Box Score 2014 Midwest Conference Softball Classic
April 11-13 @ Eastside Centre in East Peoria, ILApril 13Carroll 8, Knox 5The Prairie Fire came back from an early deficit, but Carroll reclaimed the lead and didn't give it up on Sunday at the Midwest Conference Classic.
The Pioneers grabbed an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning off Knox sophomore pitcher
Karli Shields (Naperville, IL, Neuqua Valley).
The Prairie Fire roared back with four runs in the top of the third for a 4-2 advantage. Back-to-back RBI singles by seniors
Alyssa Bleidorn (Batavia, IL, Batavia ) and
Amber Eisha (South Wilmington, IL, Gardner-South Wilmington) tied the game. Junior
Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline) followed with a two run double to score Bleidorn and Eisha and put Knox on top.
Carroll (4-17) matched Knox in the bottom of the third with four runs to take the lead for good. The first three batters reached on a single, an infield error, and a single to load the bases. Two consecutive run scoring singles tied the game, 4-4. After a pop out to second base, a two run double gave the Pioneers a 6-4 lead.
The fourth inning looked promising for Knox after first-year
Samantha Nordstedt (Skokie, IL, Niles North) led off with a single. First-year
Kaly Davidson (Needham, MA, Needham) followed with a shot over the left fielder's head that put runners on second and third with nobody out. However, the umpiring crew ruled that Nordstedt left first base too soon – resulting in her being called out and nullifying the hit by Davidson. The Pioneers took advantage by getting Davidson and junior
Rhiannon Neuville (Eugene, OR, South Eugene) to ground out to end the inning.
Carroll scored two more times in the bottom of the fourth on two hits and two Knox errors to extend the lead to 8-4.
After Shields retired the Pioneers in order in the bottom of the fifth, sophomore
Chelsey Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) belted a double to lead off the top of the sixth. A possible rally by the Prairie Fire (2-23) was halted by an approximately 2 1/2 hour weather delay.
After the teams resumed play on a different field, junior
Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County) picked things right back up with a single that scored Howard to cut the deficit to 8-5. Price advanced to second on an error, and then moved to third on a ground ball out by Shields. Carroll got out of the jam when Nordstedt grounded out to second and Price was cut down at home trying to score.
The Pioneers notched the win by recording three straight ground ball outs by the Prairie Fire in the top of the seventh inning.
Shields (1-13) took the loss after tossing six innings and allowing five earned runs on eight hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Knox had eight hits in the contest but committed five errors. Bleidorn led the offense with two hits, an RBI, and a run scored.
The Prairie Fire resume play with a Midwest Conference South Division doubleheader at home against Monmouth College on April 18. The first game is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.
