Purdue Fort Wayne
South Dakota State
Mastodons Take Series with Jackrabbits
4/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 11, 2009
Brookings, SD – The IPFW Mastodons used a three-run second inning to jump ahead of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, winning the third game of the Summit League series by a 4-3 score, as all of IPFW’s runs came with two outs.
Rachel Staschuk and Beatrice Pedraza were each 3-for-4 at the plate for IPFW (13-17, 8-6 Summit League), as Courtney Cronin won her eighth game of the season, striking out seven in seven innings of work.
South Dakota State (8-29, 5-7 Summit) reached the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning, before the Mastodons responded in the top of the second inning. Amanda Olender started the run with a bases-loaded, two-out single, scoring Pedraza, before Staschuk followed with a single of her own, chasing home Cronin. Kristina Karpun then drew a walk, pushing Jil Price across the plate, giving the visitors a 3-1 advantage.
The hosts plated a run in the bottom of the fifth, setting the stage for the eventual game-winning RBI for Cassie Wolfe, the second game winning RBI for the freshman in as many games, as she hit a two-out single, scoring pinch-runner Sarah Swanson.
SDSU rallied in the bottom of the sixth, but could only score one run, and just one more Jackrabbit player would reach base in the bottom of the seventh, giving IPFW the 4-3 victory.
Each of IPFW’s four runs were scored by different players, as four different players had the runs driven in. Cronin did not give up a free base all game via a walk or hit batter, and scattered 10 hits while allowing four runs, only one of which was earned. The win also came despite a season-high-tying six errors.
SDSU was led by Ashley Durazo, who went 3-for-4, as Chelsey Evans picked up the loss, pitching four innings, walking two and giving up three runs, all earned, while Jenna Marston, who nearly no-hit IPFW in the opening game of the series, pitched the final four innings, giving up five hits and one run, while striking out one.
IPFW keeps to the road for a mid-week Summit League series, as the ‘Dons travel north to Rochester, Michigan, to take on the Grizzlies of Oakland University, with the first game scheduled for 4:00 PM on Tuesday, April 14, followed by a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 15 starting at noon.
~Dons~
