Eureka’s Early Lead Slips Away in Road Doubleheader Loss

WHEATON, Ill. – The Eureka softball team came out swinging in Wednesday's doubleheader at Wheaton, putting up seven runs in the opening frame of Game 1. But the Red Devils couldn't hold off the Thunder, falling 10-9 and 15-1.

GAME 1 – Wheaton 10, Eureka 9

Eureka came out firing in Game 1, scoring seven runs in the top of the first inning, but Wheaton chipped away and walked it off in the seventh to secure a narrow 10-9 victory.

The Red Devils' first-inning rally started with back-to-back singles from Chloe Smith (Sullivan, Ill. / Sullivan) and Alayla Thornton (East Peoria, Ill. / East Peoria). Ashlyn Voyles (Farmer City, Ill. / Farmer City) brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Danika Apostolovich (Riverside, Ill. / Riverside-Brookfield) and Lexi Liptak (Lemont, Ill. / Lemont) followed with RBI singles, and Bre Dixon (Newark, Ill. / Newark Community) smashed a two-run double to left. Smith capped off the inning with an RBI single in her second at-bat of the frame, making it 7-0.

Wheaton got on the board in the third with an RBI double from Figueroa and began their comeback. In the fourth, Callie Warlow (Le Roy, Ill. / Le Roy) came around to score an unearned run to push Eureka's lead to 8-1. However, Wheaton responded with a three-run bottom half, including a homer by Brown, cutting the lead to 8-4.

Three unearned runs in the sixth helped Wheaton tie the game, and although the Red Devils briefly reclaimed the lead in the seventh after Smith's RBI single plated Liptak, the Thunder answered with two runs, sealing the game on a walk-off sacrifice fly.

GAME NOTES

• Chloe Smith went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Lexi Liptak was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
• Bre Dixon recorded a double, two RBIs, and a run scored.
• Callie Warlow added two hits, including a double.
• Alyssa Bundren (Spring Bay, Ill. / Metamora) started in the circle, allowing four runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings.

GAME 2 – Wheaton 15, Eureka 1 (5 Innings)

Wheaton's offense stayed hot in Game 2, erupting for a nine-run third inning as they defeated Eureka 15-1.

The Thunder struck first in the second inning with two runs, including a two-RBI single from Hillyer. Eureka responded in the third, as Chloe Smith doubled to left center, then scored on an RBI groundout from Callie Warlow, narrowing the gap to 2-1.

Wheaton blew the game open in the bottom half of the inning with nine runs, highlighted by Figueroa's two-RBI single and a three-RBI double from Nahorniak. They tacked on four more in the fourth with help from walks, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly.

Eureka was unable to respond in the fifth, and the game ended by run rule.

GAME NOTES

• Chloe Smith went 1-for-2 with a double, a run scored, and a stolen base.
• Callie Warlow drove in Eureka's lone run and added a hit.

UP NEXT

Eureka returns home on Saturday for a SLIAC doubleheader against Webster. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Sweitzer Field.