The Millikin softball team closed out play at the Pioneer Classic on Sunday, March 15 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, earning two victories on the day. The Big Blue opened the afternoon with a 2–1 win over Anderson before defeating MSOE 8–1 in the final game of the tournament.
In the first game of the day, Millikin secured a 2–1 walk-off victory over Anderson in a tightly contested pitching duel.
Anderson struck first in the opening inning with a sacrifice fly to take a 1–0 lead. The Big Blue answered in the bottom half of the inning when Abby Willis singled and later scored on a passed ball to even the game at 1–1.
Both teams were held scoreless over the next five innings as pitching and defense took control. Millikin threatened in the fourth when Ava Zukowski doubled to left field, but the Ravens worked out of the inning to keep the game tied.
The Big Blue broke through in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ann Marie Meek led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball before Cierra Jones delivered the game-winning RBI, allowing Meek to score the walk-off run.
Millikin totaled six hits in the contest with Willis, Charley Condill, Kailyn Coates, Haley Willan, Meek and Zukowski each recording a hit.
Alyssa Dralle earned the win in the circle, throwing a complete game while allowing just two hits and one run across seven innings of work.
In game two, the Big Blue offense came alive as Millikin defeated MSOE 8–1.
Millikin opened the scoring in the first inning when Summer Wynn singled to center field to bring home Charley Condill. The Big Blue added two more runs in the second inning on an RBI double from Ann Marie Meek and an RBI triple by Condill to take a 3–0 lead.
Millikin extended the advantage in the fourth inning when Cierra Jones singled to left field to score Ava Zukowski.
The Big Blue broke the game open in the seventh inning with four runs. Condill delivered an RBI single before Wynn launched a two-run home run. Zukowski added an RBI double later in the inning to cap the scoring.
Condill led the offense with three hits and two RBIs, while Wynn finished with two hits including a home run and three RBIs. Zukowski added two hits and an RBI, and Meek contributed two hits and an RBI in the victory.
Shayna Woolwine earned the win in the circle, allowing just one run on five hits across seven innings.
Millikin will return to action on Saturday, March 21 with a road doubleheader against Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
