Purdue Fort Wayne
Robert Morris
Mastodons Split in Final Day in Florida
3/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 11, 2009
Youngstown State Box Score | Robert Morris Box Score
Kissimmee, FL – In IPFW’s final day at the Rebel Spring Games, the squad split their contests, topping Youngstown State 4-2 before falling 7-2 to Robert Morris in the nightcap.
In the opener, freshman Courtney Cronin continued her remarkable first season with the ‘Dons, striking out eight in seven innings of work, while allowing just two unearned runs, dropping her already miniscule earned run average to 0.26 while improving her record to 3-1.
IPFW wasted no time in reaching the scoring column, as the team put up a run in the top of the first inning when Kristina Karpun drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Sarah Swanson who reached on a fielding error.
Three more runs in the top of the third gave the ‘Dons a four run cushion in the game. The first of the three runs was driven in by Karpun, who doubled, scoring Cassie Wolfe, who led off the inning with a single. Karpun then scored on a fielding error by the Penguin shortstop, before Swanson reached on a bunt single to the pitcher, allowing Ava Hall to score.
Youngstown State reached the scoreboard twice in the bottom of the third inning, with a pair of unearned runs, cutting their deficit in half at 4-2.
Despite each team’s offensive flurry in the third inning, neither would be able to score of the remainder of the game, putting IPFW to 4-5 on the season with the 4-2 victory.
Karpun was 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the team, while Cassie Wolfe was 2-for-4. Three other players, Swanson, Jil Price, and Heather Genovese, each had one hit in the win.
Cronin scattered five hits en route to picking up the win, while walking three while striking out the nine.
In the afternoon finale, neither team could reach the scoreboard, until the Colonels of Robert Morris put on six runs in the top of the fifth inning, all of them unearned.
The Mastodons countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth frame when Swanson singled to right field, scoring Stacey Swinford.
A run by Robert Morris in the top of the sixth inning gave the visitors on the scoreboard their final run of the game.
The ‘Dons rallied with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Wolfe hit a bases loaded single, scoring Swanson, as Kaylee Faurote was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second base, giving the game its final out.
Swanson was 2-for-3 in the nightcap with Wolfe going 2-for-4. Darby Pearson and Genovese had the team’s other two hits in the loss.
Rachel Staschuk picked up the loss, pitching five innings, giving up six total runs, however, none of them were earned. She struck out four batters, while walking just one. Cronin came in for two innings of relief, striking out one while allowing two hits and one unearned run.
IPFW leaves Florida with a 4-6 record, and head to Louisiana, where they will face off in a conference three-game series with the Ladies of Centenary College over the weekend.
~Dons~
