Purdue Fort Wayne
Ball State
IPFW Softball Splits with Ball State
4/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 8, 2008
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Muncie, IN - The IPFW Mastodons (8-15) split a non-conference double header with the Cardinals of Ball State University (24-20) on Tuesday, April 8, winning the opener 1-0 before falling in extra innings in the finale, 2-1.
Ball State threatened to put up a big first inning in the opener, as the hosts put the first two batters on base; however, a sacrifice fly attempt to right fielder Tara Mickelson turned into a double play, as the sophomore threw out the Cardinal runner at the plate before a pop-up to the pitcher ended the inning.
Neither team was able to put momentum into their offense until IPFW's Kristina Karpun hit a solo home run to lead off the fifth inning, giving the game its first and only run. The Cardinals loaded the bases in the sixth inning with two outs, before Kayla Powell ended the threat with her fourth strikeout of the game.
Ball State yet again threatened to score in the seventh inning, putting a pair of runners on base, but it was to no avail as the `Dons forced a pop-up and an ensuing fly-out to secure the 1-0 win.
Four players; Rachel Staschuk, Abby Liden, Mickelson and Karpun; had hits in the game, with Karpun's being the biggest for the squad. Powell pitched the complete-game shutout, her second straight shutout this season, striking out five and scattering five hits overall.
The strong `Don pitching continued into the second game, as the visitors held the Cardinals without a run for the first six innings of the second contest. IPFW scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning when Staschuk led off the frame with a triple, and then scored on a wild pitch, giving the visitors the 1-0 lead.
Ball State finally reached the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh inning when Lisa Rozanski was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Kamilah Holle. The threat ended a batter later, as Alyssa Collins grounded out to the pitcher, sending the game into extra innings.
IPFW nearly scored in their half of the eighth inning as Powell, who was placed on second due to the international tie-breaker rule, was advanced home on a Jil Price batted ball that the Cardinals miss-played, but the ensuing throw to the plate by the BSU right fielder was accurate and on-time, catching the sophomore out at the plate.
Ball State wasted little time in their opportunity at bat in the eighth, as Abby Gross singled up the middle with one out on the board, scoring Collins, who was on second base.
Staschuk was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in the latter of the two games, recording all but one of IPFW's hits in the game, with Price adding the other. Staschuk pitched the first six innings of the game, allowing just two hits while striking out four, with Amanda Olender coming in during the final inning and a third, giving up two hits and allowing an earned run en route to picking up the loss.
The `Dons will head back to the diamond on Wednesday, April 9, as they play host to the Crusaders of Valparaiso University with the double header set to begin at 3:00 p.m.
