Purdue Fort Wayne
Memphis
Hopwood's Walk-Off Homer Gives Mastodons Season Opening Win
2/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 19, 2010
Memphis Box Score | SEMO Box Score
Memphis, TN – In her first game in an IPFW uniform, junior Sara Hopwood hit the first pitch she saw in the seventh inning over the wall in right center field, giving the Mastodons a 1-0 walk-off victory over Memphis in new head coach Amy Tudor’s first game in the dugout for IPFW (1-0).
Sophomore pitcher Courtney Cronin (1-0) pitched her sixth career shutout, giving up just three hits and two walks over seven innings of work, while striking out seven. Hopwood recorded both of IPFW’s hits in the game, providing all the offense the team would need in the narrow victory.
The game started as a pitcher’s duel, with each team picking up just one hit over the first three innings, IPFW’s coming in the first when Hopwood singled up the middle in her first plate appearance in the Blue and White, while Memphis’ (2-2) came in the second inning when Leigh Rowan hit a one-out single up the middle.
The Tigers threatened in the top of the fourth inning when Cronin struck out the first batter, Heather Mott, before allowing a single to left field, and then a walk a batter later. IPFW nearly pulled off a double play when Maddie McKinley’s sacrifice bunt attempt was caught by Cronin; however, the sophomore’s throw wasn’t in time to first base, keeping runners at first and second. Kailey Kassner followed with a walk, loading the bases for the Tigers, but Cronin forced Kim Sirman to ground out to the circle, ending the bases-loaded threat for the tournament hosts.
Memphis started both the sixth and seventh innings by putting the leadoff batter on base, but could not move the runner past second on either occasion. With the potential of facing extra innings, Hopwood stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning, and took the first pitch she saw from Vanessa Walle (1-1) and knocked it out of the ballpark for her first home run as a Mastodon.
Memphis had three hits, one each by Mott, Jessica Phillips and Rowan. Walle went 6.1 innings in the game, allowing just the two hits and one earned run, while striking out two and walking none.
In the final game of the opening day of the classic, IPFW fell victim to a five-run sixth inning, falling to Southeast Missouri State 7-4 to even the team's record at 1-1.
The Mastodons reached the scoreboard first in the second inning when Sarah Swanson doubled to left center field, and then advanced to third on a fielding error by the left fielder. She was then driven in when Stacey Swinford hit an infield single to the shortstop.
After the Redhawks answered with a run in the bottom of the third inning, IPFW put another tally on the board when Heather Genovese drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Swanson, who earlier reached on a bunt single. With the bases still loaded, Hopwood chased home a run with a single to left field, scoring Stacey Swinford, and giving IPFW a 3-1 lead.
IPFW added onto their advantage in the top of the fifth inning when Cronin reached on a fielding error, and was then pushed home on a throwing error by the shortstop a batter later.
Southeast Missouri State answered immediately back with a run in the bottom of the fifth, and after holding the 'Dons scoreless in the top of the sixth, the Redhawks scored five unearned runs, giving the hosts on the scoreboard a 7-4 lead, which they would keep for the remainder of the game.
Swanson was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate in the loss, as Swinford, Rachel Staschuk, Hopwood, and Kris Karpun each had a hit in the loss. Swanson scored twice, as each of the team's three RBI's came from different batters.
Cronin picked up the loss in the nightcap, pitching the final two innings, striking out three and giving up five unearned runs. Staschuk started the game in the circle, going four innings and giving up just one earned run while striking out five.
~Dons~
