GREENVILLE, Ill. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology softball team couldn't muster much offense in two losses to Greenville College Tuesday, falling 2-1 and 1-0 in the nonleague road doubleheader.
In Game 1, Greenville's (25-11) Becca Oldham broke open a 1-1 tie with a leadoff solo home run in the sixth inning that proved to be the game-winning score. The Fightin' Engineers (15-13) tied the game at 1-all in the third inning, when senior Jenna Martinek (Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan) drilled an RBI single to center field to score freshman Janel Lake (Okawville, Ill./Okawville), who had singled to open the inning.
RHIT had a chance to tie the game in the seventh when freshman Ellissa Eckert (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) and junior Jessica Ahlborn (Houghton, Mich./Houghton) walked, but Greenville starter Ashley Woodrome (8-5) forced an infield groundout to end the game.
Junior Carly Heibel (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lakewood Park Christian) took the loss in the circle, giving up eight hits, striking out four and walking none in a six-inning effort. She also added a single at the plate and Lake finished with two singles for RHIT.
In Game 2, the Panthers scored the game's lone run in the fifth when Amy Sheets doubled to score Jessie Fink (single) from first.
The Engineers threatened with two base runners in sixth when Heibel and senior Allison Bowman (Fort Wayne, Ind./R Nelson Snider) singled, but Woodrome forced RHIT into another groundout to end the inning.
Sophomore Taylor Lockhart (Robinson, Ill./Oblong) took the loss for the Engineers in Game 2 despite a strong effort, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out four and walking just one.
Heibel finished with two hits and Bowman and Eckert each had one in RHIT's four-hit effort.
The Engineers return to play when they host Webster in a nonconference twin bill at the RHIT Softball Complex beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday.
RHIT will celebrate senior day prior to its final home games of the season when the Engineers hosts Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Manchester University Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
