Purdue Fort Wayne
UMKC
Mastodons Bounce Kangaroos 14-1
3/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2010
Kansas City, MO – The IPFW Mastodons erupted for 14 runs in the first two innings and never looked back, winning the opening Summit League weekend over the UMKC Kangaroos in dominating fashion, 14-1.
The hot offense from the evening before that saw IPFW (8-8, 2-1 Summit League) score 11 runs in the day’s finale against UMKC came back in full force in the rubber match, with the Mastodons scoring five runs in the top of the first inning.
Rachel Staschuk led off the game with a single, and was bunted to second by Cassie Wolfe. After last night’s hero Kristina Karpun, who nearly set a new NCAA record with three home runs, hit an infield pop-up, Sara Hopwood doubled, driving in Staschuk.
Courtney Cronin followed with a double of her own, chasing home Hopwood, before she and Kaylee Faurote each scored on Kangaroo errors. Sarah Swanson ended the scoring in the inning with an RBI single to left field, scoring Stacey Swinford, giving the Mastodons a comfortable five-run lead.
Thirteen batters came to the plate for IPFW in the second inning, as the frame was highlighted by a grand-slam home run from senior Swinford, as the next three IPFW runs were then scored on wild pitches. Overall in the second inning, the Mastodons scored nine times on just four hits, drawing five walks, and was aided by an error.
UMKC added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it was too little too late, as both coaches emptied their benches, and the Mastodons won a run-rule shortened game 14-1, evening their season record in the process.
Rachel Staschuk (3-1) picked up her second consecutive win, striking out five in the process. Hopwood was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, with six other players picking up one hit apiece. Eight different players crossed the plate, as Staschuk, Wolfe, Hopwood, Cronin, Faurote, and Swinford each scoring twice. Swinford led the team with four RBI’s with Hopwood totaling three.
The Mastodons stay on the road for their next two games, as the team travels to Dayton, Ohio, to take on the Flyers of the University of Dayton on Tuesday, March 16, with first-pitch of the double header slated for 3:00 PM.
~Dons~
