Eureka Softball Comes Up Short Against Wheaton

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka softball team dropped both games of a home doubleheader against Wheaton on Friday, falling 6-0 in game one and 7-2 in game two.

GAME 1: Wheaton 6, Eureka 0

Wheaton took an early lead in the opener, using back-to-back walks to start the game before capitalizing on a passed ball and an RBI single to go ahead 2-0.

Eureka threatened in the bottom of the first with consecutive walks but was unable to push a run across, trailing 2-0 after one inning.

Shaylun Christenberry (Brocton, Ill./Shiloh) settled in from there, holding Wheaton scoreless over the next 3.2 innings. The Red Devils created another scoring opportunity in the third when Tylar Whitaker (Country Club Hills, Ill./Rich Township) doubled and Kayleigh Zerrusen (Teutopolis, Ill./Teutopolis) was hit by a pitch, eventually putting runners on second and third, but a groundout ended the inning.

Wheaton broke the game open in the sixth, using a two-run triple and a sacrifice fly to extend its lead to 5-0 before adding another run in the seventh. Eureka was held scoreless in the bottom half as the Thunder secured the 6-0 victory.

Whitaker led the offense, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk and a double. Lexi Liptak (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) recorded Eureka's only other hit.

Christenberry tossed 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and six walks. Mallory Kohnen (New Athens, Ill./New Athens) worked 2.1 innings in relief, allowing four runs on two hits and five walks.

GAME 2: Wheaton 7, Eureka 2

Wheaton again struck early in game two, loading the bases in the first inning and scoring on a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead. Kaitlyn Robinson (Macomb, Ill./Macomb) limited the damage, but the Thunder erupted for five more runs in the second inning to take control.

Wheaton added another run in the third to extend its lead to 7-0 before Robinson settled in, holding the Thunder scoreless over the final four innings.

Eureka broke through in the fourth inning. Whitaker led off with a single, and Breannyn Dixon (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) reached on an error to put two runners on. Olivia Hurst (Ava, Ill./Freeburg Community) brought home the Red Devils' first run with an RBI groundout, making it 7-1.

The Red Devils added another run in the sixth as Whitaker drew a walk and Dixon followed with a single. Liptak then reached on an error that allowed Whitaker to score, trimming the deficit to 7-2.

That would be as close as Eureka would get, as Wheaton closed out the sweep.

Dixon went 2-for-3 to lead the offense, while Whitaker finished 1-for-2 with a walk and scored both runs. Ryleigh Jourdan (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) added Eureka's only other hit.

Robinson went the distance in the circle, allowing seven runs (four earned) on nine hits and five walks while matching her season-high with seven strikeouts.

UP NEXT

Eureka will look to bounce back in its first road trip of the season, traveling to Cornell for a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch set for 1 p.m.