Purdue Fort Wayne
Winthrop
Pair of Shutouts Even IPFW's Record at 3-3
2/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 27, 2010
Winthrop Box Score | Siena Box Score
Rock Hill, SC – With a pair of shutouts at the Winthrop Early Bird Tournament, the IPFW Mastodons evened their record at 3-3 on the young 2010 season. IPFW topped host Winthrop in their opener of the tournament 1-0, before winning their next game in five innings over Siena 9-0.
In the opener over Winthrop (5-4), Sarah Swanson got a hit in the game’s first at-bat with a bunt single; however, neither team would be able to get a base hit for the next three innings, when Amber Pierce led off the fourth inning with a single to left field before advancing to second on a fielding error by the Eagle left fielder. Sara Hopwood advanced Pierce to third with a sacrifice bunt, before Kristina Karpun chased her home with a fielder’s choice.
Winthrop would threaten in the top of the fifth when catcher Lauren Levin hit a two-out double, but was stranded at second base. In the sixth, the Eagles would put pressure on starting pitcher Courtney Cronin when a walk and a base hit put runners on first and second. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third with two outs, before the sophomore forced the next batter to pop up to the second baseman.
The hosts went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Cronin her second shutout of the season.
Swanson, Pierce, Karpun, and Rachel Staschuk each picked up a hit in the game, with Cronin going the full seven innings, giving up just two hits and striking out six.
Senior pitcher Cari Wooldridge picked up the loss, tossing seven innings of four-hit ball, and allowing the one unearned run.
In the nightcap, the Mastodons wasted little time in jumping on the Siena Saints (1-5), scoring three runs in the top of the first inning when Hopwood chased home Swanson, and then scored when Amanda Olender drew a bases loaded walk. Kaylee Faurote grounded out to first base, driving home Karpun, and giving IPFW a 3-0 lead.
Siena’s Amanda Ferro opened the Saints’ turn at the plate with a single, but was stranded on the bases, giving way for the Mastodons to increase their lead to 4-0 with a Staschuk single that scored Swanson.
The IPFW bats came alive in the third inning, and started with a Pierce single up the middle that scored Faurote. Hopwood followed with a two-run double, scoring Pierce and Stacey Swinford. Karpun followed with a two-run home run, the Mastodons’ first since the season opener, pushing IPFW to a 9-0 lead.
The Saints would get only one more hit the rest of the way, while Staschuk struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth to pick up her first win of the 2010 season, and her second career shutout. Staschuk struck out six in the effort, giving up just three hits and not allowing a walk.
Hopwood went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead IPFW, with five others, Swanson, Pierce, Karpun, Staschuk, and Swinford picking up one hit. Swanson, Hopwood, and Karpun each scored twice, with Hopwood leading the way with three runs driven in for the nightcap.
The Mastodons return to the field on Sunday, when they take on the host Winthrop Eagles at noon, before facing off against Morgan State at 2:00 PM.
~Dons~
