Western Illinois Powers Past Bison 6-1

FARGO, N.D.--Emma Jarrell hit her first home run of the season and Kelsey Michelini tossed a four-hitter as Western Illinois defeated North Dakota State 6-1 in a Summit League game played at the Ellig Sports Complex on a blustery Saturday, April 7. The Leathernecks won two of three games in the series.

North Dakota State (25-14, 9-3 Summit) is scheduled to play at the University of South Dakota on April 13-14 in Vermillion.

Western Illinois (22-16, 12-3 Summit), which finished with 12 hits, did all of its scoring over the final three innings.

The Leathernecks scored twice in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Briana Williams singled for left and Sammy Marshall walked. KC Dunne stroked a RBI single to left to chase home Williams, while Marshall raced home on an error.

Jarrell lined the first pitch she saw with two out and two runners on in the sixth inning over the left field fence to extend the lead to 5-0.

North Dakota State cut the deficit to 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jamie Gay lined a home run to left field. It was Gay's first homer of the season.

Jamie Goss led off the seventh inning with a blast to center field to close out the scoring. Ashley Campbell, Lia Romero, Marshall and Dunne each finished with two hits for WIU.

Michelini (12-6) limited NDSU to six hits over 11 innings pitched over the weekend. She struck out four and walked one.

Krista Menke (16-7) picked up the loss, her first in nine league pitching decisions. She walked one and struck out one.