Purdue Fort Wayne
IUPUI
IPFW Sweeps IUPUI
4/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 11, 2008
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Indianapolis, IN - The IPFW Mastodons picked up their first sweep of the 2008 season, scoring a season-high 14 runs in the opener before scoring seven more in the nightcap, sending the `Dons home with a 14-6 and 7-4 sweep of the IUPUI Jaguars.
In the opener, each team's offense started slowly, as the teams each went 1-2-3 in their first tries at the plate. The slow start lasted just one inning, as the `Dons opened up a seven-run second inning, scoring two RBI's each on back-to-back singles from Amanda Olender and Kayla Powell, pushing IPFW ahead 4-0. A Rachel Staschuk home run, her third of the season, capped the inning as the visitors batted around en route to opening up a large lead.
The hosts cut into the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, only to see the `Dons bounce back with a pair in the fifth, driven in on a Powell two-run single.
Beatrice Pedraza singled in the first run of the sixth inning, opening the floodgates for IPFW, as Olender followed with a grand slam a batter later, the first home run of her career, giving her six RBI's on the game. The Jaguars followed with four runs in their half of the sixth inning, but it was not enough, with the `Dons taking home the six-inning victory.
Four IPFW players had a pair of hits in the game, as Kristina Karpun and Ty Lambert each went 2-for-3 at the dish, with Olender and Powell each going 2-for-4. Karpun and Lambert each scored three times, with Pedraza and Olender each crossing the plate twice.
Overall, IPFW's five through nine batters went a combined 11-for-16 at the plate with 11 RBI's and 11 runs scored.
Staschuk picked up the complete-game victory, striking out nine in six innings while allowing just two earned runs while improving her record to 3-6 on the year.
In the second game IPFW continued its hot hitting, with Abby Liden and Tara Mickelson hitting back-to-back home runs, the second time this week that the duo has accomplished the feat, opening a 2-0 lead for the `Dons.
IUPUI answered with a run in the bottom of the first, and proceeded to score two runs in the third and another in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. IPFW answered with two runs in the sixth inning to tie the game, the runs coming when Mickelson and Karpun each scored on separate errors.
Three runs in the seventh inning, the first when Mickelson singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Olender who was on second, with Liden; who had reached base an at-bat prior after a walk; scored when the Jaguar right fielder misplayed the ball. Karpun followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Mickelson, and giving the game its 7-4 final score.
Mickelson went 3-for-4 at the plate in the nightcap, scoring three runs and driving in a pair. Liden scored twice, with she and Karpun picking up the team's other two RBI's.
Olender picked up the win, pitching three innings in relief and scattering just three hits in the span, improving her record to 4-8 on the season.
The `Dons and Jaguars face off again tomorrow at noon, the final game of the Summit League's three-game series.
