Pair of One-Run Losses Drop IPFW to 4-4 in Summit League

Friday, March 25

Fort Wayne, Ind.

3:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

11-6-1, 4-3

North Dakota State

11-20, 1-3

North Dakota State

IPFW

Cassie Wolfe hit a pair of home runs, giving her five on the season and 20 for her career

Pair of One-Run Losses Drop IPFW to 4-4 in Summit League

3/25/2011 8:35:46 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

Fort Wayne, IN - North Dakota State picked up a pair of one-run victories over the Mastodons of IPFW, 5-4 and 4-3, dropping the Mastodons to 4-4 in the Summit League this season, and 10-8-1 overall.

Cassie Wolfe went 2-for-5 on the day for IPFW with two solo home runs and a pair of walks, while Rachel Staschuk was 3-of-8 at the plate with a team-high three RBI's.

The opening game saw the Bison reach the scoreboard first with a solo home run from Taylor Mortensen, as the 1-0 score stood through the first three and a half innings of the game.

The Mastodons answered in the fourth inning when Wolfe hit her first of two home runs on the day to lead off the inning, knotting the score at one run apiece. Three batters later Ashleigh Bousquet singled home pinch runner Sara Jacobson. Pinch-hitter Jordan Millspaugh walked to load the bases, before Staschuk doubled to left-center field to chase home Ashleigh Bousquet and Sara Hopwood, giving the Mastodons a 4-1 lead after four complete innings.

North Dakota State answered quickly, scoring four runs of its own in the top of the fifth inning, the bulk of those coming by way of a three-run home run by Brea Konz.

The remainder of the game would remain scoreless, as IPFW was unable to produce a baserunner over the final three innings of the contest.

Staschuk was 2-for-4 in the opener with a pair of RBI's, as all four Mastodon runs came from different players. Courtney Cronin picked up the loss, falling to 7-6 on the season after striking out four, walking three and allowing five earned runs over four and a third inning of work, before Megan Flenniken made her Summit League debut, pitching the final two and two-thirds of an inning, striking out two and allowing just one hit.

Starting as the team's pitcher in the afternoon finale, Staschuk made her first immediate impact in the batters box, as she led off the Mastodon bats in the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, her fourth home run of the season. NDSU's Katie Tamayo answered back with a solo home run of her own in the top of the second to knot the score at two runs apiece.

The Bison took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when back-to-back doubles scored Jamie Gay, and giving the visitors a 2-1 advantage.

That lead lasted for a little over an inning, before Wolfe knotted the score at two apiece with her fifth home run of the season, and 20th of her career. Her 20 home runs puts her in a tie for 12th in Summit League history in the category, and one behind teammate Kris Karpun for the school career lead.

A pair of unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning gave NDSU a 4-2 lead, before the Mastodons mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning.

With the sun setting behind the first-base dugout, the 'Dons got a leadoff walk from Millspaugh, before Staschuk reached on a fielding error two batters later, putting runners on the corners. Sarah Swanson followed with an infield single, scoring pinch-runner Alex Bousquet, cutting the deficit to just one. Wolfe walked to load the bases with just one out on the scoreboard; however, a looking strikeout by Hopwood and a fly-out by Ashleigh Bousquet ended the Mastodon comeback hopes.

IPFW had four hits, each from different batters, as no Mastodon player had more than one run scored or one RBI. Flenniken picked up the loss, pitching the final three and two-thirds of an inning, striking out two and allowing the two unearned runs. Staschuk opened the game, pitching the first three and a third inning, striking out a pair while allowing four hits and two earned runs.

NDSU's Whitney Johnson improved to 7-8 on the season, picking up both victories for the Bison, striking out 11 in 10.1 innings of work, while Mortensen was 3-of-5 at the plate with two RBI's.

The teams return to action tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch slated for 1:00 PM at the IPFW Softball Field.

~Dons~