Mastodons Win Opener over Rider 5-0

Friday, February 25

Greensboro, N.C.

11:00 AM

Purdue Fort Wayne

0-1

Rider

1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rider University	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3
IPFW	0	1	0	3	1	0	X	5	10	4

Courtney Cronin threw her 17th career shutout as IPFW topped Rider 5-0 in the Mastodon season opener

Photo by: Lucas Carter

2/25/2011 7:35:28 PM | Softball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Greensboro, NC - IPFW opened its 2011 season with a 5-0 victory over the Rider Broncos at the North Carolina A&T Tournament.

Junior pitcher Courtney Cronin, in her first regular season game since earning the Summit League Pitcher of the Year honor last season, went the full seven innings while striking out nine and scattering just two hits. Her nine strikeouts gives her 285 over her career, good for a tie for 20th in Summit League history, while her shutouts, now 17 on her career, ranks ninth in Summit League history.

Ashleigh Bousquet, in her IPFW debut, went 3-for-3, while Rachel Staschuk went 3-for-4 with a trio of runs batted in. Kristina Karpun added a pair of hits in four at-bats, with Alex Bousquet scoring twice.

The Mastodons struck first in the second inning when Alex Bousquet walked, and was followed by a single by twin sister Ashleigh, putting runners on the corners. After a groundout moved Ashleigh to second base, Staschuk singled to center field, driving in Alex, and giving the 'Dons a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Ashley Bousquet hit a one-out double, before seeing pinch-runner Kaylee Faurote chased home on a throwing error by the Bronco catcher. Staschuk followed two batters later with a two-run single, driving home Brittany Kachur and Sarah Swanson, both of whom reached on errors.

IPFW added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Alex Bousquet scored on a passed ball, giving the game its 5-0 final score.

The Mastodons, who were 10-of-31 as a team at the plate, return to action on Saturday morning at 11:00 AM when the squad faces off against tournament host North Carolina A&T.

~Dons~