IW softball splits with Eureka

EUREKA, Ill. - The SLIAC softball race is still as tight as ever after Iowa Wesleyan's marquee doubleheader at Eureka on Wednesday. The two teams, both of which are battling for a conference tournament spot, split the doubleheader with IW winning 1-0 in game one and falling 15-1 in game two.

Morgan Christner pitched a four-hit shutout in game one to anchor the Tigers to the win. IW's lone run came in the first inning, courtesy of Alex Eyman.

Kayla Ford led off the top of the first with a single, but the next two batters struck out. Christner reached on an error, advancing Ford to third and putting runners at the corner for Eyman. Eyman singled to center to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Eureka had a chance early, putting the first two batters on, but the next batter popped up to the catcher, and the next one hit into a fly-ball double play.

Eureka put the leadoff runner on in the bottom of the seventh. Christner was able to get ouf of the jam by retiring the next three batters and IW held on for the win.

Allison Daum went 2-3 in game one. Eyman was 2-4 with an RBI. Christner struck out 10 batters in the circle to earn the win, and walked just one.

IW struck early again in game two. Ford led off with another single, and Christner brought her home with a two-out RBI double.

Eureka took control from the bottom of the first inning on. They scored three each in the first and second innings, seven in the third and two in the fourth.

IW tallied just five hits in game two. Ford went 2-2 with a run scored to lead the team.

Emma McDanel had a rare rough outing in the circle, but it was the error bug that hurt the Tigers the most. McDanel gave up 15 runs, but only two of them were earned. She gave up 16 hits and one walk, while striking out one batter. Daum came in to get one out in relief.

IW is now 23-8 overall and 10-4 in conference play. They sit in fifth place in the SLIAC, behind Spalding (4-0), Westminster (12-2), Eureka (9-3) and Greenville (12-4). The Tigers will have a week to prepare for their final four conference games next week, when they host Blackburn on Thursday, April 25, and Spalding on Saturday, April 27.