Mastodons set for Home Opener on Friday

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The IPFW Mastodons, after missing a dozen straight games due to inclement weather, will host their 2013 home opener against the Western Illinois Leathernecks on March 29.

Opponent: Western Illinois Leathernecks (8-10, 2-3 Summit)
When: Friday, March 29, 2013 | 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Where: Angola, Ind. | Trine Softball Field
All-Time Series: Western Illinois leads 16-4
Live Stats: IPFW Live Stats

ABOUT IPFW

IPFW comes into the Summit League game after seeing its last 12 games postponed or canceled due to inclement weather.

The last game for IPFW was on March 10, a 5-4 win over Troy in Lubbock, Texas. In that game, Larissa Franklin went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of stolen bases, while Dani Pugh went 3-for-4 with two RBI's. Megan Flenniken picked up the win, improving her record to 3-3 with six strikeouts and giving up just three earned runs in the game.

This season's squad has five regulars hitting over .300, led by Brittany Kachur who hits .429, as Ashleigh Bousquet is hitting .404. Franklin (.386), Pugh (.346), and Alex Bousquet (.313) round out the remaining batters on the team, as Miranda Kramer (.294), and Flenniken (.279) are just off the pace. Alex Bousquet has scored 16 times, while Dani Pugh leads the team with 13 RBI. Two others (Ashleigh Bousquet and Alex Bousquet) each have 12 RBI's, as newcomer Hillary Kartman has driven in 11 this season.

Kramer, a First Team All-Summit League selection last year as a freshman, leads IPFW with a 6-3 record and a 2.33 ERA. The sophomore allows opponents to bat just .233 against her, and has 70 strikeouts in 51 innings of work. Flenniken is 3-3 with a 3.88 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 43.1 innings in the circle.

ABOUT WESTERN ILLINOIS
Western Illinois comes into the meeting riding a three-game win streak, including a most recent 10-8 win over the Valparaiso Crusaders on Thursday evening.

In the win over Valparaiso, Alex Pflieger went 3-for-4 while driving in three, as Sammy Marshall and Briana Williams each picked up a pair of hits. Emma Jarrell and Pflieger each scored twice, while Marshall picked up three stolen bases.

This season Marshall is pacing the squad with a batting average of .439, while Williams is hitting .333 and Megg Kelly .273. Marshall has scored 15 times in 14 games on the season, as Williams has scored 14 times. Monica Rondon has a team-high six home runs and 21 RBI's, while Liz Romeo has driven in 17 runs in 18 games. Marshall and Williams have 15 and 14 steals, apiece, this year, as the pair have 29 of the team's 40 total steals.

The Leathernecks have used three pitchers this season, as Kelsey Michelini has a team-best 68.2 innings, with Teagan Walsh and Kacyee Hart adding 26.2 and 23.0 innings, respectively. Michelini is 3-6 in the circle with a 4.18 ERA and 45 strikeouts, and Walsh 2-2 with a 4.72 ERA and 12 strikeouts.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos