OMAHA, Neb. - Fighting Leatherneck softball used a 10-1 run rule win on Sunday (April 21) to complete the Summit League series sweep over South Dakota State. With the victory, Western moves to 13-19 overall and 7-12 in conference play.

The Jackrabbits scored a run in the bottom half of the first inning. After a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt, Sammy Bingham singled to left to plate a run. From there it would be all Leathernecks as the squad knocked 14 hits to score a total of 10 runs in the remainder of the contest.

Western used a two-out rally to score three runs in the top of the second inning to erase the South Dakota State lead. Teagan Walsh drew a walk then Emma Jarrell and Karissa Kouchis hit consecutive singles to load the bases for Sammy Marshall who singled through the left side to tie the game. When Briana Williams reached on an error, two more runs crossed.

The offensive production continued for the Leathernecks in the top of the third. Alex Pflieger and Lia Romeo opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and then Jarrell drove in a run with a single to right to extend the Leatherneck lead to 4-1.

Marshall reached on an error to open the fourth, and then stole her 26th base of the season to reach scoring position. Williams then drew a walk and both moved up a bag on an errant throw from the Jackrabbit catcher. Head coach Holly Van Vlymen made a gutsy call signaling for back-to-back squeeze bunts from Kelly and Pflieger to score two runs. Romeo followed punching a single up the middle to score the third run of the inning.

South Dakota State threatened in the bottom of the fourth loading the bases, however Western recorded two outs at the plate and a Kelsey Michelini strike out to get out of the jam.

Western produced a bases loaded situation with no outs on three consecutive singles from Jarrell, Kouchis and Marshall in the top of the fifth. A Williams fielder's choice, a Pflieger bunt single and a Romeo single up the middle plated three more Leatherneck runs extending the lead to 10-1.

The Jackrabbits used two singles to put two on in the bottom of the fifth, but the Leatherneck defense used a line out and a fly out to solidify the 10-1, run rule win and the sweep.

Michelini (7-10) recorded her second complete game win of the series allowing just one earned run in her five innings of work and struck out three. South Dakota State's Kori Seidlitz took the loss throwing three innings and allowing seven runs.

Jarrell was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate to pace the Leathernecks. Also tallying three hits for Western in the contest were Pflieger and Romeo. Marshall and Kouchis picked up two hits, while Romeo led the offense with two RBI.

Western Illinois is back on the field on Tuesday (April 23) at Northern Illinois. The single game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in DeKalb, Ill.