Purdue Fort Wayne
Detroit
Cronin No-Hitter Highlights Split with Detroit
4/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2010
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Photo Gallery 
Fort Wayne, IN - IPFW sophomore pitcher Courtney Cronin threw the school's second-ever no-hitter on Tuesday afternoon, striking out six and finishing a walk away from a perfect game, as the Mastodons split a non-conference double-header with the Titans of Detroit, winning the opener 8-0 in five innings, before falling 1-0 in the nightcap.
Cronin struck out six while allowing just a walk to Stefanie Morong to lead off the fourth inning in the contest. Rachel Staschuk struck out ten batters in the nightcap, scattering five hits; however, the Titans were able to string two together to score the winning run in the top of the fifth inning.
"Courtney had an outstanding performance in the circle," said IPFW Head Coach Amy Tudor. "Anytime you get a no-hitter, it is a great day. Rachel did a fine job pitching as well, she only gave up one run, and we didn't give her any run support. We had a few missed opportunities in the first game, but we didn't make it happen today, and they just beat us. When you are winning, you are used to winning, and defeat is not something you expect or deal well with."
The no-hitter was the second ever in the IPFW softball program history, with teammate Amanda Olender picking up the first one earlier this season in a five-inning victory over Morgan State on February 28, which saw just a walk and a hit-batter reach base for the Mastodons.
After Cronin set the Titans down in order to open the game, two by strikeout, the Mastodons wasted little time in getting to Detroit starting pitcher Anna Bondy, as Staschuk led off with a double on the first pitch she saw, before being driven in on a single by Sara Hopwood. After a walk and a forceout, Cassie Wolfe singled to left-center field, scoring Kris Karpun, setting the table for Ava Hall, who chased home Wolfe with a single, also to left-center field.
The Mastodons added four more in the bottom of the second inning, including two on a double by Stacey Swinford, pushing IPFW ahead 7-0 through two innings. The Mastodons added their eighth and mercy-rule activating run when Karpun hit a deep shot to right field that Titan right fielder Katie Schaus was able to grab just before it left the park, scoring Hopwood, who opened the inning with her third triple of the season.
With three outs to go to secure the second no-hitter by IPFW this season, Cronin got three straight groundouts, to herself to get the first out, Hall at third base for the second, and to Hopwood at shortstop to end the game.
Two players, Hopwood and Wolfe, each had two hits in the game, as those two, along with Swinford, each drove in a pair. Hopwood, Karpun, and Wolfe also scored twice in the winning effort.
Cronin's win was her 15th of the season, as she continues to re-write the IPFW pitching record books, as she is now five wins ahead of the previous record, her nine shutouts puts her four ahead of the old record, and her 134 strikeouts are 17 more than the previous single-season best.
Bondy picked up the loss, pitching the entire four innings, striking out three and allowing nine hits and five earned runs.
In the nightcap the Mastodon offense had chances, as they left four on base over the first two innings of the game. After Detroit threatened in the third inning, who picked up their first hit of the day with two outs in the frame, IPFW led off the fourth inning with a Wolfe double, before pinch-runner Sam Gary was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. A looking strikeout and a pop-up to the pitcher ended the threat.
The Titans used their newly-found momentum after holding Gary to third base to get a leadoff single from Katie Schaus, who was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout to Brigid Mulroy put two outs on the board, Melissa Barrett hit a two-out single, chasing home Schaus, and putting what would end up being the winning run on the board.
Back-to-back singles to open the sixth inning put the tying run in scoring position; however, a failed attempt at a sacrifice bunt, a fly-out to center field, and an infield pop-up ended the threat. IPFW threatened again in the seventh when Amber Pierce led off with a single to left field, as pinch-runner Kaylee Faurote was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Swanson, but a strikeout and a long fly-out to left field ended the chance, and gave the Titans a split in the series.
Head Coach Amy Tudor poses with the team's two players that are playing in their final game at the IPFW Softball Field, Ava Hall (L), and Stacey Swinford (R)  |
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Cronin and Pierce were each 2-for-3 for the `Dons in the nightcap, as Schaus and Barrett also had two hits for Detroit. Staschuk struck out ten over the seven innings, scattering five hits and walking none, dropping her record to 5-2 on the season with the hard-luck loss. Kara Spinelli got the win for Detroit, as she struck out three and walked one over seven innings.
The split puts IPFW at 23-12 overall, the second most wins in a season in program history, behind just the 24 wins of the 1994 squad. The Mastodons, who moved into first place in the Summit League over the weekend, will face off against Western Illinois University, currently the second place team in the league, in Macomb, Illinois, in a three-game series with the Leathernecks, with the first game scheduled to start at 4:00 PM on Friday, April 23.
~Dons~
