Westminster softball grabbed a 2-1 win over Eureka College in the first round of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Tournament. The win moves the Westminster Blue Jays to 21-15 on the season with a seven game winning streak.
The Blue Jays scored their first run in the fourth inning with a RBI single from junior Alyssa Johnson to score sophomore Amber Tepen, breaking the season record for runs scored by Tepen with 40. In the top of the fifth, junior Brittany Hodge scored an unearned run off a fielding error by the Eureka outfielder, giving the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Eureka scored a run on a sacrifice fly, bringing the game to 2-1 heading into the sixth inning.
The Blue Jays had bases loaded with no outs in the top of the sixth inning, but the Eureka defense forced three quick outs to leave all three runners stranded on base. Neither team was able to score again, ending the game with a 2-1 win.
The Blue Jays out-hit Eureka 8-4, and Johnson and junior Alyson Hahn each went 2-for-3 from the plate. Hodge recorded a triple and Tepen recorded a double in the win.
Hahn (11-6) allowed just four hits in her complete game win. She struck out two while facing 28 batters.
The Blue Jays face Greenville College in the second round of the SLIAC Tournament. The Blue Jays and Panthers face off at 3:00 pm in Elsah, Ill. on the campus of Principia College. The winner of that game moves to the championship game on Saturday, May 7. The loser turns around and plays the loser of the first game immediately following.
