Purdue Fort Wayne
Centennary (LA)
IPFW Splits at Summit League Tournament
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 9, 2008
Southern Utah Box Score | Centenary Box Score
Cedar City, UT - A 10-inning loss and a 15-run outburst sent the IPFW softball team to a 1-1 record after the first day of the Summit League tournament, hosted by Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah.
The Mastodons fell in the opener 6-5 in 10 innings before using an 11-run inning to take down the top seeded Centenary Ladies in the second game of the afternoon.
The `Don's 16 runs set a new school record since the school made the jump into NCAA Division I in 2001, with the 11 runs by themselves would have been tied for the fifth highest scoring game in school history.
IPFW gave up two runs in the bottom of the first inning, before rallying to tie the contest with a pair of runs in the top of the third when the `Dons hit four consecutive singles, scoring Abby Liden and Tara Mickelson.
Southern Utah would not back down, scoring another run in the bottom of the third inning to open a 3-1 lead. IPFW answered back with two runs in the top of the fourth, giving the visitors on the scoreboard their first lead on the scoreboard in the game. Sarah Swanson reached base with two outs before Rachel Staschuk doubled scoring the opening base runner before being driven in on a single by Liden.
Down one, Southern Utah's Lindi Kennedy hit a solo home run to tie the game at four runs apiece. The two teams went through two scoreless inning, before the `Dons scored a run in the top of the ninth inning, giving IPFW a 5-4 lead. The Thunderbirds answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the ninth, before scoring a game-ending run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th.
Karpun was 4-for-5 in the game with an RBI, with Rachel Staschuk, Liden and Ty Lambert each picking up multiple hits. Staschuk drove in a pair to lead the visitors, with each of the five runs coming from five different batters.
Staschuk pitched the first nine innings of the game, striking out a career-high 10 while walking five and allowing four earned runs.
The bats came alive in the second contest against Centenary, with the `Dons scoring three in the bottom of the first inning when the first three batters singled, with the final one - by Liden - scored Swanson, who led off the inning with a bunt single. Mickelson was hit by the next pitch to load the bases, before Karpun drove in the first of her five RBI's with a fielder's choice. Beatrice Pedraza was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring another run, giving the `Dons a 3-0 lead.
Centenary rallied back with four runs in the top of the fourth inning before IPFW opened the floodgates seeing their first 13 batters of the inning reach base, scoring 11 runs in all and taking a 14-4 lead. In the frame, the first three batters reached on doubles, and later saw Kayla Powell hit a grand slam home run. The Ladies responded with four more runs, cutting the deficit to six at 14-8.
Karpun drove in yet another run in the fourth inning when she singled to center field, scoring Liden. Each team scored a run in the sixth to end the scoring in the game, giving the contest its 16-9 final score.
IPFW totaled 18 runs in 38 at-bats, with Karpun going 4-for-5 for the second consecutive game. Amanda Olender and Liden each went 3-for-5, with Staschuk, Mickelson and Powell each picking up two hits. Karpun drove in five with Powell finishing just behind with four. Micelson and Karpun each scored three times, with Swanson and Staschuk scoring twice.
Olender picked up the win in the pitcher's circle, going three and a third inning, striking out two and allowing eight earned runs. Staschuk came in and pitched three and two-thirds inning of relief, striking out two and allowing one unearned run.
The `Dons next face off against the loser of the Southern Utah and Western Illinois, which will start at 11:00 AM Mountain Time.
