SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Indiana University South Bend softball has won seven of their last eight games ending the regular season with a sweep over Cardinal Stritch on Friday, April 30 as five seniors played their last game at Dick Pfeil Field.
Game One: IUSB 8, CSU 2
Leading the way for IU South Bend in game one was MacKenzie Myars going 3-for-4 at the plate scoring two runs and notching one RBI. Right behind her was Shelby Baker reaching base on three of her four at bats bringing in an RBI while Kaylee Darnell earns two runs and two RBI on one hit.
The Titans scored their first points of the game in the bottom of the second behind an Emily Cave triple and a double from Emily Anglin and Shelby Baker giving IUSB the 3-0 lead. Looking to cushion the lead, IUSB added three more runs in the fifth on four hits. Myars got things rolling hitting her eleventh homerun of the season leading all players in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Titans loaded the bases with only one out but a pitching change would halt the chance of ending the game in five innings.
Cardinal Stritch scored their first run of the game in the top of the sixth and another in the seventh but the Wolves could not rally enough runs to catch the Titans.
Senior Becca Stevens pitched a perfect three innings allowing her first hit in the top of the fourth. Stevens allowed only two runs on three hits striking out five batters in her final game on the mound at Dick Pfeil Field.
Game Two: IUSB 8, CSU 5
Kaylee Darnell led the way in game two going 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Behind her was Brittnay VanderBrink and Emily Anglin going 2-for-4 scoring two runs and two RBI together.
Looking for some revenge, the Cardinal Stritch Wolves put up five runs in the top of the third on four hots and two Titan errors to give them a comfortable 5-0 lead. IU South Bend responded in the bottom of the fifth smashing six singles in a row to start the inning. A pop up to the first baseman would finally give the Wolves their first out but a Darnell double down the leftfield line continued the offensive pressure. Bessler was caught in a pickle but kept the defense busy long enough for Darnell to reach home giving the Titans a 7-5 lead before the end of the inning.
An extra run scored by VanderBrink off Anglin’s single to centerfield boosted the score to 8-5 heading into the final inning. The Wolves put a runner at third and second with no outs as Couch relieved senior Aly Brickel as she stepped off PFeil Field for the last time. A pop up and a double play at first and home would ensure another sweep for the Titans.
Senior Aly Brickel picked up her ninth win of the season allowing five runs on ten hits with four strike outs.
Aly Brickel, Becca Stevens, Haylie Williamson, Nicole Grazioli, and Kat Bessler were all honored after the win for their amazing careers in a Titan’s jersey.
IU South Bend prepares for the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament beginning on Thursday, May 6 in Crown Point, Ind.