Saturday, April 5
Macomb, Ill.
1 p.m.
Purdue Fort Wayne
24-10, 0
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Western Illinois
17-13-1, 0
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6
7
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IPFW
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Western Illinois
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Photo by: Dennis Hubbard
Pitching Leads Mastodons to Sweep of Leathernecks
4/5/2014 10:33:00 PM | Softball
GAME ONE BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE (.html)
GAME TWO BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE (.html)
MACOMB, Ill. - In a battle between the Summit League leader in ERA (IPFW) and the league leader in batting average (Western Illinois), it was pitching that won out on the first day of the series. IPFW starting pitcher Miranda Kramer held Western Illinois to just three hits in a 2-0 shutout, before the offense came alive in the nightcap for a 10-2 six-inning win.
The sweep pushed IPFW to 25-10 on the season, and 6-1 in Summit League play.
Dani Pugh and Ashleigh Bousquet each went 3-for-6 on the day, while three others - Beka Ferguson, Kayti Hanson, and Larissa Franklin - each had two hits for the Mastodons. Bousquet scored four times - all in the nightcap - while Kartman and Mintari each drove in three runs.
After a pair of scoreless innings in the opener, the Mastodons finally broke through with two runs in the top of the third inning - all of the game's runs. Prestlee Cooper opened the inning with a walk, before being pushed over to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a groundout moved her to third, setting the stage for Hanson's RBI single. After a stolen base, Hanson was chased home on a Pugh RBI single, the last of the two runs scored in the game.
The Leathernecks threatened in the bottom of the third inning, loading the bases; however, a pop-up ended the threat in the inning. The hosts again made a threat to cross the plate, putting runners on second and third inning before a swinging strikeout ended the hope.
Kramer pitched the entire seven innings, striking out 10 and holding the Leathernecks to just three hits while walking a pair. The win improves the junior to 13-6 on the season.
Hanson was 2-for-4 at the plate, while Pugh and Emily Olszewski had a hit apiece.
In the nightcap, the Mastodons pushed a run across in the second inning, when Bousquet opened the inning with an infield single. An error moved her to third, before Mintari hit a sacrifice fly, putting IPFW ahead 1-0.
Western Illinois answered back with two runs in the third inning, giving the Leathernecks their first lead of the game.
Trailing for the first time in the day, IPFW wasted little time in taking the lead back, as Pugh and Bousquet opened the inning by reaching base, before Hillary Kartman followed with a three-run home run, putting the Mastodons ahead for good on the day.
After a fourth run of the inning scored Ferguson, IPFW loaded the bases in the fifth inning, scoring a run on a Ferguson walk, and scored four more times in the top of the sixth to give the game its 10-2 final score.
Ashleigh Bousquet scored four times in the game, going 3-for-4 at the plate, as Franklin, Pugh, and Ferguson each had two hits. Kartman and Mintari each drove in three, while Ferguson pushed home two.
Flenniken improved to 12-4 on the season, striking out one in six innings of work, while scattering seven hits and allowing the two earned runs.
The teams will meet for a third and final time in the regular season at 1 p.m. at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
GAME TWO BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE (.html)
MACOMB, Ill. - In a battle between the Summit League leader in ERA (IPFW) and the league leader in batting average (Western Illinois), it was pitching that won out on the first day of the series. IPFW starting pitcher Miranda Kramer held Western Illinois to just three hits in a 2-0 shutout, before the offense came alive in the nightcap for a 10-2 six-inning win.
The sweep pushed IPFW to 25-10 on the season, and 6-1 in Summit League play.
Dani Pugh and Ashleigh Bousquet each went 3-for-6 on the day, while three others - Beka Ferguson, Kayti Hanson, and Larissa Franklin - each had two hits for the Mastodons. Bousquet scored four times - all in the nightcap - while Kartman and Mintari each drove in three runs.
After a pair of scoreless innings in the opener, the Mastodons finally broke through with two runs in the top of the third inning - all of the game's runs. Prestlee Cooper opened the inning with a walk, before being pushed over to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a groundout moved her to third, setting the stage for Hanson's RBI single. After a stolen base, Hanson was chased home on a Pugh RBI single, the last of the two runs scored in the game.
The Leathernecks threatened in the bottom of the third inning, loading the bases; however, a pop-up ended the threat in the inning. The hosts again made a threat to cross the plate, putting runners on second and third inning before a swinging strikeout ended the hope.
Kramer pitched the entire seven innings, striking out 10 and holding the Leathernecks to just three hits while walking a pair. The win improves the junior to 13-6 on the season.
Hanson was 2-for-4 at the plate, while Pugh and Emily Olszewski had a hit apiece.
In the nightcap, the Mastodons pushed a run across in the second inning, when Bousquet opened the inning with an infield single. An error moved her to third, before Mintari hit a sacrifice fly, putting IPFW ahead 1-0.
Western Illinois answered back with two runs in the third inning, giving the Leathernecks their first lead of the game.
Trailing for the first time in the day, IPFW wasted little time in taking the lead back, as Pugh and Bousquet opened the inning by reaching base, before Hillary Kartman followed with a three-run home run, putting the Mastodons ahead for good on the day.
After a fourth run of the inning scored Ferguson, IPFW loaded the bases in the fifth inning, scoring a run on a Ferguson walk, and scored four more times in the top of the sixth to give the game its 10-2 final score.
Ashleigh Bousquet scored four times in the game, going 3-for-4 at the plate, as Franklin, Pugh, and Ferguson each had two hits. Kartman and Mintari each drove in three, while Ferguson pushed home two.
Flenniken improved to 12-4 on the season, striking out one in six innings of work, while scattering seven hits and allowing the two earned runs.
The teams will meet for a third and final time in the regular season at 1 p.m. at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kramer, Miranda (13-6)
L: Bickford (4-6)
Batting:
RBI: Hanson, Kayti 1 ; Pugh, Dani 1
SH: Olszewski, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hanson, Kayti 1 ; Cooper, Prestlee 1
SB: Hanson, Kayti 1
Base Running:
SB: Williams 1 ; Maggio 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Huge Dubs!
Saturday, May 10
Mastodon Softball walks off NKU
Friday, April 25
Softball Win over IUPUI
Monday, April 15
Winning 'Dons are Happy 'Dons!
Sunday, February 25
