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Red Devils Sweep Knox for First Wins of the Season

Red Devils Sweep Knox for First Wins of the Season

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka softball team swept Knox on Tuesday, securing its first two wins of the season. The Red Devils dominated Game 1 with a 13-4 victory and used a nine-run fourth inning to take Game 2, 15-7.

GAME 1 – Eureka 13, Knox 4 (5 Innings)

The Red Devils secured their first win of the season in dominant fashion on Sunday, defeating Knox 13-4 in five innings.

Eureka came out swinging in the first inning, capitalizing on a Knox error to get on the board. Bre Dixon (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) then delivered a two-run double, and Alayla Thornton (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) followed with an RBI double, giving the Red Devils a commanding 4-0 lead.

Eureka added to its advantage in the second when Chloe Smith (Sullivan, Ill./Sullivan) scored on an error before Ashlyn Voyles (Farmer City, Ill./Farmer City) knocked an RBI double to make it 6-0.

Knox pushed back in the third and fourth innings, plating four runs to cut the lead to 6-4. However, the Red Devils responded in the bottom of the fourth with a game-sealing offensive outburst. Mackenzie Daniels (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) lined an RBI single, followed by a two-run double from Voyles. A string of hits, including a three-run double by Smith, stretched the lead to 13-4.

Jeri Bradford (Homewood, Ill./Chicago Christian) pitched a complete game, holding Knox to four runs on seven hits while striking out three.

GAME NOTES

  • Ashlyn Voyles led the Red Devils' offense, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs.
  • Bre Dixon added a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs and two runs scored.
  • Chloe Smith recorded three RBIs on a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning.
  • Jeri Bradford earned the win, allowing four runs over five innings while striking out three.

GAME 2 – Eureka 15, Knox 7 (5 Innings)

The Red Devils secured the sweep with a win in Game 2 on Sunday, erupting in the fourth inning to defeat Knox 15-7 in five innings. The victory also marked freshman pitcher Isabel Ramirez's (Tonopah, Ariz./Buckeye Union) first win of her college career.

Eureka jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Ashlyn Voyles got caught in a rundown between first and second, allowing Lexi Liptak (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) to cross the plate for a 1-0 advantage.

The Red Devils added to their lead in the second when Callie Warlow (Le Roy, Ill./Le Roy) singled home a run, followed by a fielder's choice that allowed another to score, making it 3-0. In the third, Warlow came through again with a two-run single before Voyles drove in another run to extend the lead to 6-0.

Knox answered with a seven-run fourth inning, capitalizing on multiple walks and errors to take a 7-6 lead.

However, Eureka responded emphatically in the bottom half of the inning. Alayla Thornton delivered the biggest blow with a three-run double to put the Red Devils back in front, 9-7. Bria Wessel (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) added a sacrifice fly, and Voyles followed with an RBI single, which eventually led to a chaotic sequence that saw three more runs cross the plate. By the time the inning ended, Eureka had exploded for nine runs and a commanding 15-7 lead.

Ramirez shut down Knox in the top of the fifth to seal the victory for Eureka.

GAME NOTES

  • Freshman pitcher Isabel Ramirez earned her first collegiate win, throwing 1.2 innings with two strikeouts while allowing one earned run.
  • The Red Devils' offense pounded out 16 hits, with Ashlyn Voyles leading the way, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
  • Callie Warlow tallied three hits and three RBIs in three at bats.
  • Alayla Thornton delivered a clutch three-run double in Eureka's massive fourth inning.

UP NEXT

The Red Devils will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup when they host Mount Mary for a doubleheader on Friday, March 14. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. as Eureka aims to build on its first two wins of the season.