IPFW Drops Pair to Golden Grizzlies

Friday, April 29

Rochester, Mich.

3:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

0, 0

Oakland

0, 0

IPFW

Oakland

Sarah Swanson became the school's all-time stolen base leader as IPFW dropped a pair to Oakland

4/29/2011 3:15:50 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GAME ONE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Rochester, MI - The IPFW Mastodons struggled offensively on Friday afternoon, scoring just three runs on nine hits over the two games of the double-header, falling 3-2 and 5-1 to the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland University.

Ashleigh Bousquet and Kristina Karpun each went 2-for-6 on the day to lead the Mastodons, who went a combined 9-for-51 (.176) at the plate after hitting a combined .352 in the team's last seven games.

Offensvively the game started especially slowly for the Mastodons, as Oakland senior pitcher Marisa Everitt was stellar, holding IPFW hitless over the first five and a third innings, while striking out six over the same span. The Mastodons' Courtney Cronin was also stellar in the circle, holding the Grizzlies scoreless until the sixth inning of the game.

The first baserunner for IPFW in the series was senior Sarah Swanson, who reached via a walk, and then stole second base for her 13th steal of the season, and school-record 34th over her career. The throw to second base from Oakland catcher Erika Polidori went awry, moving the senior to third base; however, a strikeout and fly out ended the threat in the top of the first inning.

IPFW's first hit came with one out in the sixth inning when Rachel Staschuk rapped a single into left field. Sara Jacobson, pinch-running for Staschuk, promptly stole second base to put a runner in scoring position, as Swanson drew her second free pass of the contest a batter later. With runners at first and second, Ashleigh Bousquet singled to right field, but Jacobson was thrown out at the plate on the play, keeping the game scoreless with IPFW runners on the corners.

With Cronin at the plate, Bousquet took off for second base, and as the throw was attempted on the lead runner, Swanson scampered home, giving IPFW a 1-0 advantage. In the same at-bat, Cronin then doubled to center field, scoring Bousquet, and giving IPFW a 2-0 lead.

The Grizzlies answered back quickly in the bottom half of the sixth inning, loading the bases with two infield singles and a fielder's choice, before an out had been made in the frame. Alyssa Deacon scored a batter later on an error by IPFW shortstop Alex Bousquet, before Leah DiCristoforo drew a bases-loaded walk a batter later to tie the score at two runs apiece. The hosts took the lead on a fielder's choice from pinch-runner Abbie Richardson that scored Polidori, giving Oakland a 3-2 advantage.

Kristina Karpun opened the seventh inning with a double to left field, and was lifted for pinch-runner Kaylee Faurote. After back-to-back strikeouts, the Mastodons got back-to-back walks to Alex Bousquet and Staschuk to load the bases; however, a last swinging strikeout, Everitt's ninth of the game, closed the door on the Mastodon comeback.

IPFW had four hits in the game, one each from Staschuk, Ashleigh Bousquet, Cronin, and Karpun. Cronin picked up the loss, going the entire six innings, striking out five and allowing two earned runs while scattering six hits.

In the nightcap, after a scoreless inning and a half, the Grizzlies burst out for four runs in the bottom of the second inning, three coming off the bat of Megan McQueen with a bases-loaded double down the left field line. McQueen was eventually chased home on a double by Erin Galloway, giving the hosts a 4-0 lead.

The Mastodons responded with their first run of the game when Alex Bousquet singled, stole second base, was advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a Swanson single, cutting the deficit to three at 4-1. A leadoff double by Kylie Schalz turned into Oakland's fifth run two batters later when Shelby Gott drove her home to take the game to a 5-1 score.

IPFW threatened in the top of the seventh when Jacobson led off the inning with a double to center field, and was advanced to third on a groundout but was left stranded there with a game-ending pop-up to the third baseman.

Picking up the loss for IPFW was Staschuk, who pitched the first inning and two-thirds, allowing four hits and four earned runs. Megan Flenniken came on in relief and struck out three over four and a third inning of work, giving up seven hits and one run. All five IPFW hits came from different batters, as Swanson drove home Alex Bousquet for the team's only run.

The Mastodons, now 25-12-1 on the season, and 13-7 in Summit League play, return to action tomorrow for a noon first pitch in the series finale between the Grizzlies and Mastodons.

~Dons~