Eureka Falls to Monmouth in Non-Conference Doubleheader

MONMOUTH, Ill. – The Eureka softball team battled hard in a non-conference doubleheader against Monmouth on Saturday, but came up short in both games, losing 10-7 in Game 1 and 7-2 in Game 2.

GAME 1 – Eureka 7, Monmouth 10

The Red Devils mounted a spirited comeback in Game 1, but Monmouth pulled ahead late to earn a 10-7 win.

Monmouth opened with four runs across the first two innings, capitalizing on a mix of base hits and defensive miscues. Eureka responded with a massive seven-run third inning, sparked by a string of clutch at-bats.

Alayla Thornton (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria), Delaney Douglas (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland), and Danika Apostolovich (Riverside, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) each delivered RBI singles, while Chloe Smith (Sullivan, Ill./Sullivan) knocked in a run as well. A patient approach at the plate led to several walks that brought in additional runs, and Eureka found themselves on top, 7-4.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Monmouth's Waymire launched a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to tie it at 7-7. The Scots regained control in the sixth with a double by Covey and an RBI single by Lewis, making it 10-7. Monmouth's pitching staff held strong in the final inning, keeping the Red Devils off the board to secure the win.

GAME NOTES

• Delaney Douglas went 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored.
• Alayla Thornton tallied two hits, including a double, and one RBI.
• Chloe Smith recorded two hits, one RBI, and scored a run.
• Alyssa Bundren (Spring Bay, Ill. / Metamora) pitched 5 2/3 innings, striking out two while allowing nine earned runs on 15 hits.

GAME 2 – Eureka 2, Monmouth 7

Monmouth struck early and maintained their lead throughout Game 2 to complete the doubleheader sweep with a 7-2 victory.

The Scots jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning and then added three more in the second, aided by timely hitting and a throwing error to take a 4-0 lead.

Eureka responded in the third inning after Callie Warlow (Le Roy, Ill./Le Roy) worked a walk and came around to score on an obstruction call following a double from Thornton. Thornton then scored on an error to bring the Red Devils within two, trailing 4-2.

Monmouth answered right back, scoring one run in the third on a wild pitch and adding two more in the fifth thanks to an RBI double by Hardy and a single from Ashby, sealing the 7-2 win.

GAME NOTES

• Alayla Thornton went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored.
• Callie Warlow contributed with a walk and a run scored.
• Alyssa Bundren pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing one hit and no earned runs.
• Isabel Ramirez (Tonopah, Ariz./Buckeye Union) also made a strong relief appearance, throwing 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run.

UP NEXT

Eureka returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 8, with a doubleheader at Augustana starting at 4:00 p.m.