CLERMONT, Fla. – The IUP softball team split its matchups on day two of The Spring Games, securing a 2-1 victory over Winona State before falling to Hillsdale 13-6 on Sunday afternoon.
With the results, IUP moved to 6-2 on the season.
Game 1 – Winona State:
Maddie Griffin,
Paige Truax, and
Jess Cekada each tallied a hit, while
Delaney Patella and
Tess Smiley recorded two apiece. On the mound,
Kendall Young pitched all nine innings and gave up just one run and 10 hits, to improve to 4-0 on the season.
In the first, Griffin and
Jaycee Haidze were walked and advanced on a wild pitch, but were left stranded.
Up until the sixth inning, neither team was able to get any offense rolling.
In the top of the sixth, Patella and Truax both singled.
Erin Drotos pinched hit for
Jordan Sylvia but lined into a double play leaving Patella on base.
In the bottom of the sixth, Winona State saw little action but IUP managed to leave two on base. Both teams scored in the ninth inning, but IUP was able to come out on top 2-1.
Truax was placed on second and scored after an error from the pitcher off a bunt from Sylvia. Sylvia was advanced to second by another bunt from
Reagan Rand. A
Tess Smiley single sent Sylvia to the plate and put the Hawks up 2-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth
Winona State responded in the bottom half with a double that brought Woelfel across the plate, but IUP held on defensively to secure the 2-1 win.
Game 2 – Hillsdale:
Pikula scored two of IUP's six runs and had a double. Five different players registered hits, with four additional runs scored by separate players.
Elizabeth Kasper started in the circle but struggled early, allowing four hits in the first inning before
Olivia Hillegas came in for relief.
Hillsdale got an early lead after they scored four runs in the first inning. The next three innings were three quick outs for each. In the fifth, Hillsdale's Liguori homered to extend the lead to 5-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, IUP responded with four runs of their own that put them within one, 5-4. Smiley led off with a double to left center, followed by Pikula getting hit by a pitch. Griffin reached on an error, loading the bases. Hillsdale swapped pitchers, although Sylvia and Truax each drew bases-loaded walks that pushes across two runs. Cekada then singled to center, that sent both Sylvia and Griffin home. Cekada stole second, and Pusateri walked before the inning ended with a lineout, which left three stranded.
In the bottom of the sixth, IUP tied the score at 5-5. Pikula reached on first by an error by first. Sylvia grounded out to second base that advanced Pikula. Patella reached first on an error by shortstop which led Pikula to score, to tie the score.
Neither team produced in the seventh, which forced an extra inning.
Hillsdale had a productive top of the eighth after they recorded five hits and scored eight runs that put them ahead 13-5. In the bottom of the eighth, Pusateri was placed on second before Pikula doubled to left field that sent her to score. IUP finished the inning with two ground outs.
Up Next
IUP returns to action Wednesday, March 11, with two games against Ohio Dominican (12:10 p.m.) and Wayne State (5:15 p.m.).
Follow
For coverage of the IUP softball program, follow the Crimson Hawks on X (Twitter) and Instagram @IUPsoftball and online at IUPAthletics.com.
