ROSEMONT, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay softball team continued its season at the Total Control Invitational on Saturday afternoon, as it played its third and fourth games in two days against Western Illinois and Eastern Kentucky. The Phoenix (3-6) dropped an 8-4 decision over the Leathernecks (3-2) in matchup one, followed by an 11-2 loss to Eastern Kentucky (5-2).
Western Illinois 8, Green Bay 4
Starting pitchers Bailey Smaney (GB) and Kacyee Hart (WIU) put up zeros in the opening two frames, before the Leathernecks opened the scoring in the top-half of the third inning.
After Smaney retired the lead-off hitter, Western Illinois' Karissa Kouchis doubled to left before a ground out gave the Phoenix a chance to get out of the inning unscathed. Instead, the Leathernecks had four consecutive batters reach base via two singles, a walk and an extra-base hit. After an RBI single from Payton Abbott brought home the game's first run, second baseman Kelsey Marlow drove a 1-1 offering deep to center with the bases loaded, tripling home three more runs to give Western Illinois a 4-0 lead.
The Leathernecks tacked on another run in the next frame after a lead-off walk came around to score on a RBI single from Kouchis, extending its advantage to 5-0.
Green Bay finally broke through in the bottom half of the inning, after a lead-off walk by Allie Taylor was cashed in on a RBI triple by freshman DH Acacia Tupa. The Phoenix pulled within three runs, 5-2, after another freshman, third baseman Jenna Smarzinski, singled to left center. Following a walk and a sacrifice advanced runners to second and third, Green Bay scored two more runs on a fielding error, drawing with one, 5-4.
However, that would be as close as the Phoenix would come, as Western Illinois added three more in the top half of the fifth to extend its lead back to four, 8-4, rounding out the scoring.
Eastern Kentucky 11, Green Bay 2 (Five Innings)
Green Bay's Kelli Hutchinson led game two off with a single to third base, followed by Abby Brinkmeier earning a walk to grant the Phoenix a pair of baserunners with no outs. Taylor decided she was not going to let the scoring opportunity go to waste, as the junior ripped one to left field to plate Hutchinson and put the Phoenix on top, 1-0.
Eastern Kentucky was not at a disadvantage for long, however, plating nine-straight runs in the first two frames to construct a 9-1 lead and put Green Bay at a strong disadvantage.
After both teams were scoreless in the third, Tupa attempting to get a rally started in the top of the fourth by sending one over the fence to notch her first career home run in a Phoenix jersey. The rally attempt, however, would end after the Tupa homer, as Green Bay went on to fall 11-2 in five innings.
The Phoenix will return to the diamond bright and early tomorrow, taking on Quinnipiac at 9 a.m. in the final day of the Total Control Invitational.
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