Softball super regionals
10
Winner Millikin MILLIKIN 37-7
6
Wartburg WARSB22 30-14
Winner
Millikin MILLIKIN
37-7
10
Final
6
Wartburg WARSB22
30-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Millikin MILLIKIN 0 1 4 0 0 3 2 10 12 3
Wartburg WARSB22 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 6 8 2

W: Sargent, Addison (17-2) L: Ashley Nelson (13-5)

Game Recap: Softball | | Morgan Vogels

Millikin Softball Defeats Wartburg for First Super Regional Victory in School History

The Big Blue softball team fought through three rain delays between Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22 to defeat Wartburg College in the 2022 NCAA Super Regionals and earn a berth to the National Championships in Salem, Va. Millikin's 10-6 victory was completed shortly after 11:00 AM on Sunday, and the Big Blue move on to match up with Salisbury University on Thursday, May 26 in the first round of a double elimination four-team bracket.

The game that began on Saturday, first at 11:00 AM but was halted before the first pitch was thrown, then began again at 2:30 PM before being halted for a second time, and then started up for a third and final time on Saturday at 6:15 before being pushed to Sunday. The final rain delay started with one out in the top of the seventh inning.

 The Big Blue softball team took the field at the Workman Family Softball Field in Decatur, IL on Saturday, May 21 in game two of a best-of-three series against Wartburg College. The game was originally scheduled for 11:00 AM, but a lightning delay pushed back the start time to 2:30 PM.

Millikin started off the scoring in the top of the second inning as the visitors on the scoreboard with a Rylee Blake double down the left field line plating Gretchen Gould.

In the third, Lanie Chizmark started off the inning with a double down the left field line, then later crossed the plate on a Grace Biondo single up the middle. The Big Blue took a 4-0 advantage when Camryn Skundberg sent a double to left center, scoring Biondo and pinch runner Jada Wilson. Millikin tacked on another with a Gould single to left field.

In the sixth, Leah Foreman began the offensive attack with a homerun to centerfield. Cassie Reed's single through the left side of the infield to score Biondo. With the bases loaded and two outs, Kendallyn Davison reached on a fielder's choice with Wartburg failing to get Blake out at second and pinch runner Anna Enlow scoring on the play to put Millikin up 8-0.

The Knights rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning, starting with an Olivia Brecht double to right center. Ella Link and Lauren Frerichs drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Junior pitcher Addison Sargent struck out Jenna Levine to pick up the first out of the inning before the game was halted for a rain and lightning delay, the second of the afternoon.

After the rain delay, the Big Blue secured the second out of the inning on a flyout off the bat of Hannah Happ. Sydney Fellows singled to right center, plating two runs for the Knights to cut the deficit to 8-2. A Tarah Wehde double to right center scored two more, then Wehde crossed the plate on a Big Blue throwing error. Millikin secured the final out of the inning on a groundout, but the Knights had cut the lead to 8-5.

In the seventh, Biondo and Skundberg each drew walks to put two runners on for the Big Blue. With Enlow at the plate and runners on second and third with one out, the game was halted once again for a rain delay. 

After the delay, Enlow secured her first hit of her collegiate career to score Biondo and pinch runner Kaylee Goluch to give Millikin the 10-5 advantage.

Wartburg plated one run in the bottom of the inning, but the Big Blue secured the game two victory to punch their ticket to the 2022 NCAA Division III Softball Championships with the 10-6 victory. Addison Sargent was the winning pitcher, striking out eight through seven innings pitched. 

Millikin will travel to Salem, Va. for a matchup with Salisbury, slated to start at 4:00 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, May 26. Eastern Connecticut State and Trine will be the other two teams in the four-team elimination bracket.


 
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