INDIANA STATE GETS TWO VICTORIES FOR WOOD IN SWEEP OF BUTLER

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State kept its winning ways going in a doubleheader sweep of Butler at Price Field this afternoon (April 5). The Sycamores improve to 14-16, while the Bulldogs dropped to 11-15-1.

ISU took the first game of the day by an 8-0 count in six innings, before holding on for a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

In the day’s first game, sophomore pitcher Darcy Wood was impressive in recording her 10^th victory of the season. She tossed six innings and didn’t allow a run while striking out seven batters. At the plate, junior Jessica McGivney was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Kelsey Anderson drove in a pair with a double.

ISU jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the contest, then added four runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and one more in the sixth to invoke the 8-run mercy rule.

Freshman Meredith Simpson plated the Sycamores’ first run after reaching on an error, and then advanced to second via a stolen base. Simpson motored to third on another steal, before scoring when the throw down to third ended up loose in the outfield.

Anderson’s two RBI double in the fourth gave the Sycamores a 3-0 cushion, and then with two outs Christina Meyers singled to drive in Anderson for the 4-0 advantage. The lead became 5-0 when Julie Damico connected on a sacrifice fly to drive in Ashley Trover. McGivney recorded a double in the sixth to drive in Simpson for the 6-0 lead, and then an RBI single by Trover pushed across Savannah Nave for the 7-0 lead.

The game ended in the bottom of the sixth when Simpson posted an RBI fielder’s choice to drive in Damico for the game-winning score.

In the day’s second game, ISU drew first blood in the bottom of the fourth inning when Alyssa Duncan’s sacrifice fly plated Simpson for the 1-0 lead. Simpson scored the first run in both of Indiana State’s victories on the day.

After Butler tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the fifth, ISU pushed across two more because of a miscue in centerfield by Jill Meinhold. With McGivney standing on first base, Duncan singled sharply to centerfield. Meinhold let the ball get past her and McGivney was able to motor around the diamond for the score and a 2-1 lead. Duncan, who advanced to third on the play, scored on a Simpson RBI single during the next at-bat for a 3-1 advantage.

ISU would need both of those runs in the top of the seventh, as the Bulldogs plated one run, but Wood came on in relief to secure her second victory of the day and claim the 3-2 victory.

With her nine combined strikeouts on the day, Wood needs just 10 more to tie the ISU all-time career record. Her season record stands at 11-8 with the two wins.

The Sycamores now travel to Omaha, Neb., this weekend for a key MVC series against the Creighton Bluejays. As the conference season nears its mid-point, the Sycamores must continue to win in order to advance to the six-team conference tournament at season’s end. There will be a doubleheader at Creighton on Saturday, April 8 which begins at 1:00 p.m. (EDT), and then a single-game on Sunday which also begins at 1:00 p.m.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE