Purdue Fort Wayne
Valparaiso
Mastodons Split With Crusaders
3/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2010
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Fort Wayne, IN - In the middle of their eight-game homestand, the IPFW Mastodons split a non-conference double header with the Valparaiso Crusaders, winning the first game on a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning, before falling in a 1-0 pitcher's duel in the finale.
In the opener, IPFW (13-10) got a masterful pitching performance from sophomore Courtney Cronin (7-6), who gave up just one run over the seven innings, just missing her season high with 10 strikeouts, scattering six hits, and not walking a batter.
The `Dons got on the board quickly in the first game, when the hosts used a pair of doubles, the first from Cassie Wolfe on a looper down the right field line, and the latter on a Sara Hopwood towering shot that hit the extra fencing in center field, driving in Wolfe.
Valparaiso (16-7) answered with a run in the top of the third inning when Joylyn Ichiyama singled home Tori Brown, evening the score at one apiece. The Crusaders nearly added another run; however, Ichiyama was thrown out at the plate on a Jordan Rutkowski double, keeping the score at one apiece.
Cronin settled down from there, and retired the last 11 batters she faced in the game. Tied at one heading into the bottom of the seventh, Stacey Swinford got things started for the `Dons with a single to center field, before Amber Pierce reached on a fielder's choice that saw Swinford get forced out at second base. A batter later, Ava Hall knocked a double to right-center field, chasing home Pierce with the winning run, the second walk-off win for IPFW in as many games, after topping Southern Utah the previous Friday by a 5-4 score.
Hall went 2-for-3 to lead IPFW, as the team's other five hits came from five different players. Hopwood and Hall had the team's RBI's, as Wolfe and Pierce scored the team's runs.
In the nightcap, IPFW starter Amanda Olender got herself out of trouble early in the game, when Sara Strickland opened the game with a triple to right center field. A groundout to third base gave the hosts their first out, before a walk to Rutkowski put runners on the corners. Kelsey Phalen then hit a grounder to Olender, who caught Strickland trying to advance an extra base as Hall tagged her out at third base to cap a runner pickle. A Sadie Conner lineout to Hopwood at shortstop ended the threat in the inning.
Jessie Marinec started the top of the second inning with a solo home run to left center field, giving the game its only run in the ballgame.
IPFW's four hits in the game came within the first four innings, one each per inning, including a double by Swinford in the fourth inning, but each was left stranded at their base. Valpo again threatened with a runner on third base, again via a triple with two outs in the seventh, but Jill Jacobsen could not be brought around, before the Mastodons went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Crusaders the 1-0 win.
Olender (3-3) went the first five innings of the game, scattering four hits, including the home run. She struck out two and walked just one. Rachel Staschuk pitched the final two innings in relief, striking out three and giving up a pair of hits and no walks.
"Our pitching staff did a really nice job keeping us in both ballgames," said IPFW head coach Amy Tudor. "In giving up just the two runs in two games - our staff was very successful from the circle. In the first game Hopwood led off with a hit that would have been a home run in most parks, scoring the run. We battled the whole game to stay in it. Ava came through with a huge hit, and it was definitely a momentum builder. In game two, we didn't make adjustments at the plate, and we didn't make the Valparaiso pitcher make any adjustments to us. Their pitching staff did a nice job today."
Alex Lagesse (6-3) picked up the win for Valparaiso, striking out four over six innings, before Shaleigh Jansen retired the Mastodons in order in the bottom of the seventh inning for her sixth save of the season.
The Mastodons return to the IPFW Softball Field for a three-game conference series with the Ladies of Centenary, with first-pitch scheduled for 3:00 PM on March 26.
~Dons~
