Cronin Dominates in 6-1 Series Finale against Jackrabbits

Sunday, April 3

Sioux Falls, S.D.

1:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

16-8-1, 8-4

South Dakota State

7-22, 4-5

IPFW

South Dakota St.

Courtney Cronin struck out 10, while driving in five in IPFW's final game against South Dakota State

Cronin Dominates in 6-1 Series Finale against Jackrabbits

4/3/2011 2:43:30 PM | Softball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Sioux Falls, SD - IPFW junior pitcher Courtney Cronin dominated in both the pitching circle and in the batters box as IPFW topped the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 6-1 in the series finale, in which the Mastodons won all three games to improve to 8-4 in the league, and 16-8-1 and head into the team's next series on a six-game win streak.

Cronin struck out 10 while going the distance in the seven-inning game, allowing five hits, walking one, and giving up the unearned run in the second inning. At the plate she went 3-for-4 while driving in a season-high five, and scoring once, on her third inning home run.

Cronin and Sarah Swanson were each 3-for-4 at the plate, with Swanson tying the school's Division I school-record with three stolen bases in a game, which she originally tied yesterday as well. Swanson scored twice, with Amber Pierce driving in IPFW's other run.

The Mastodons jumped onto the scoreboard in the top of the first inning when Swanson hit a one-out single, stole second base, and then was chased home by a single up the middle by Cronin. The Jackrabbits answered back with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning before Cronin hit a three-run home run in the top of the third to help her own cause, and push IPFW to a 4-1 lead.

After staking herself to the three-run lead, Cronin responded in the circle by striking out the side in the bottom of the third inning, and struck out eight of her 10 batters in the final five innings of the game.

Amber Pierce drove in Ashleigh Bousquet with a groundout in the sixth inning before Cronin scored Swanson with a single in the seventh to give the game its 6-1 final score.

With the win, IPFW claims sole possession of second place in the league standings, a half game behind Southern Utah, and a full game ahead of both Western Illinois and UMKC.

The Mastodons travel back to Fort Wayne to take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks in a key Summit League battle at the IPFW Softball Field on Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9.

~Dons~