opener, including a third-inning double by junior center fielder Krysten Wallace (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone H.S.).

A pair of unearned runs gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two. Eureka promptly answered with a leadoff home run by sophomore shortstop Kerrigan Dura (Edwards, Ill./Brimfield H.S.) in the bottom of the frame and the GC lead was 2-1.

The Panthers scored the next seven runs, including a four-run third inning highlighted by run-scoring hits from Shelby Cash and Amanda Atteberry. The Greenville lead was 9-1 in the fifth when senior third baseman Bridget Bankes (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria H.S.) and freshman catcher Morgan Osborn (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) drove in runs to trim the deficit to 9-3. The rally wasn't enough and the Panthers ultimately left town with a doubleheader sweep.

Bankes and sophomore first baseman Madaline Kane (Havana, Ill./Havana H.S.) each had two hits in game two. Dura's home run was her second of the season.

Eureka's conference record drops to 9-7. The Red Devils will have to sweep Saturday's SLIAC doubleheader from Spalding to secure the fourth and final spot in next week's league tournament.

Prior to Saturday's clash with Spalding, the Red Devils will visit Knox Tuesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader. The games with the Prairie Fire are the final two non-conference bouts of the 2017 regular season.