FT. WAYNE, IND. - March 19, 2010 - Each game in Friday's
double-header match-up between Southern Utah and IPFW was decided by a single
run, but it was SUU falling short in both contests.
Despite out-hitting the Mastodons 19-18 on the day, SUU went
down 3-4 in game one, and 4-5 in game two.
Game One:
IPFW tallied eight hits against Bubba Kearns and Kristina Brooks, and scored each of its four runs one frame at a time-in the third,
fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
Meanwhile Southern Utah scattered its eight hits too far and
few between-in all leaving nine runners stranded.
The Thunderbirds plated their first runs of the game with
two outs in the top half of the last inning. Stephanie DeJesus singled down the left field line to lead
things off. DeJesus advanced to
second on Norian James' sacrifice bunt.
After Ariel Morbeck grounded out to shortstop, Britanny
Henderson drew a base-on-balls, and DeJesus stole third.
Aly Daniels was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases for
Katie Olinger who brought in all three with a double. But the Thunderbird comeback fell one run short as Whitnie Griffith flew out to left field to end the ball game.
Courtney Cronin (6-6) captured the win; Bubba Kearns (4-10)
suffered the loss.
Game Two:
Each team plated a single run in the first inning. Norian James led-off the Thunderbird
half-inning with a single to left-center, followed by Ariel Morbeck's infield,
bunt single-moving James all the way to third.
Aly Daniels then belted a sacrifice fly to right field
with enough distance to score the tagging James.
Brittany Henderson's solo home run in the third inning put
the Thunderbirds ahead 2-1, but the Mastodons used the long-ball to recapture
the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Sara Hopwood's two-run home run put the 'Dons up 3-2 after
three.
IPFW added another run in the fourth. Southern Utah narrowed the gap with a
run of its own in the fifth.
Norian James again led off with a single, stole second, and came in on
Aly Daniels' two-out single, making it 4-3, 'Dons.
Backs to the wall-with two outs in the top of the seventh,
the Thunderbirds plated the tying run.
Aly Daniels doubled down the left field line. Daniels came in on Whitnie Griffith's single to left field.
But IPFW pushed the necessary run across in the bottom half
to secure the win. Once again, it was
Sara Hopwood doing the damage with a well-placed single to score Kaitlyn Frost-giving
the 'Dons, not only the game, but a series sweep of the Thunderbirds.
Amanda Olender (3-2) picked up the win; Bubba Kearns (4-11)
took the loss.
Southern Utah returns home for a three-game set with Oakland
beginning Friday, March 26.
