NEW ALBANY, Ind. – In its first appearance of the season, the Indiana University South Bend softball team came up short in both games of the doubleheader at No. 24 Indiana University Southeast on Saturday, Feb. 27. Having not played a game since dating back to March 7, 2020, the Titans forced the nationally ranked Grenadiers to extra innings in game one but dropped a nail-biting 1-0 decision before falling 9-1 in the second game of the day.
FOLOW US ON TWITTER: @IUSBsoftball
Game One (IUSE 1, IUSB 0 (9inn.)) – Senior pitcher Becca Stevens threw a perfect 8.0 inning game in her first appearance on the mound this season, allowing just one run off four hits while walking four and striking out four different IUSE batters.
The lone run of the game was conceded in the bottom of the ninth off a batted ball that drove home the runner at third. Offensively, IU South Bend registered six hits which three of them came from Savanna Schmitz (3-for-4). Senior Kat Bessler and juniors Brittany Vanderbrink and Mackenzie Myars tallied the other three hits for the Titans.
IUSB threatened in the top of the ninth as Johnstone laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring junior short stop Kaylee Darnell to third before VanderBrink struck out looking to end the half inning.
Game Two (IUSE 9, IUSB 1) – The Titans fell behind 5-0 through the first two innings of game two after conceding three runs in the first and two in the second that led to an eight-run loss and pushed IU South Bend to an 0-2 record to start the season.
IUSB put together a consistent at bat in the top of the fourth frame to push across a Darnell run. Sophomore Emily Anglin collected her first hit of the season after singling to right and sending Darnell to third. Senior Haylie Williamson's ground out brought in Darnell as the right fielder collected her first RBI of the season.
IU Southeast held the Titans scoreless for the remainder of the game while freshman Macie Couch suffered the loss in her first outing as an IUSB player. Senior Aly Brickel registered the start in the second game, allowing eight hits and five runs while walking one Grenadier. Couch pitched the final 2.1 innings, giving up five hits, four runs and walked two batters with one strikeout.
IU South Bend remains on the road next Friday, March 5 to play three games at the Concordia (Mich.) Dome Tournament. The Titans will face Concordia, Aquinas and Madonna before hosting their first game of the season on Saturday, March 6 against Huntington. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1:00 PM on Dick Pfeil Field.
