Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

DECATUR, Ill. - The Elmhurst College softball team moved to 7-11 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW after splitting its conference-opening doubleheader at Millikin University. Elmhurst took game one 7-3 and dropped game two 2-1.

ELMHURST 7, MILLIKIN 3 - Elmhurst rallied for five runs in the sixth inning to pull away for the 7-3 victor.

Millikin led 3-2 after five innings, but the Bluejays sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth inning and took advantage of a key Millikin error to score five runs. Elmhurst opened the inning with two singles and a walk to load the bases. After a strikeout, Gina Venier singled home the game-tying run. Amanda Bowlin's run-scoring groundout gave Elmhurst a 4-3 lead. Back-to-back errors by the Big Blue allowed Elmhurst to tack on three unearned runs to pull away for the 7-3 win.

Rose Wysocki led the Elmhurst offense by finishing 3-of-4 at the plate. She scored a run and also drove in a run for the Bluejays. Bowlin also drove in a pair for Elmhurst. 

Stephanie Iori evened her record at 5-5 by pitching the complete game victory. Iori scattered six hits and two walks over seven innings. She allowed just two unearned runs while striking out six.

MILLIKIN 2, ELMHURST 1 - Millikin earned the doubleheader split by edging Elmhurst 2-1 in a pitcher's dual.

The game was scoreless for the first five innings, but Millikin jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth when Colleen Bryan singled in a run. Elmhurst quickly tied the score in the bottom of the sixth. Venier led off the inning with a double and moved to third on Bowlin's single. Lindsey Mikulecky singled home Venier to tie the score at one. Millikin was able to limit the damage as the Bluejays stranded two runners.

Millikin scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh. Meghan Matthews led off the frame with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice fly. After a pop out, Millikin took the lead after an Elmhurst error allowed Matthews to score.

The Bluejays had a chance to knot the score in the bottom of the seventh but came up short. The Bluejays put runners on first and second with just one out, but a fly out and pop out ended the Bluejays' scoring threat and the game.

Mikulecky and Sarah Cademartori collected two hits apiece in the Elmhurst loss.

Lindsay Nauman took the loss for the Bluejays despite allowing just six hits and one earned run. She walked two and fanned six.

Elmhurst travels to Illinois Wesleyan University on Sunday, April 3.