Eureka’s Season Ends Against Webster in SLIAC Tournament, 6-0
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Eureka softball team's 2022 season came to an end in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals with a 6-0 loss against Webster on Tuesday.
The defending-champion Gorloks held the Red Devils scoreless and only allowed two hits – both by the league's top hitter, Raelyn Payne (Lexington, Ill./Lexington). EC's senior shortstop singled twice and walked once.
In her first plate appearance in the top of the first, she drew a walk and got caught stealing for only the second time this season.
She led off with a single in the fourth and seventh innings, and got out on double plays both times.
Webster tallied six runs on 10 hits and did most of its damage in the third inning.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the second, the Gorloks rallied for five runs on six hits and one EC error to take a 6-0 lead.
The Red Devils pulled senior pitcher Sidney Wightman (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault Catholic) in the third and moved her to right field in the place of junior Christine Mepham (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais). Mepham, who pitched the rest of the way, held the Gorloks to one run on six hits and one walk.
Tuesday was the last collegiate for Payne and Wightman, who were both contributors on the 2019 SLIAC league and tournament championship team, and accomplished a lot in their four-year careers.
Wightman finished her career with 21 wins, landing just outside the top 10 in program history. Payne ends her career ranked second in program history in batting average at .485, in stolen bases with 55 and tied for second in home runs with 14. She ranks third in hits (167), walks (50), runs scored (134) and doubles (42). She also set the single-season program record with 45 stolen bases and ranks in the top in several other single-season categories.
The Red Devils end the first-season under coach Juell Hodges with a 14-24 record. Despite ending the season on a lull, the maroon and gold exceeded expectations this spring. They stayed competitive in most league doubleheaders, finished in the top five in the league and took games away from three of the four teams that finished ahead of it, sparking excitement for the program's future.