Purdue Fort Wayne
Western Illinois
Westerwinds End IPFW's Season 9-1
5/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 2, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN - For the second straight season the Western Illinois Westerwinds ended IPFW's season, this year was in the regular season finale, as the visitors completed a weekend sweep of the 'Dons with a 9-1 score.
Last season the teams met in the Summit League Tournament Championship game, where Western Illinois cruised to the 17-2 victory.
Western Illinois' (31-17, 21-2 Summit League)offense wasted no time, as Beth Golitko hit a bases-loaded home run, giving the visitors a 4-0 advantage. IPFW answered with their only run and hit of the game, when catcher Kris Karpun walked, and was then chased home with a Rachel Staschuk double down the left field line a batter later.
WIU pitcher Kamren Ferguson kept the IPFW (14-24, 9-13 Summit League) offense off-balance for the rest of the game, as she did not allow another hit the rest of the way, while striking out 11 and walking two in improving to 19-7 on the season.
Another run in the second inning, followed by two more in the third and two more in the sixth gave the Westerwinds all the offense needed in the 9-1 conference contest.
Courtney Cronin picked up the loss in the circle, dropping her record to 9-7 on the season, striking out two and giving up eight hits and seven runs, all earned. Staschuk pitched three innings of relief, and did not allow a hit, before Amanda Olender pitched the final inning, allowing four hits and two runs.
Jame Goss for Western Illinois was 3-for-4, with Colleen Biebel and Golitko each going 2-for-4.
The loss ends IPFW's season with a 14-24 record, while going 9-13 in the Summit League. The game was also the final one in the career of starting center fielder Beatrice Pedraza.
~Dons~
