Softball Advances to League Championship with Win Over Jaguars

Friday, May 9

Fargo, N.D.

6:30 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

40-13

IUPUI

24-23

IPFW

IUPUI

Softball Advances to League Championship with Win Over Jaguars

5/9/2014 10:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE (.html)

FARGO, N.D. - A lead-off home run from Alex Bousquet gave the Mastodons a lead that they would not give up for the rest of the game, as starting pitcher Miranda Kramer struck out 14 in her seven innings of work, helping the Mastodons to a 9-4 victory over IUPUI. The win advances IPFW to the Summit League title game for the third consecutive season.

Alex Bousquet and Beka Ferguson were each 2-for-3 at the plate, while Dani Pugh was 2-for-4. Pugh and Ashleigh Bousquet each added home runs for the Mastodons, as Ashleigh drove in three runs and Pugh a pair. Each of the Bousquet sisters scored twice for the team lead.

Kramer struck out 14 in seven innings, scattering eight hits and giving up four runs over seven innings of work, improving to 20-8 on the season.

The win improves IPFW to 40-13 on the season, the second time an IPFW softball team has eclipsed the 40-win plateau, while the team won its 11th consecutive game.

As the visitors on the scoreboard, the Mastodons struck first with a lead-off home run from Alex Bousquet. The home run was followed by a double from Larissa Franklin, who was moved to third when Ashleigh Bousquet reached on an error. With runners on the corners, the pair successfully completed a double steal, with Franklin scoring on the play, giving IPFW a 2-0 advantage.

A two-run home run from Ashleigh Bousquet scored herself and her twin sister, putting IPFW ahead by four at 4-0. IUPUI closed the gap with three runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Kayti Hanson doubled home Beka Ferguson in the fourth inning, before Hillary Kartman scored in the sixth inning on a passed ball, putting IPFW ahead 5-3.?

Leading by two, IPFW put on three more runs in the top of the seventh inning, starting when for the second time in the game Ashleigh Bousquet reached on an error by the Jaguar second baseman, this one scoring pinch-runner Taylor Gordy Prescott. The groundout was followed by a two-run home run from Dani Pugh, putting IPFW ahead 9-3.?

IUPUI picked up a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but could not get another across in the 9-4 IPFW win.

The Mastodons will wait until 2 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET) to find their opponent for the championship game. The first game of the day will put Western Illinois against North Dakota State. The winner will face off immediately following against IUPUI, and the winner of the second game will face the Mastodons in the Championship Game.
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~ Feel the Rumble ~