Triple Threat: Ellinger Powers Edwardsville Past Gillespie

With three hits and an RBI, Ellinger spearheads Edwardsville's offense in a comprehensive 5-0 win highlighted by strong pitching and defense.

Colin Feeney, Contributing Sports Writer

Mar 24, 2026 12:36 PM Mar 24, 2026 1:01 PM

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Bryar Ellinger at the plate. She had three hits against Gillespie. (Photo by Dan Brannan).

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EDWARDSVILLE - Bryar Ellinger led the way with three timely hits and an RBI, while both Marley Fox and Sammie Herbeck threw three very effective innings each, as Edwardsville's softball team shut out Gillespie 5-0 in a game played Monday, March 23, 2026, at the Edwardsville District 7 Sports Complex.

The win enabled the Tigers to return to the break-even point in their record, going up to 5-5 on the season, and they played a great all-around game in doing so, too.

"All the way around, it was a good effort," said a happy Edwardsville head coach, Caty Happe. "Pitching, defense, and hitting. We had three pitchers come in, and they all did a great job. We hit the ball hard today, even when we got out, and we were aggressive on the bases, so that's when good things happen."

The Tigers scored two runs in the opening inning in a very simple fashion and went from there to play an excellent all-around game.

"Yeah, and it's so important to continue to score runs," Happe said. "Gillespie's such a good team, and a good hitting team. It was good to add some on at the end, but I thought they played confidently, and played tough the whole time."

The Miners only came up with four hits in the game, but played with the confidence and aggressiveness of a good team, and Happe was quick to give credit to Gillespie.

"They had people on in every inning, and our defense did a great job," Coach Happe said. "We had a big double play there in the last inning, so just a great job to keep them scoreless."

The Tigers returned to the .500 mark in their record, and it's a good feeling, of course, but Happe looks at the big picture as well.

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"For sure," she said. "We have a tough schedule ahead, and we're just looking to compete and get better every day. So, it's nice to be back at .500, but we know our main goal is just getting better."

It was also important to get back to an even record, with an important game coming on Wednesday, and the Southwestern Conference season set to get started on Thursday.

"It was great to get a win before then, and hopefully, we'll see another good team on Wednesday in Piasa (Southwestern), so hopefully, a fun season," Coach Happe said. "So far, so good."

After Fox retired the Miners in order, fanning two in the first, Edwardsville went to work. Ellinger singled up the middle, Amelia Wilfong laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to advance Ellinger, went to third on Brooke Burris' infield single, and scored on a ground out to short by Lily Stone. Audrey De La Torre Cruz then singled home Burris to double the Tiger lead to 2-0.

In the top of the second, Paxton Reed singled with one out, and back-to-back walks to Ava Rakers and Helena Scott loaded the bases, but Fox got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts to keep the score 2-0. In the third, Ellinger doubled over the center fielder's head, but was thrown out at third on a great relay throw by the shortstop.

Herbeck came in to pitch in the fourth, and ran right into trouble, with Reid drawing a walk, Rakers singling, and Scott drawing a walk to fill the bases. Herbeck got out of the inning with a force play at the plate, then struck out the next two batters to keep it 2-0 for Edwardsville.

The Tigers got another run in the home half of the fifth, when Ellinger drew a walk to start the inning, Wilfong singled her to second, and Burris forced Wilfong at second, with Ellinger going to third. She scored on a Stone grounder to third to make it 3-0, and in the sixth, back-to-back doubles by Maggie Bray and Maksine Straub scored Bray to make it 4-0. Ellinger singled home courtesy runner Savanna Lewis with the final run to make it 5-0.

Makaela Pippins came in to pitch the seventh, where Amari Vickery singled to lead off, and went to second on a base hit by Ava Parish. Gillian Smith flew out to center, and Vickery was called out on appeal for leaving second too soon, giving the Tigers a vital double play and taking the wind out of Gillespie's sails. Lexi Schuchenbrock grounded out to end the game in favor of Edwardsville, 5-0.

Ellinger led Edwardsville with her three hits and RBI, while Straub had two hits and drove in a run, Bray and Wilfong had two hits each, De La Torre Cruz had a hit and RBI, and Burris had a hit. Fox started in the circle and went three innings, giving up a hit while walking three and striking out five. Herbeck was credited with the win, going three innings and allowing a hit while walking three and fanning three. Pippins pitched the seventh and conceded two hits while walking one and fanning none.

The Miners are now 3-1 on the year, while the Tigers go to 5-5, and play at Southwestern on Wednesday, then host Belleville West on Thursday in the Southwestern Conference opener, then host a doubleheader on Friday against Chatham Glenwood, with all games starting at 4:30 p.m.