Eureka Dominates Knox in Road Sweep

GALESBURG, Ill. – The Eureka softball team swept Knox on the road Wednesday, earning a pair of run-rule victories, 10-2 in six innings and 12-4 in five innings.

GAME 1: Eureka 10, Knox 2 (6 innings)

Eureka fell behind early in the opener as Knox plated two runs in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.

The Red Devils responded in the second when Kaitlyn Robinson (Macomb, Ill./Macomb) singled and stole a base before Kayleigh Zerrusen (Teutopolis, Ill./Teutopolis) delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 2-1. Eureka evened the score in the third after Tylar Whitaker (Country Club Hills, Ill./Rich Township) walked and stole second, then came home on Ashlyn Voyles (Farmer City, Ill./Blue Ridge) single and a Knox error.

Eureka took its first lead in the fourth. Robinson singled and later scored on a Zerrusen pop up to make it 3-2.

The Red Devils broke the game open with a six-run fifth inning. Danika Apostolovich (Riverside, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) drew a leadoff walk and later scored after Whitaker reached on an error. Voyles followed with a double, and Olivia Hurst (Ava, Ill./Freeburg Community) added an RBI single. Breannyn Dixon (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) contributed an RBI groundout before Robinson reached on an error that scored another run. Shaylun Christenberry (Brocton, Ill./Shiloh) and Zerrusen capped the inning with back-to-back RBI doubles to extend the lead to 9-2.

Eureka added one more in the sixth. Whitaker singled, Voyles reached on an error, and Hurst singled to load the bases before Dixon brought home a run with a single.

Robinson handled the rest in the circle, keeping Knox scoreless in the bottom half to secure the run-rule victory.

Whitaker led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, one RBI, and three runs scored. Hurst finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Zerrusen went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Voyles added two hits, including a double, and Robinson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored.

Robinson also earned the win, tossing a complete game while allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits.

GAME 2: Eureka 12, Knox 4 (5 innings)

After two scoreless innings, Knox took a 1-0 lead in the third before Eureka answered with a decisive 10-run fourth inning in the second game.

Following two quick outs, Voyles sparked the rally with a double. Dixon then gave Eureka the lead with a two-run home run. Robinson, Christenberry, and Zerrusen followed with three consecutive doubles to push the lead to 4-1. Ryleigh Jourdan (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) added an RBI single, and Lexi Liptak (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) kept the rally alive with a single.

Apostolovich, Whitaker, and Voyles then delivered three straight RBI doubles to extend the lead to 9-1. Dixon later reached on an error that scored another run, capping the inning at 10-1.

Knox answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 10-4, but Eureka added insurance in the fifth. Liptak and Apostolovich singled before Whitaker doubled in a run, and Voyles followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 12-4.

Eureka closed it out by holding Knox scoreless in the fifth to complete the sweep.

Whitaker paced the offense in game two, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs, and a run scored. Dixon finished 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, while Voyles went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Apostolovich added two hits, including a double, with an RBI and two runs scored, and Liptak contributed two hits and two runs scored.

In the circle, Christenberry started and earned the win, throwing 3.0 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits. Mallory Kohnen (New Athens, Ill./New Athens) entered in relief, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit.

UP NEXT

Eureka returns to SLIAC play on Friday with a road doubleheader at Spalding. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, with game two set for 8 p.m. ET.