Eureka Greets Rose-Hulman with Hits, Runs and Brooms

EUREKA — After a pair of tough splits this week, the Eureka softball team got the brooms back out on Sunday.

The Red Devils bested Rose-Hulman 7-1 and 13-2 (five innings) at Sweitzer Field, notching their fourth sweep in seven tries this season.

With the win, EC improved to 10-4 on the year.

Game 1: Eureka 7, Rose-Hulman 1

Eureka couldn't quite put the eight-run rule in effect in Game 1, but the home team did score in every inning. After a two-run double by Adrianna Zeman put the Red Devils on the board in the first inning, they tacked on one more run per frame until the end.

The Red Devils outhit Rose-Hulman 12-3, with four different players — Raelyn Payne (Lexington, Ill./Lexington), Sydney Shubert (Canton, Ill./Canton), Morgan Ledbetter (Hanna City, Ill./Elmwood) and Klaire Wilmot (Las Salle, Ill./La Salle-Peru) — all tallying two apiece.

In addition to Zeman, Shubert and Wilmot both doubled and Payne homered.

In the pitcher's circle, Erin Smith (Dunlap, Ill./Dunlap) improved to 6-2 on the season with a complete-effort that only featured one run on three hits and no walks. She also recorded four strikeouts.

Game 2: Eureka 13, Rose-Hulman 2 (5 inn.)

Following the evenly balanced opener, EC scored runs in a couple bunches in Game 2. There was a four-run first, a one-run second and an eight-run third.

Shubert, Morgan Osborn (Washington, Ill./Washington), Allison Cagley (Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central) and Ledbetter all had two hits.

Payne, Zeman, Faith Bachtold (Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central), Wilmot and Alisyn Showalter (Havana, Ill./Havana) had one apiece, giving EC 13 on the game.

Following the four-run first, Osborn doubled to drive in a fifth run in the fifth and, after the team already plated four runs in the third, Ledbetter belted a grand slam to center field to make it 13-0.

It was her third of the weekend and sixth of the season – already tying her for the second-most dingers hit by a Red Devil in a single season. Tomi Tapper and Lexi Litwiller both racked up six in 2013 and 2016, respectively.

Sidney Wightman (Waterloo, Ill. / Gibault Catholic) posted her third win of the season after holding Rose-Hulman scoreless and hitless in three innings of work. Showalter limited the Fightin' Engineers to two runs on two hits and two walks in the last two innings.

Up Next: More non-conference play for the Red Devils. EC will host Knox for a doubleheader on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and play two more at St. Louis College of Pharmacy on Thursday at 2 p.m.