Eureka Opens SLIAC Play with Doubleheader Split

BATESVILLE, Ark. – The Eureka softball team opened SLIAC play with a split on Saturday, earning a dominant run-rule victory in game one before falling in the nightcap against Lyon.

Eureka claimed a 15-5 win in six innings in the opener, giving head coach Jared Sotelo his first win at the helm, before Lyon responded with a 7-4 victory in game two.

GAME 1: Eureka 15, Lyon 5 (6 innings)

After a scoreless first inning, Eureka broke through in the second and never looked back. Ashlyn Voyles (Farmer City, Ill./Blue Ridge) led off the inning with a walk before Olivia Hurst (Ava, Ill./Freeburg Community) singled to put two runners on. Danika Apostolovich (Riverside, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) followed with a two-run triple and scored on a throwing error to give the Red Devils a 3-0 lead.

Shaylun Christenberry (Brocton, Ill./Shiloh) and Kaitlyn Robinson (Macomb, Ill./Macomb) each added hits in the inning, while Lexi Liptak (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) drove in another run to extend the lead to 4-0.

Lyon answered with a run in the second and surged ahead with four runs in the third to take a 5-4 advantage. Eureka quickly responded in the fourth, as Apostolovich drew a leadoff walk and Christenberry doubled to put two in scoring position. Robinson tied the game with a sacrifice fly before Christenberry scored on a wild pitch to give Eureka a 6-5 lead.

The Red Devils pulled away with a four-run fifth inning. Kayleigh Zerrusen (Teutopolis, Ill./Teutopolis) and Voyles reached to start the frame before Breannyn Dixon (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) delivered an RBI single. Apostolovich added another RBI knock, and Robinson capped the inning with a bunt single to make it 10-5.

Eureka continued to add insurance in the sixth. Zerrusen doubled to lead off the inning, and the Red Devils loaded the bases before Apostolovich was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Christenberry followed with an RBI single, and Apostolovich later stole home. Liptak capped the scoring with a two-run single to push the lead to 15-5.

Robinson closed out her third consecutive scoreless inning in the circle to secure the run-rule victory.

Apostolovich led the offense, going 2-for-2 with a triple, five RBIs, four runs scored, a walk and a hit by pitch. Robinson finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs while tossing all six innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts. Christenberry added a perfect 3-for-3 performance with two doubles, while Liptak contributed two hits and two RBIs.

GAME 2: Lyon 7, Eureka 4

Lyon struck first in the nightcap, scoring two runs in the opening inning and holding Eureka scoreless through the first three frames.

Eureka evened the game in the fourth when Hurst singled to start the inning before Dixon launched a two-run home run to tie the score at 2-2. The long ball marked Dixon's second career home run.

Lyon answered immediately with a four-run bottom half of the inning to regain control at 6-2.

The Red Devils cut into the deficit in the sixth. After Apostolovich singled, Tylar Whitaker (Country Club Hills, Ill./Rich Township) blasted a two-run home run, the first of her career, to bring Eureka within two runs at 6-4. Lyon added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning and held Eureka scoreless in the seventh to seal the win.

Apostolovich capped a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Whitaker finished 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Dixon added a two-run homer.

Mallory Kohnen (New Athens, Ill./New Athens) went the distance in the circle, allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits while striking out two.

UP NEXT

Eureka returns home on Tuesday to host Monmouth in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.