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 Wright State's Jherica Williams had six RBIs in a pair of victories over Rio Grande. |
Softball Roundup - March 25
March 26, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Valparaiso and Wright State won both games of its respective doubleheaders on Tuesday. The Crusaders defeated Northern Illinois 5-2 (game one) and 5-1 (game two), while the Raiders got past Rio Grande 15-4 in the opener and 12-0 in the night cap. UIC also was in action as it opened the home portion of its 2008 schedule, but lost to Illinois 17-3 (five innings) in game one and 11-2 in game two.
Valparaiso 5, Northern Illinois 2 - Game One
Valparaiso 5, Northern Illinois 1 - Game Two
VALPARAISO, Ind. - Valparaiso took both ends of a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at the Valparaiso University Softball Field from Northern Illinois, downing the Huskies 5-2 in the opener before earning a 5-1 victory in the nightcap.
The Crusaders got on the board first in the opener, putting up a single tally in the bottom of the second on an RBI double by Mallory Gill. Northern Illinois struck back in the top of the third inning, as with the bases loaded and none out, Jenna Roberts stroked a 2-RBI single into right field to give the Huskies the lead. But Stephanie Kelly did not let NIU plate another run in the frame.
Valpo reclaimed the advantage in the bottom half of the inning. With two on and two outs, it was Courtney LaFerle who came through with the clutch hit, lining a 2-RBI double to deep center field to plate Ashley Wolter and Jamie Weinburger. The Crusaders received an RBI double from Tracy Korth in the fourth inning and an RBI triple by Karen Korb in the sixth frame to close out the scoring.
Kelly earned the victory for the Crusaders with 5.1 innings of work, striking out three batters to improve to 4-3 on the season. Andrea Zappia closed out the game with 1.2 perfect innings, including four strikeouts, to receive the save. Taryn Hagemann went the distance for the Huskies, falling to 0-4 on the year.
Valpo received all the runs it would need in the nightcap in the second inning, putting a three-spot on the board. With two on and one out, LaFerle once again came up with a 2-RBI double, scoring Wolter and Kayla Grutz to put the Crusaders up 2-0. Aubrey Sundling (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North) added a bunt single later in the frame to plate pinch-runner KC Boldt to give Valpo a three-run lead.
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The Crusaders added a single tally in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Whitney Warner and another run in the fourth inning on Korb's second RBI triple of the day. Northern Illinois cut the deficit to 5-1 in the top of the sixth thanks to a solo home run from Michelle Nendza and brought the tying run to the plate, but Zappia came in to shut down the threat and earn her second save of the day and third of the year.
Carrie Franson allowed just three hits over 5.2 innings while striking out five batters to earn her first collegiate victory, improving to 1-1 on the season. Joreigh Landers took the loss for Northern Illinois (5-11), falling to 2-3.
LaFerle paced the Crusader offensive attack on the day, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs over the two games. Wolter tallied three hits in five at-bats, while Korb drove in two runs on her first two career triples.
Wright State 15, Rio Grande 4 (five innings) - Game One
Wright State 12, Rio Grande 0 (five innings) - Game Two
DAYTON, Ohio - Wright State scored 27 runs on as many hits Tuesday afternoon in sweeping a doubleheader from Rio Grande at the WSU Softball Field, winning the opener 15-4 and taking the second game 12-0.
The Redwomen jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in game one with a pair of runs in the first on a Raider error and a RBI single from Brittany Creviston, but it was shortlived as Wright State answered with 10 of its own in the bottom of the inning.
Jamie Perkins started the frame by reaching on an infield single and scored one out later on a Jherica Williams double. Kristen Bradshaw followed with a line-drive two-run home run to left and back-to-back doubles from Allison Cox and Mollie Berry along with a throwing error made it 5-0. A two-run Michelle Logan single and a two-run home run by Perkins extended the margin to 9-0 and Williams rounded out the inning by tripling off the fence in left and later scoring on a wild pitch.
A bases-loaded walk to Perkins resulted in another run in the second and WSU tacked on four more in the fourth, two coming on a Williams double and another on a double from Bradshaw.
Williams went three-for-four overall with three RBI and three runs scored while Perkins and Bradshaw also drove in three with two hits. Logan and Justine Shilt each added two hits.
Williams struck again in the first inning of game two with a two-run home run and the Raiders added another long ball in the second as Jacqueline Macy hit a solo shot to right center.
Wright State broke the game open in the third by scoring six times, including two-run singles from Williams and Perkins, and added three more in the fourth on a bases-loaded double off the bat of Heather Bauer.
While the Raider offense was in high gear, Sharon Palma (5-4) retired all nine batters she faced over three innings, striking out four, and Perkins set the side down in order in the fourth. Rio Grande broke up the perfect game in the fifth with an error and a walk, but Perkins preserved the no-hitter and shutout with a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.
Williams added two more hits and four RBI in the second game while Bauer also drove in four with a pair of hits. Perkins and Berry each chipped in two hits.
Illinois 17, UIC 3 (five innings) - Game One
Illinois 11, UIC 2 - Game Two
CHICAGO, Ill. - The UIC softball team suffered a pair of losses against Illinois in its home opener at Flames Field.
Illinois' nine runs in the top of the third inning helped guide the team to a 17-3 win over UIC after five innings of play in game one.
The Fighting Illini got on the board in the top of the first inning on a solo shot to left field from Angelena Mexicano. Shanna Driller then ripped a double to left center, followed by an RBI double to left field from Lana Armstrong for the 2-0 lead.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the third inning when Illinois' bats came alive with nine runs on eight hits. Mexicano, Diller and Hollie Pinchback each picked up an RBI.
With the bases loaded, UIC's Carly DeMarco relieved Clynes in the circle. Bryers then drilled a four-run blast to centerfield. Armstrong capped the inning with an RBI double to give the Fighting Illini an 11-0 advantage. UIC (9-20) battled back in the bottom-half of the inning with an RBI from Ackerman and Marinacci to get two on the board (11-2).
Illinois added two more runs in the top of the fourth with an RBI single to left center from Bryers and an RBI single to left field from Mexicano. Ackerman singled through the right side, sending Nikki Rogers home to cut the deficit to 10 runs.
Illinois tacked on four more in the top of the fifth and held UIC in the bottom-half of the frame to capture the 17-3 win after five innings.
Clynes falls to 5-11 overall in the circle, while Illinois pitcher Claire DeVreese moves to 11-10 on the season. In the second game, UIC pitcher Whitney Orellana had six strikeouts, but the Flames fell to Illinois in game two, 11-2.
The Fighting Illini wasted no time with three runs in the top of the first inning. Diller, Armstrong and Pinchback each notched an RBI, giving UI an early 3-0 lead.
Illinois added three more runs in the top if the third inning before the Flames earned their first run of the game on an RBI single to left field from Clynes.
The Fighting Illini continued to produce at the plate with three more runs in the top of the sixth inning. UIC got things started in the bottom-half of the frame with one run, but Illinois cut it short with two more runs in the top of the seventh inning (11-2).