Cronin's Arm, Bat, Lead IPFW to Sweep of Leathernecks

Saturday, April 9

Fort Wayne, Ind.

11:30 AM

Purdue Fort Wayne

18-8-1, 9-4

Western Illinois

11-18, 7-6

Western Illinois

IPFW

Courtney Cronin threw a complete game in the opener, while hitting a solo home run in the nightcap

Cronin's Arm, Bat, Lead IPFW to Sweep of Leathernecks

4/9/2011 3:54:30 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

Fort Wayne, IN - Behind the strong pitching of Courtney Cronin in the opener, and a home run by the junior in the afternoon nightcap, IPFW won its first game over Western Illinois in the series history, snapping a 14-game win streak by the Leathernecks, while increasing the Mastodons' win streak to nine consecutive games.

IPFW took the opener 2-1, before coming through with a 4-3 win in the afternoon finale.

With the sweep, which improves IPFW to 19-8-1 on the season and 10-4 in Summit League play, the Mastodons move into a virtual tie for first place in the league standings with Southern Utah, who after their win against South Dakota State today, stand with a 9-3 overall record.

Ashleigh Bousquet and Sarah Swanson were each 3-for-5 at the plate on the day, while Sara Hopwood was 2-for-5, and Cassie Wolfe 2-for-6. Wolfe drove in two, as Kaylee Faurote scored twice, each time as a pinch-runner.

The first game was a pitcher's duel between the Leatherneck's Hailey Bickford and Cronin, with neither allowing a run until the top of the fourth inning when Erin Schlotfeldt hit a one-out solo home run, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the same inning the Mastodons put runners at first and second after a double and a throwing error, and with two outs in the frame, Alex Bousquet hit a high fly ball to left field that was dropped, allowing Wolfe and Hopwood to score, giving the Mastodons a 2-1 lead on the error.

The Leathernecks would get just one more hit the rest of the way, a single by Schlotfeldt to lead off the seventh inning, however, her pinch-runner was left stranded at second as IPFW held on for the 2-1 win.

Six of IPFW's eight hits came from three batters, as Swanson, Ashleigh Bousquet, and Hopwood each had two hits in the game. Cronin, who is now 13-6 on the season, went the entire seven innings, scattering four hits while striking out four and walking none. Bickford pitched all six innings for WIU, giving up eight hits and two unearned runs, while striking out one.

Cronin's pitching victory was the 40th of her career, putting her in sole possession of 12th place in the Summit League career record books in the category.

Western Illinois started the second game with a bang, loading the bases with no outs on a pair of hit batters and an infield single, before starting pitcher Rachel Staschuk struck out the next two batters. Freshman Megan Kelly followed with a long fly ball to left field that bounced off the wall, allowing the Leathernecks to clear the bases and take a 3-0 lead after the first frame.

IPFW was held hitless in the game until Cronin hit a one-out home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the deficit to two at 3-1. An inning later Staschuk reached on a dropped fly ball by the left fielder, before she and Faurote scored on a Wolfe RBI single. With the game tied at three, pinch-runner Sara Jacobson scored when the Leatherneck second baseman tried to turn a double play, and threw the ball past the first baseman, allowing the freshman to score, and taking IPFW to a 4-3 lead.

After the three-run first inning, Staschuk gave up just one more hit the rest of the way, including retiring all six batters after IPFW took the lead, winning her fourth game of the season in the circle.

Each of IPFW's five hits came from different batters, with Wolfe driving in two. Staschuk, over her seven innings, struck out seven and walked none, scattering the three hits. Her counterpart, Kelsey Michelini, pitched the first four and a third inning, striking out two and walking three, while relief pitcher Bickford went the last one and two-thirds of an inning, giving up two hits.

The teams return to the field on Sunday, April 10, with first pitch slated for noon in the series finale between the squads.

~Dons~