The Illini West softball team traveled to West Prairie on Monday, May 6, and came home an 8-2 winner.
Illini West and West Prairie didn’t score in the first inning.
Ella Shutwell grounded out for the first Charger out in the second inning. Rachel James singled to left field. Kaelyn Ferrill sacrificed to third base. James advanced to third on a passed ball. Elly Krieg plated James on a single to center for 1-0 lead. Krieg stole second. Madalyn Boyer drew a walk. Alivia Frazier courtesy ran for Boyer. Krieg advanced to third and Frazier to second on a wild pitch. Natalie Wibbell walked to load the bases. Corin Robinson singled to center to score Krieg and Frazier for a 3-0 lead. Olivia Johnson grounded into a fielder’s choice and Ava Shutwell, courtesy runner for Robinson, was out at second to end the half inning.
The fourth inning was scoreless.
Wibbell struck out looking for the first Illini West out in the fifth inning. Robinson reached on an error by the third baseman. Ava Shutwell courtesy ran for Robinson. Johnson singled to center field and Shutwell scored on the throw for a 4-0 lead. Madison Hall pinch ran for Johnson. Payton Downs singled to center and advanced Hall to third. Ella Shutwell struck out looking for the second out. Downs advanced to second on a defensive indifference. James reached on an error by the right fielder to score Hall and Downs for a 6-0 advantage. Ferrill popped to second for the third out. West Prairie’s Macy Branch walked to lead off the home fifth inning. Kenadie Webster singled on a bunt to the pitcher and Branch advanced to second. Emily Martin reached on an error by the right fielder. Branch was caught stealing home for the first out. The runners advanced to third and second. Jersey Brown singled to left field to plate Webster to make it 6-1. Martin advanced to third. Claire Nelson singled to left field and scored Martin for a 6-2 score. The Lady Cyclones didn’t score the rest of the inning.
Krieg walked to open the top of the sixth inning for the Chargers. Krieg stole second. Boyer struck out looking for the first out. Krieg stole third. Kennedy Gunning struck out swinging for the second out. Robinson singled to right field to score Krieg. Johnson grounded out for the third out.
Lindsey Dunn drew a walk to open the home sixth inning. But the next batters made outs to end the inning.
Downs popped to the pitcher to open the top of the seventh inning. Ella Shutwell walked. James flew out to left and Shutwell advanced to third on an error by the left fielder. Ferrill singled on a bunt and Shutwell scored to up the lead to 8-2. Belle Petty struck out Krieg looking to end the half inning.
The Lady Cyclones failed to score in the home seventh, giving the Chargers the 8-2 road win. Boyer was the winning pitcher. She gave up seven hits and two runs (just one earned), struck out two and walked five. Petty took the loss. She surrendered 11 hits and eight runs (four earned), struck out 10 and walked five. James, Krieg, Downs, Johnson and Robinson each collected two hits. Robinson led in runs batted in with three. Johnson, Ferrill and Krieg had a run batted in each.
The Chargers, now 14-7, were scheduled to take on Peoria Heights on Tuesday, May 7, and Biggsville West Central on Wednesday, May 8.
