Purdue Fort Wayne
IUPUI
IPFW Shuts out IUPUI for Series Sweep
3/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 28, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN – For just the third time since IPFW made the move to NCAA Division I in 2002, the Mastodons have shut out their opponent in back-to-back games, winning 5-0 yesterday, and then prevailing in a run-rule shortened 8-0 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman pitcher Courtney Cronin picked up the third shutout of her career, tying her with Mindy Pomeroy’s 2004 total for most shutouts in a single season since 2002. Cronin went the entire five innings, scattering five hits while also striking out five.
IUPUI (3-29, 1-8 Summit League) threatened in their first time at the plate, loading the bases with two outs, before Leah Prewitt grounded out to Heather Genovese at second base to end the threat.
IPFW (10-10, 5-3), which has now won their last seven meetings with the Jaguars, scored first when Kristina Karpun singled, scoring Kaylee Faurote, who led off the inning with a single.
After a quiet second inning, IPFW scored three runs in the third inning when Karpun doubled in Rachel Staschuk, setting the table for a Beatrice Pedraza sacrifice fly, scoring Cassie Wolfe. Karpun then scored on a wild pitch, giving the hosts a 4-0 advantage through three innings.
Faurote and Sarah Swanson each singled in the fourth inning before Staschuk hit a three-run home run, her second in as many games for IPFW, pushing the Mastodon lead to 7-0. Cassie Wolfe scored the final IPFW run on a fielding error by the Jaguars, pushing the ‘Dons ahead 8-0, as IUPUI could only muster a single the rest of the way in the five-inning victory.
Three players, Karpun, Staschuk, and Swanson recorded multiple hits, with Karpun picking up a trio in three at-bats. Faurote, Staschuk and Wolfe each scored twice, while Staschuk and Karpun drove in three and two runs, respectively.
Lauren Popov picked up the loss, pitching three and a third inning, striking out one and allowing seven runs, six of which were earned.
The ‘Dons remain at home, as the IUPUI series opened an 11-game homestand for IPFW, as the team next plays host to the Dayton Flyers in a double header on Tuesday, March 31, with first-pitch on the opener set for 3:00 PM.
~Dons~
