Eureka Softball Dominates Maranatha Baptist in Doubleheader Sweep

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka softball team swept Maranatha Baptist on Tuesday with a dominant 31-3 win in Game 1, marking their largest victory since 1996, followed by a 20-2 win in Game 2.

GAME 1 – Eureka 31, Maranatha Baptist 3 (5 Innings)

Eureka exploded for 31 runs in its most lopsided win in nearly three decades, overwhelming Maranatha Baptist with a relentless offensive attack.

The Red Devils quickly answered an early Sabercats run in the first inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to take a 4-1 lead. Bria Wessel (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) and Bre Dixon (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) each drove in a run, setting the tone for what would become a historic game.

The second inning saw Eureka unleash an 11-run onslaught on 11 hits, with Wessel crushing a three-run homer and Alayla Thornton (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) continuing the barrage two-run homer. More defensive errors by the Sabercats allowed Eureka to stretch its lead to 15-1.

Thornton struck again in the third with her second home run of the game, a two-run blast that highlighted an eight-run inning. Lexi Liptak (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) contributed with a two-run double, growing the advantage to 23-1.

Eureka wrapped up its offensive clinic with eight more runs in the fourth. Wessel capped off her spectacular outing by hitting for the cycle, including a two-run double as the final piece of the achievement. Claire Schaffner (Delavan, Ill./Delavan) chipped in with a two-RBI double, sealing the Red Devils' commanding 31-3 victory.

GAME NOTES

• Bria Wessel hit for the cycle, leading the Red Devils with seven RBIs.
• Alayla Thornton had a monster game, going deep twice while scoring five runs and driving in four.
• Lexi Liptak scored four runs and collected three RBIs.
• Claire Schaffner finished with four runs, two RBIs, a double, and two stolen bases.

GAME 2 – Eureka 20, Maranatha Baptist 2 (5 Innings)

The Red Devils kept the momentum rolling in Game 2, jumping out to a 10-0 first-inning lead and cruising to a 20-2 win to complete the sweep.

Thornton wasted no time making an impact, launching a two-run homer to center—her third long ball of the day. Eureka capitalized on more Maranatha errors while Danika Apostolovich (Riverside, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) and Alyssa Bundren (Spring Bay, Ill./Metamora) added key RBIs to put the Red Devils firmly in control.

Eureka tacked on another run in the second and five more in the third, highlighted by Thornton's two-run triple to right. By the time the inning ended, the Red Devils were in full command with a 16-0 lead.

Liptak and Thornton continued their offensive tear in the fourth, driving in additional runs to push the lead to 20-0. Maranatha scratched across two runs in the fifth, but the Red Devils' victory was never in doubt.

GAME NOTES

• Alayla Thornton capped off her huge day with six RBIs, a home run, and a triple.
• Lexi Liptak went 3-for-3, scoring three runs and driving in two.
• Alyssa Bundren contributed three RBIs and a double while also earning the win on the mound, pitching five innings with five strikeouts and just one earned run.
• Natalia Espinosa (Austin, Texas/Lake Travis) added three hits and two RBIs to the offensive surge.

UP NEXT

The Red Devils will open SLIAC play on Saturday in Mississippi, taking on MUW in a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.