Box Score DECATUR, Ill. - Elmhurst traveled to Decatur, Illinois, on Saturday for a CCIW doubleheader against Millikin, but only one game was completed before rainy conditions forced the cancellation of game two.
In game one, Millikin controlled the action from start to finish, shutting out Elmhurst 8-0 in five innings. The Big Blue used a combination of timely hitting and aggressive baserunning to steadily build their lead, while Kelsey Bruno tossed a dominant one-hitter in the circle to earn her 12th win of the season.
Despite the loss, Elmhurst found ways to get runners aboard with patience at the plate, drawing seven walks. Ali Mockenhaupt recorded the Bluejays' lone hit, a single in her only official at-bat, and also added a stolen base. Danielle Hood, Chiara O'Leary, and Bailley Harveth also swiped bags, showing some aggressiveness on the basepaths. O'Leary started in the circle and worked 4.1 innings, allowing eight hits and seven earned runs while striking out one.
Millikin struck first in the bottom of the first inning as Charley Condill reached and eventually came around to score on a groundout by Abby Willis, giving the Big Blue an early 1-0 lead. The offense added to the tally in the second, with Condill again in the mix—this time singling to left center to drive in Emily Kobel, making it 2-0. After a quiet third inning, Millikin extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Ava Zukowski scored on a sacrifice fly from Willis, though the run was unearned.
The Big Blue broke the game open in the fifth with a five-run outburst. Ann Marie Meek doubled through the left side to score two, and Haley Willan brought in another run on a groundout. Willis capped off her four-RBI day with a single to right center that plated two more, pushing the lead to 8-0. Elmhurst was unable to respond in the top half of the fifth, ending the game via run-rule. Game two of the doubleheader was later canceled due to persistent rain and deteriorating field conditions.
With the loss, Elmhurst finished the season at 6-26-1 overall and 2-13 in conference play, while Millikin improved to 22-13 and 10-5 in the CCIW.
