Panthers pull away late, but coach sees ‘fight’ in Streaks
After opening the season with a win — already matching last year’s total — Galesburg showed it won’t be the same team.
The Silver Streaks went toe-to-toe with Washington for six innings before a 17-run seventh inning led to an 18-0 nonconference home loss March 19.
First-year coach Andrea Sampson said the final score did not reflect how her team competed.
“Every single play, every single pitch, every single moment in the game, they were fighting for it,” Sampson said. “If you were to see this ballclub last year playing against this kind of team, we would have given up early. Not this year.”
Galesburg’s defense held Washington to one run through the first six innings behind sophomore pitcher Taylor Lee, who battled through adversity.
“She threw up in the first inning and then came right back out and pitched her tail off,” Sampson said. “She’s a fighter.”
Offensively, the Streaks collected four hits, including a 2-for-3 performance from catcher Layla Shepler. Juniors Evelin Guel and freshman Mavery Bland each added a hit.
Washington, which finished 31-3 last season, broke through in the seventh, stringing together 12 hits and capitalizing on 12 walks to put the game out of reach.
Even so, Sampson said she sees a different team taking shape.
“These girls have a chip on their shoulder. It’s not quiet anymore — it’s what softball’s supposed to be, and that’s fun.”
The Streaks return most of their starting lineup from last season, including seniors Mary Moore and Hannah Barton, along with a core of juniors who, Sampson said, have taken noticeable steps forward. Freshmen Bland and Tamron Davis have also earned starting roles early.
Sampson said the biggest need moving forward is developing depth behind Lee.
“We really need a strong No. 2 pitcher,” she said. “What we start with early in the season may not be what we have later. We’re staying flexible.”
The 1-1 Silver Streaks host Monmouth-Roseville at 4:30 p.m. today, March 20. They travel to Metamora for a doubleheader March 21, with Game 1 scheduled for 11 a.m.
Knox softball drops two in Florida
The Knox College softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader March 19 in Florida, falling 8-0 to Salem State in the opener and losing to Westminster in Game 2.
Salem State struck early, scoring four runs in both the first and second innings, then held Knox scoreless the rest of the way.
Kara Burwell led the Prairie Fire with two hits. Maddie Hicks, Chelsea McKee and Janet Lentini each added a hit.
In Game 2, Westminster jumped out quickly with three runs in the first inning and two in the second before adding five runs in the fifth to pull away.
Knox resumes play in Florida on March 21 against Union College and Trinity College.
Knox baseball falls twice to Simpson
The Knox College baseball team (1-10) dropped a pair of games March 19 to Simpson College in Florida, despite a strong performance from Tyler Kemp.
In the second game, Knox lost 16-3. Kemp led the Prairie Fire with two hits, two RBIs and a run scored.
Knox trailed 5-0 after four innings before Kemp hit a two-run home run, scoring himself and Aidan McMurtrie to cut the deficit to 5-2. Simpson pulled away with four runs in the fifth, four in the sixth and three in the seventh.
In the opener, Knox fell 11-7 despite taking an early lead.
The Prairie Fire went ahead 4-0 in the second inning after Kemp doubled in the first run and Owen Shannon followed with a three-run home run.
Simpson answered with three runs in the second, but Knox extended its lead in the third. Miles Hoops doubled to move Hayden Derlein to third. Derlein scored on a wild pitch, and Hoops later scored on Thomas Wilmot’s sacrifice fly.
Knox remained ahead until the fifth inning, when Simpson scored seven runs to take control.
The Prairie Fire scored the game’s final run when Kemp came home on Tyler Theim’s single.
Knox faces Salem State at 11 a.m. today, March 20.
