West Central Reporter

Western Illinois faced Tennessee Tech in a doubleheader on March 22, ending with losses in both games. The first game was closely contested, with Western Illinois scoring in three of the first five innings. Lillie Wools delivered a notable performance, achieving two hits and an RBI while pitching a complete game. Payton Brown and Megan Leonard also contributed to the team's offense. Despite their efforts and recording 11 hits, Western Illinois left 12 runners stranded on base. Wools pitched for 8.1 innings but allowed five earned runs, leading to a 5-4 walk-off win for Tennessee Tech.

In the second game, Western Illinois initially took a strong lead with a 5-0 score in the first inning. Sophia Sanchez had three hits and two RBIs, supported by contributions from Ruby Tarr and Leonard. However, Tennessee Tech's offense responded robustly, scoring 14 runs on 14 hits. Western Illinois' pitchers struggled collectively, allowing 11 earned runs, resulting in a 14-6 defeat after five innings.

Despite these setbacks, Western Illinois showed offensive promise with a total of 20 hits over the two games. They aim to recover as they conclude the series against Tennessee Tech on March 23 at noon.

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