Softball Returns Home With Sweep of Leathernecks

Friday, March 29

Fort Wayne, Ind.

3 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

11-6, 1-0

Western Illinois

8-11, 2-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Western Illinois	0	1	1	0	1	0	3	7	2
IPFW	3	3	2	0	2	1	11	12	0

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Softball Returns Home With Sweep of Leathernecks

3/29/2013 8:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GAME ONE BOX | GAME TWO BOX

ANGOLA, Ind. - Playing 45 minutes north of town, the Mastodons still claimed their 2013 home opener with a pair of wins over the Western Illinois Leathernecks by scores of 11-3 and 9-1.

The Mastodons, on an 18-day layoff because of weather, showed no signs of rust, as the squad hit .444 (24-of-54) with 20 runs scored and two home runs.

Leading the IPFW offense were four players that hit over .500 on the day, including Dani Pugh who went 5-for-6 with a home run and seven RBI's, while Larissa Franklin was 6-of-8 with seven runs scored. Ashleigh Bousquet was 4-for-6 while hitting for a combined cycle on the day, including a grand slam in the second game, driving in eight over the two contests.

IPFW pitchers Megan Flenniken and Miranda Kramer each picked up a complete-game win, Flenniken scattering two hits, while Kramer gave up three runs and struck out six.

In the opener, the Mastodons scored in five of six innings, including three in the first inning when Pugh doubled home Franklin, while Ashleigh Bousquet also scored on a missed catch by the Western Illinois shortstop. Flenniken followed with a single into left field, scoring Pugh, and giving IPFW a 3-0 lead.

A solitary Western Illinois run followed in the top of the second inning, before IPFW responded with three more runs in the bottom of the second on RBI's from Ashleigh Bousquet on a single, Pugh on a walk, and Hillary Kartman when she was hit by pitch with the bases loaded.

Two more runs in the third on an Ashleigh Bousquet triple put the Mastodons up 8-2, out-scoring WIU's one run in the top of the inning. A scoreless fourth followed, before the Leathernecks scored again in the fifth inning, closing the gap to 8-3.

A Pugh single in the top of the fifth drove in two, before Alex Bousquet drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth to put the game above the eight-run minimum to call the contest early, giving the Mastodons the 11-3 win.

Franklin was 3-for-5 with a trio of runs scored, while Ashleigh Bousquet and Dani Pugh each were 2-for-3. Kayti Hanson scored three times, while Alex Bousquet crossed the plate twice. Pugh drove in four in the victory, as Ashleigh Bousquet chipped in three in the winning effort.

Kramer improved to 7-3 in the circle as she scattered seven hits and gave up the three earned runs, striking out six without walking a batter.

The Leathernecks opened the nightcap with a run in the top of the first on a bunt single, stolen base, sacrifice bunt and a groundout. That would be the only Western Illinois hit until a one-out double in the fifth inning, as Flenniken kept the WIU hitters off-balance all game.

The Mastodons answered the Western Illinois run with two of their own in the bottom of the first inning when Pugh homered down the left field line, scoring herself and Franklin. Pugh added to her RBI total in the bottom of the third inning when a single scored Franklin, pushing the Mastodons ahead 3-1.

The floodgates burst open in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Audrey Mintari opened the inning with a double, and the next five batters also reached base, including an RBI single by Hanson that scored Mintari, before Ashleigh Bousquet clubbed the team's second grand slam of the season over the left field wall, giving IPFW the 8-1 advantage.

Western Illinois left a runner stranded in the top of the fifth, before Bousquet closed the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring Franklin and pushing IPFW above the eight-run margin.

Flenniken struck out five and walked none in the five-inning game, scattering two hits and one run overall, improving to 4-3 on the season.

Franklin and Pugh were each a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, Franklin scoring four times and Pugh driving in three. Ashleigh Bousquet was 2-for-3 and drove in five while scoring once, as six different players scored in the game.

The Mastodons, now 12-6 on the season and 2-0 in the Summit League, return to action against the Leathernecks at 2 p.m. at the IPFW Softball Complex.

~ Feel the Rumble ~