Blackburn Softball splits a doubleheader with Eureka College by the scores of 5-4 Blackburn and 8-1 Eureka. The game took place in Carlinville, Illinois on April 25th.
The Beavers honored two seniors as these were the last two home games of the season. Pitcher Brooke Daniels and utility player Kenndey Henson.
Daniels (Lapel, Indiana / Lapel) played 74 games in her four years. Last season they only played in five games because the season was shut down due to covid. She batted 197 times and recorded 56 hits for a .284 average. She has smacked five homeruns and drove in 38 runs. Daniels has pitched in 40 games and pitched 16 complete games. She has struck out 137 batters and has a 3.80 ERA.
Henson (Centralia, Illinois / Centralia) has played in 79 games and has a total of 16 hits. She has driven in 12 runs and has drawn nine walks. Definitely she has played in multiple positions. She has a .937 fielding percentage and 96 PO.
In the first game, the bases were packed as both teams combined for a total of 23 hits.The Red Devils would take an early lead as Morgan Ledbetter singled to right field to drive in Raelyn Payne. After a few batters, Aubrey Sanders would drive in two runs to extend the lead to three. After a quiet second inning the Beavers would try to answer back. Lexi Shaw would start the inning with a single to left field. Chelsea Ashlock would follow with a single to right field. Jena Thacker would add to it by singling to right field to load the bases. Blackburn would hit two ground balls to third base resulting in an out at home both times. Ultimately, the Beavers would not score after three consecutive hits. The Red Devils would look to add to their lead after getting out of a jam. The next top inning, Eureka would add a run with a solo homerun from Payne. In the bottom of the fifth Blackburn would get on the scoreboard as Maddie Wichmann would single to center field to drive in Ashlock who walked earlier in the inning. After a 1-2-3 inning for Eureka, the Beavers would look to cut into the lead. Mckenzie Smith would reach base on an error and Jackie Rose would pitch run for her. Rose would steal second and then advance to third on a single from Josie Manar. Holly Heuerman would line a single to drive in Rose. Later in the inning, Shaw would drive in two runs with a single to right field. The score was tied at four heading into the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh Daniels would single to right field. Natalie Kieth would run for Daniels. Smith would then draw a walk. Hueerman would single to load the bases. With two outs, Henson would be at the plate with a chance to walk it off. Of course on senior day the moment couldn't get better. Henson would single up the middle to drive in the winning run.
WP: Brooke Daniels- 7IP, 4ER, 2SO
LP:Torre Koontz- 6.2IP, 13HA, 4ER, 1SO
In the second game the Red Devils would outhit Blackburn 12 to four. Which led to eight runs for Eureka.
Scoring would pick up in the second inning as Sidney Wrightman would help her own cause by driving in two runs to give the Red Devils a lead. Bailey Tibbetts would drive in Wrightman to extend the lead. The Red Devils would add to their lead in the third as Kennedy Savage would drive in Sanders. In the bottom of the third Blackburn would have a runner on third with two outs but were unable to score. Eureka would score three more runs in the fourth inning. In the sixth, each team would score a run and the score was 8-1 heading into the seventh inning. Neither team would score in the seventh and the game would end in that score.
WP: Sidney Wrightman- 7IP, 4HA, 1ER
LP: Emily Brown- 3IP, 4RA, 3BB
Taylor Girth- 0.2IP, 2HA, 3RA
Brooke Daniels- 3.1IP, 1RA, 1SO
UP NEXT: Blackburn will travel to Eureka College on Saturday, May 1st. First pitch 11:00 A.M.