Saturday, March 10
Kennesaw, Ga.
8 A.M.
Purdue Fort Wayne
2
at
8
Kennesaw State
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
Photo by: Brian Alden
Burns and Denny Dig the Long Ball on Final Day in Georgia
3/10/2018 9:10:00 PM | Softball
KENNESAW, Ga. - The Fort Wayne softball team split its final day at the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament, as the Mastodons fell to host Kennesaw State 8-2, before earning a comeback walk-off win 11-10 over Bucknell. The final games of the tournament were cancelled due to weather.
Courtney Holm, Jenna Balthazor and Morganne Denny each collected three hits on the day. Payton Hollis, Demitra Burns and Lauren Watson each had two. Burns led the team with three RBIs, while Hollis and Denny each drove in two. Balthazor led the 'Dons with three runs scored.
In the early morning game, the Mastodons scored first, pushing across two runs in the top of the first. A double steal brought home Watson, and later Lacey Wilzbacher scored on an RBI groundout by Maria Palmegiani.
The Owls scored two runs in the second, before adding another in the third on a home run. KSU added two more runs in the fifth and capped off the scoring with a three-run home run in the sixth.
Shaina Eyre took the loss for the 'Dons after lasting 4 1-3 innings and allowing five runs on eight hits. Addie Benham came on to pitch the final 1 2-3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits.
In the second game against the Bison, Fort Wayne scored in the first inning for the fourth straight game. Wilzbacher walked and a single by Denny put runners on the corners, before a double steal brought home Wilzbacher.
Bucknell added a run in the second, but the Mastodons answered in the third on an RBI single by Denny. The Bison responded with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth. In the bottom half of the fifth, the Mastodons scored three runs. Burns got things started with a two-run home run to left field, her first of the season. Hollis later added an RBI single.
The Bison added a run in the top of the sixth, but the 'Dons came right back in the bottom of the inning. Denny led off the frame by depositing a 2-1 pitch over the center field wall for her third home run of the season. Holm would tie the game with two outs on a RBI single to center.
After neither team scored in the seventh, the game went into extra innings and the International Tiebreaker was put in place. Bucknell pushed across three runs in the top of the eighth, including a two-run home run.
With one out in the eighth, the Mastodons got a double from Burns to bring home Denny. After a single by Balthazor scored Burns, Fort Wayne was down to its final out. Hollis singled up the middle to score Balthazor and tie the game. After Hollis stole second, Sydney Windlan reached on an infield single, but the throw by the Bison shortstop went past the first baseman, allowing Hollis to score the game-winning run.
Benham earned her first career victory, throwing 1-3 of an inning in relief. Bailey Benefiel started in the circle for the 'Dons, throwing 7 2-3 innings, allowing 10 runs, six earned, on 10 hits and striking out eight.
Fort Wayne returns to the diamond for a doubleheader at Western Michigan Wednesday, March 14, with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
Courtney Holm, Jenna Balthazor and Morganne Denny each collected three hits on the day. Payton Hollis, Demitra Burns and Lauren Watson each had two. Burns led the team with three RBIs, while Hollis and Denny each drove in two. Balthazor led the 'Dons with three runs scored.
In the early morning game, the Mastodons scored first, pushing across two runs in the top of the first. A double steal brought home Watson, and later Lacey Wilzbacher scored on an RBI groundout by Maria Palmegiani.
The Owls scored two runs in the second, before adding another in the third on a home run. KSU added two more runs in the fifth and capped off the scoring with a three-run home run in the sixth.
Shaina Eyre took the loss for the 'Dons after lasting 4 1-3 innings and allowing five runs on eight hits. Addie Benham came on to pitch the final 1 2-3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits.
In the second game against the Bison, Fort Wayne scored in the first inning for the fourth straight game. Wilzbacher walked and a single by Denny put runners on the corners, before a double steal brought home Wilzbacher.
Bucknell added a run in the second, but the Mastodons answered in the third on an RBI single by Denny. The Bison responded with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth. In the bottom half of the fifth, the Mastodons scored three runs. Burns got things started with a two-run home run to left field, her first of the season. Hollis later added an RBI single.
The Bison added a run in the top of the sixth, but the 'Dons came right back in the bottom of the inning. Denny led off the frame by depositing a 2-1 pitch over the center field wall for her third home run of the season. Holm would tie the game with two outs on a RBI single to center.
After neither team scored in the seventh, the game went into extra innings and the International Tiebreaker was put in place. Bucknell pushed across three runs in the top of the eighth, including a two-run home run.
With one out in the eighth, the Mastodons got a double from Burns to bring home Denny. After a single by Balthazor scored Burns, Fort Wayne was down to its final out. Hollis singled up the middle to score Balthazor and tie the game. After Hollis stole second, Sydney Windlan reached on an infield single, but the throw by the Bison shortstop went past the first baseman, allowing Hollis to score the game-winning run.
Benham earned her first career victory, throwing 1-3 of an inning in relief. Bailey Benefiel started in the circle for the 'Dons, throwing 7 2-3 innings, allowing 10 runs, six earned, on 10 hits and striking out eight.
Fort Wayne returns to the diamond for a doubleheader at Western Michigan Wednesday, March 14, with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Huge Dubs!
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Mastodon Softball walks off NKU
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Softball Win over IUPUI
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Winning 'Dons are Happy 'Dons!
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