DEERFIELD, Ill. – Strong pitching and an unstoppable offense powered the Indiana University South Bend softball team to a sweep of Trinity International in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play Friday, April 23.
The Titans upped their record to 12-20 overall and 5-11 during league play, breaking their seven-game losing skid.
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Game One: IUSB 3, TIU 1
Senior
Becca Stevens took the win in the circle during game one, tossing a complete game. She struck out five and kept the Trojans scoreless until the sixth inning, before Trinity International broke up the shutout.
The Titans finished with seven hits in game one, with senior
Shelby Baker leading the way with a 3-for-3 effort and a run scored. Junior
Emily Anglin was the other Titan who registered a double-digit hit game after going 2-for-3.
Baker notched her first hit of the game with a leadoff single to center and scored off a third baseman error. Anglin smoked a single to second base to put IUSB in front, 2-0, driving in senior
Brittany VanderBrink.
After four scoreless frames, the Titans tacked on another run in the sixth. Junior
Mackenzie Myars connected on her 10th home run of the season on the leadoff. Trinity International strung together two hits in the bottom half of the sixth to break up the shutout.
In the bottom half of the seventh and the tying run at the plate with two outs, Stevens got a flyout to finish off the 3-1 victory.
Game Two: IUSB 11, TIU 0 (5 inn.)
Senior
Aly Brickel threw a complete game three-hit shutout and struck out two to seal the win. Brickel did not require much run production in the victory but 11 runs off 14 hits propelled the Titans to the run-rule victory in the night cap.
Five different Titans ripped double-digit hits in game two, including three from senior
Savanna Schmitz and Myars. Anglin,
Olivia Zarantonello and
Kaylee Darnell each collected two hits apiece. Baker and Schmitz collected a game-high two RBIs while Baker and Anglin each had two runs scored.
The Titans scattered four runs in the top half to get things started. Once again it was Baker who drew a walk to leadoff the Titans. VanderBrink strung an RBI double to left before Myars collected an RBI single to left. Zarantonello and Darnell also ripped RBI singles to conclude the scoring and put IUSB up, 4-0.
After two scoreless frames, the Titans plated a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to push the lead to 7-0 after five innings. Four hits in the top of the seventh drove in four runs and helped seal the second consecutive victory for the Crimson and Cream.
The Titans return home on Sunday, April 25, hosting St. Francis for another CCAC doubleheader clash out at Dick Pfeil Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.