Frontier Shows Resilience in Split at SWIC

Coach Jeremy Ellis and the Frontier Community College Bobcats softball team traveled west to Belleville to take on the Southwestern Illinois College Blue Storm in a Great Rivers Athletic Conference matchup. It marked the second meeting between the two teams this season after Frontier swept SWIC on March 19 in Fairfield.

Game 1 – SWIC 12, Frontier 5

Frontier jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hold off a big inning from SWIC, falling 12-5 in the opener.

The Bobcats struck first in the top of the first inning. Rylee Hendricks drew a walk, Hessi Johnson reached on a fielder's choice, and Alicia Stanley capped the inning by stealing home, helping Frontier take an early advantage. Stanley later delivered a double in the third inning to extend the Bobcats' lead to 4-0.

SWIC responded in the bottom of the fourth inning, turning the game around with a six-run frame to take a 6-4 lead. The inning was highlighted by timely hitting and a costly Frontier error that brought in two runs.

Lexi Miller took the loss for Frontier, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing six runs (none earned) on four hits while striking out two and walking six. Kaitlyn Reuss earned the win for SWIC, giving up four runs on four hits over four innings with three strikeouts.

Offensively, Harper Holeman and Alicia Stanley each recorded two hits for the Bobcats. Hendricks, Johnson, and Stanley each drove in a run. Frontier showed patience at the plate with six walks and was aggressive on the basepaths, stealing five bases, with Holeman and Peyton Smith each recording multiple steals.

Game 2 – Frontier 6, SWIC 3

The Bobcats responded in game two with a 6-3 victory to earn a split on the day.

Frontier opened the scoring in the first inning when Hendricks singled to bring in a run. SWIC answered in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 2-1 lead following a Frontier error and a sacrifice fly.

The Bobcats regained control in the fifth inning, plating three runs to take a 4-2 lead. Harper Holeman delivered an RBI single, and Hendricks followed with a two-run double to give Frontier the momentum.

Chloe Papineau earned the win for Frontier with a complete-game performance, allowing three runs (one earned) on 13 hits while striking out seven and walking none. Olivia Geralds took the loss for SWIC, surrendering six runs (one earned) on nine hits over seven innings.

Papineau and Holeman led the Bobcats offensively, each collecting three hits while batting back-to-back in the lineup. Hendricks drove in three runs and finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Frontier also turned a double play defensively.

With the split, Frontier moves to 11-27 overall and 11-19 in Great Rivers Athletic Conference play.