Purdue Fort Wayne
IUPUI
Mastodons Set Win Record in Split
4/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 30, 2010
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
Indianapolis, IN - With a 9-0, five-inning win in the opener, the 2010 IPFW Mastodons have claimed sole possession of the single-season wins mark, their 25th of the season, as the team split a double header with the Jaguars of IUPUI on Friday afternoon at the IUPUI Softball Complex, falling in the nightcap 7-6.
Sophomore pitcher Courtney Cronin pitched her 10th shutout of the 2010 season, doubling the previous single-season record, while winning the 24th game of her career, most in IPFW softball history.
IPFW jumped out quickly in the opener, scoring three runs on a Cassie Wolfe three-run home run, the first of two home runs on the day by the sophomore.
After being held scoreless for the second and third innings, IPFW tacked on three more runs in the top of the fourth inning when the squad got RBI singles from Kristina Karpun, Sara Hopwood, and Rachel Staschuk, pushing IPFW to a 6-0 advantage.
The lead reached 9-0 in the top of the fifth inning when Wolfe opened the frame with a solo home run, before Stacey Swinford scored on a fielding error by the Jaguars, with the final run coming when Karpun singled up the middle, scoring pinch runner Sam Gary.
The Jaguars went down in order in the bottom of the fifth to help the Mastodons clinch the nine-run, mercy-rule-shortened victory.
Wolfe was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in the opener, driving in four runs and scoring twice. Karpun, Hopwood, and Staschuk each had two hits, with Hopwood and Wolfe scoring twice.
Cronin pitched the complete-game shutout, scattering two hits, striking out three and walking none.
Samantha Bumbaugh picked up the loss, giving up six earned runs over three and a third inning, walking four and striking out one.
In the nightcap, the Mastodons jumped ahead quickly, again with three runs in the top of the first inning, all on unearned runs. The first run came when Cronin reached on a throwing error by IUPUI shortstop Mia Ettl, which allowed Hopwood to score, before Wolfe singled down the left field line, scoring Cronin, before scoring herself on a wild pitch two batters later.
Karpun hit a two-run home run in the top of the second inning, her school-record 12th of the season, putting the `Dons ahead 4-0 through two innings.
After being held scoreless in the top of the third, IUPUI put their first runs on the scoreboard with a three-run home run from Ettl. After loading the bases with one out in the top of the fourth inning, Amber Pierce scored on a throwing error by the IUPUI first baseman, pushing the IPFW lead to two at 5-3, before the host Jaguars added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to knot the score at five apiece.
The Mastodons loaded the bases again in the sixth inning, and added another run when Cronin singled to Ettl at shortstop, scoring Sarah Swanson; however, the Jaguars once again answered, with two doubles that scored Alicia Hayes, again, tying the score at six all.
For the second consecutive inning, IPFW loaded the bases, but were unable to push a run across, sending the game into the bottom of the seventh inning tied at six, before starting pitcher Amy Raker hit a leadoff home run to center field, giving the Jaguars the split of the day's series.
Swanson was 3-for-4 at the plate, with Swinford going 2-for-3, and Wolfe 2-for-4. All six runs were scored by different players, as were the three runs driven in.
Staschuk picked up the loss, pitching the final three and two-thirds inning in relief, striking out six and giving up four earned runs, dropping her record to 6-3 this season.
The rubber-game of the series is scheduled for 12:00 PM in Indianapolis on Saturday.
~Dons~
