Edwardsville softball beats Belleville East in SWC game

An eight-run effort and dominant stretch in the circle pushed the Tigers to their seventh straight win.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:55am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a softball game, with the players and ball rendered as fragmented, overlapping shapes in a vibrant color palette.Edwardsville's decisive third-inning rally propelled the Tigers to a key early-season victory over Belleville East in Southwestern Conference softball action.Edwardsville Today

The Edwardsville softball team extended its winning streak to seven games with an 8-3 victory over Belleville East in a key early Southwestern Conference matchup. Edwardsville used a decisive five-run third inning and a strong outing from pitcher Marley Fox to earn the win and take an early edge in the SWC race.

Why it matters

The win gives Edwardsville an early advantage in the Southwestern Conference title race, as the teams have shared the conference crown each of the past five seasons. Both Edwardsville and Belleville East entered the game ranked in the top 16 in Class 4A by the Illinois Coaches Association, making this an important early-season clash between two of the top softball programs in the state.

The details

Edwardsville struck first with two runs in the opening inning, but Belleville East answered with three runs in the third to take a brief 3-2 lead. The Tigers responded immediately, however, scoring five runs in the bottom of the third to retake control. Lily Stone tied the game with a sacrifice fly, and Maggie Bray's two-run single put Edwardsville back in front. Maksine Straub added an RBI triple, and Remi Werden followed with an RBI double to push the lead to 7-3. Lily Maxwell's sacrifice fly in the sixth capped the scoring.

  • The game was played on April 9, 2026 inside the District 7 Sports Complex in Edwardsville.
  • Edwardsville struck first with two runs in the opening inning.
  • Belleville East scored three runs in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead.
  • Edwardsville responded with five runs in the bottom of the third inning to retake control.
  • Lily Maxwell's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning capped the scoring.

The players

Marley Fox

The Edwardsville pitcher who earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out 10 batters.

Lily Stone

The Edwardsville player who tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.

Maggie Bray

The Edwardsville player who hit a two-run single in the third inning to put the Tigers back in front.

Maksine Straub

The Edwardsville player who hit an RBI triple in the third inning to extend the Tigers' lead.

Remi Werden

The Edwardsville player who hit an RBI double in the third inning to push the Tigers' lead to 7-3.

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What they’re saying

“We've really worked on being aggressive on the bases and running things out hard, and it's played to our advantage.”

— Caty Happe, Edwardsville coach

“All week, we've been preparing for it. We came out ready, mentally and physically.”

— Remi Werden, Edwardsville player

“Every little thing they do on defense, we have to capitalize on it — just putting the ball in play and making them make a play.”

— Remi Werden, Edwardsville player

“Against a Belleville East offense like that, it's about trying to keep them to small ball, making sure they're getting grounders or weak pop-ups, and keeping them off their A-game.”

— Remi Werden, Edwardsville player

“She competed. We got ourselves into some jams there, but we worked out of them.”

— Caty Happe, Edwardsville coach

What’s next

The two teams will meet again on May 10, 2026 in Belleville, Illinois for the rematch.

The takeaway

This early-season clash between two of the top softball programs in Illinois showcased Edwardsville's ability to respond to adversity and capitalize on its opponent's mistakes, giving the Tigers an early edge in the race for the Southwestern Conference title.