Pitching Paces IPFW in Sweep of UMKC

Friday, March 18

Fort Wayne, Ind.

3:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

8-6-1, 2-2

UMKC

13-7, 3-1

UMKC

IPFW

Courtney Cronin threw a two-hitter against UMKC, while going 3-for-3 at the plate in the same contest

3/18/2011 7:22:34 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

Fort Wayne, IN - Behind the strong pitching of Rachel Staschuk and Courtney Cronin, the IPFW Mastodons swept the opening day of the weekend series with the Kangaroos of UMKC by scores of 3-1 and 2-0.

In addition to their pitching, Staschuk and Cronin were each instrumental in their own wins, each picking up at least two hits in each of the games they pitched, while neither allowed an earned run over the course of the 14 combined innings.

With the sweep, IPFW improves to 9-6-1 on the season, and 3-2 in Summit League play, now tied with UMKC at 3-2 in the league, as the Kangaroos opened the season with a series sweep of North Dakota State, the predicted co-favorites by the league coaches in the preseason poll.

In the opener, IPFW wasted little time in reaching the scoreboard when Staschuk led off with a double for the Mastodons, before a single to center field and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Three batters and two outs later, Staschuk crossed the plate on a wild pitch, pushing the 'Dons to a quick 1-0 lead.

UMKC answered with a run of its own in the top of the third inning when Kelly Fisher reached on a two-out walk, stole second and third base, and scored when the throw to third base was mishandled by the IPFW shortstop, knotting the score at one run apiece.

IPFW took the lead once again in the bottom of the fourth inning when Sara Hopwood hit a solo home run to left field, the eventual game-winning RBI, before Staschuk helped her own cause an inning later with a solo home run of her own to give the game its 3-1 final score.

The 'Roos threatened in the top of the seventh inning, as Lindsey Davis led off the frame getting hit by a pitch, but would not advance any further with three straight outs on a fly-out to left field, a swinging strikeout, and a line-out to shortstop Alex Bousquet closed the game with a win for the 'Dons.

Staschuk struck out five in the seven innings of work, improving her record to 2-1 on the season, while allowing just the solitary unearned run. Staschuk and Sarah Swanson were each 2-for-3 on the day, as the tandem totaled four of the team's five hits in the game. Staschuk scored twice, while the only RBI's in the game came via home runs.

The second game started as a pitcher's duel, with neither team able to accomplish much offensively through the first three innings, before the Mastodons loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. A Hopwood walk chased home Ashleigh Bousquet, before pinch-runner Kaylee Faurote scored on a wild pitch, giving the game its final run.

UMKC would muster just one hit after the first inning, and just two for the game, as Cronin, the reigning Summit League Pitcher of the Year faced one batter over the minimum, both on infield singles by Kaelene Curry. Cronin struck out eight in the win, improving to 6-5 in the circle, while picking up her fifth shutout of the season, and 21st of her career, putting her one behind DePaul's Liza Brown for fifth most over a career in Summit League history.

In addition to dominating in the circle, Cronin was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while Cassie Wolfe went 2-for-3 in the win.

The teams meet up one more time on Saturday at noon, in the series finale between the two teams, which will be played at Snider Field.

~Dons~