Softball qualifies for Peoria with 9-2 SLIAC tournament win over Westminster

GREENVILLE, Ill. - The softball team advanced to the double elimination stage of the SLIAC tournament with a 9-2 win over Westminster on Tuesday afternoon.

The Panthers fell behind 1-0 in the first inning and 2-0 after two and a half before posting a game-changing six run third inning.

In GU's turn at bat in the third inning, Madi Case had an RBI single before Mia Boyd gave GU the lead with a two-run double.

Eventually, the Panthers scored a run with an RBI single from Sarah Salas, and GU recorded two runs when Andrea Roberts singled to drive in a run and an error by the pitcher allowed a second run to score.

Boyd posted her second run-scoring hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Panthers added their last two runs with an RBI groundout by Salas and a RBI infield single by Desirae Yost n the sixth inning.

Boyd finished the game 3-for-3 with one run scored and three RBI from the No. 2 position in the batting order.

Leadoff hitter Case went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI.

Yost posted two hits in four at bats with a run scored and an RBI, and Salas totaled a 1-for-4 performance with a run scored and two RBI.

Alison Klaus improved to 14-5 in the circle with a seven inning complete game pitching win. She only allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits and three walks while recording 10 strikeouts.

The Panthers (24-15) recorded a 24th win in a season for the fourth time since 2014 and will attempt to become only the second GU softball team since 1997 with 25 wins with a victory in Peoria on Thursday. GU will face No. 1 seed Spalding in their first game on Thursday.