Illini West traveled to Barry Western on Monday night, April 22, and came home a huge 16-3 winner.
Rachel James homered to left field to lead off the game. Kaelyn Ferrill grounded out to second base. Elly Krieg flew out to center field for the second out. Madalyn Boyer singled to center. Alivia Frazier courtesy ran for Boyer. Corin Robinson doubled to left field and advanced Frazier to third. Ava Shutwell ran for Robinson. Natalie Wibbell singled to second base and Frazier scored to make it a 2-0 game. Olivia Johnson reached on an error by the shortstop and Shutwell scored to make it 3-0. Ella Shutwell doubled to center field and Wibbell scored for a 4-0 lead. Kate DeSotel singled to left field, scoring Johnson for a 5-0 lead. James grounded out to end the half inning. Barry Western didn’t score in the home first inning.
The Chargers got a walk from Ferrill and Boyer but nothing else in the top of the second inning. Loryn White reached on an error to lead off the home second but would be left on as the next three batters made outs.
Johnson led off the third inning with a single to center field. Ella Shutwell lined out to left field for the first out. Madison Hall pinch ran for Johnson. DeSotel grounded into a fielder’s choice and Hall was out advancing to second. James ended the half inning grounding into a fielder’s choice and DeSotel was out at second. The Lady Wildcats went one-two-three in the home second inning.
Ferrill led off the top of the fourth inning with a single to right field. Krieg and Boyer walked to load the bases. Frazier ran for Boyer. Robinson hit a fly ball and reached on an error by the left fielder to score Ferrill and Krieg for a 7-0 lead. Ava Shutwell ran for Robinson. Wibbell hit a ground ball and reached on an error by the third baseman to load the bases. Johnson singled to left field and Frazier crossed the plate for an 8-0 advantage. Ella Shutwell singled to left field and Ava Shutwell scored to make it 9-0. DeSotel singled to shortstop, scoring Wibbell for a 10-0 lead. James grounded into a fielder’s choice and Johnson was out at home for the first out. Ferrill singled to right field, scoring Shutwell and DeSotel for a 12-0 lead. Krieg flew out to left for the second out. Boyer doubled to left field to plate James and Ferrill for a 14-0 lead. Robinson struck out swinging to end the half inning. Karli Colgrove tripled to right field to lead off the home fourth inning. Brooklyn Stolte singled to center to score Colgrove for a 14-1 score. The Lady Wildcats didn’t score the rest of the inning.
Madison Quesenberry singled to shortstop to lead off the top of the fifth inning. Raina Flynn reached on an error by the shortstop and AJ Cook drew a walk to load the bases. Kennedy Gunning struck out swinging for the first out. Payton Downs walked, scoring Quesenberry for a 15-1 lead. Ferrill grounded out to second base for the second out but scored Flynn for a 16-1 lead. Krieg flew out to center to end the half inning. Briley Westfall grounded out to third for the Lady Wildcats. Allison Woods singled to center field. Rachel McMullen singled to right field. Colgrove grounded into a fielder’s choice and Woods was out at third base. Stolte reached on an error by the third baseman and loaded the bases. White singled to shortstop, McMullen and Colgrove crossed the plate to bring the score to 16-3. Boyer struck out Emma Dixon swinging to end the game in the fifth inning.
Boyer got the win, giving up three runs (two of them earned) and eight hits. She struck out five and walked none. Faith Lynch took the loss, she went five innings, giving up 16 runs (eight earned) on 15 hits. She struck out two and walked six. Boyer, Ferrill, Wibbell, Ella Shutwell, DeSotel and Olivia collected two hits each. Ferrill led the team with three runs batted in.
The Chargers, now 11-5, were scheduled to travel to Brown County weather permitting on Tuesday, April 23.
