It was total domination for the Effingham Lady Hearts Saturday.

On offense, they banged out 25 hits and scored 24 runs.

And on the mound, they allowed only seven hits and zero runs.

The result was a lopsided doubleheader sweep.

Natalie Armstrong tossed a one-hitter in the opener and Saige Althoff followed that with a six-hit performance, helping the Lady Hearts post 15-0 and 9-0 wins in the Apollo Conference twin-bill at Mahomet-Seymour.

Armstrong allowed only one baserunner in her four innings of work. That was a second inning single. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out five.

The Lady Hearts, on the other hand, scored in every inning. They had three runs in the first and one in the second, and then exploded for nine tallies in the third and capped the scoring with a two-run fourth.

Jerzi Bierman, Raegan Boone and Armstrong each had three hits to lead the 15-hit attack. Bierman also drove in five runs, while Madi had three RBI.

Effingham then quickly took control of the nightcap, pushing across six runs in the opening inning. Raegan Boone led off with a base hit, stole second and scored on a single by Sidney Donaldson, the first of her three hits. Mya Harvey added an RBI single and Ryley Engel delivered a two-run double, plus two more runs scored on errors.

That was more than enough for Althoff. She went all seven innings, giving up just one walk and striking out eight.

The Lady Hearts improved to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play. They will play Monday at Hillsboro.

The Effingham Lady Hearts saw their softball season come to a close Wednesday afternoon after dropping a 9-6 decision to Mt. Vernon in an opening-round game of the Class 3A Mt. Vernon Regional.

The Lady Rams banged out 14 hits and led by as much as 9-2 before Effingham tried to stage a late rally.

The Lady Hearts scored single tallies in the second and third and were within 4-2 when Mt. Vernon scored five times in the top of the fifth to take a commanding lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Jennifer Jamison reached on an error and Tori Budde singled. Mya Harvey followed with an RBI single and a second run scored on an error – one of seven committed by the Lady Rams.

The Lady Hearts scored two more runs in the sixth. Daelyn Dunston reached on an error and scored on a double by Abby Cunningham. Jamison later had a sacrifice fly to trim the lead to three runs. EHS got two runners on base in the seventh before the final out was recorded.

Saige Althoff took the loss.

The Lady Hearts finished their season with a 15-15 record.

The Effingham Lady Hearts only scored in one inning Monday afternoon, but it proved to be enough.

The Lady Hearts scored six times in the opening frame and then hung on for a 6-5 win at home against the Newton Lady Eagles.

Sidney Donaldson belted a two-run homer and Madi Kirk delivered a bases-clearing double, helping Effingham jump out to the 6-0 lead.

Newton made it close by scoring a pair of runs in the fourth and adding three more in the fifth. But Saige Althoff retired six of the final seven batters to secure the victory.

In that first inning, Raegan Boone got things started with a lead-off triple. With one out, Donaldson blasted the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence, staking EHS to a 2-0 lead.

Natalie Armstrong and Mya Harvey followed with base hit. With two outs, Ryley Engel reached on an error that loaded the bases. Kirk then came through with a double that brought all three runners home. Alyssa Martin capped the inning with an RBI single to make it 6-0.

Althoff pitched all seven innings. She allowed nine hits and five runs. She didn’t walk a hitter and struck out three.

The Lady Hearts, now 4-4, will return to action Saturday, traveling to Mahomet-Seymour for an Apollo Conference matchup.

The Marion Lady Tigers belted four home runs, including two in the decisive sixth inning, to post a 10-7 win Tuesday at Effingham.

The game was a see-saw affair. The Lady Hearts led by four early, then trailed by two, before coming back to tie the game in the fifth. But Marion used the long ball to tally three times in the sixth and secure the win.

EHS took a 5-1 lead in the second inning. Tori Budde led off with a double and Mya Harvey brought her home with a base hit. With one out, Sawyer Althoff walked and Grace Bushur singled to load the bases. Daelyn Dunston and Abby Cunningham both had RBI singles and Sidney Donaldson capped the five-run frame with a two-run single.

Marion came back to take a 7-5, but an RBI double by Harvey and a run-scoring single by Althoff tied the game in the sixth.

Bria Beals took the loss.

The Lady Hearts finished their regular season with a 15-14 record. They will compete in the Class 3A Mt. Vernon Regional. They are seeded fourth and will face the hosts at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.