OMAHA, Neb.
–
Indiana
State
pitcher Darcy Wood picked up right where she left off on Saturday,
frustrating the Creighton softball bats as the Sycamores topped
the Bluejays 7-1 Sunday afternoon at the CU Sports Complex. The
ISU win gives the Sycamores their first ever series victory over
the Bluejays, as CU had owned an all-time series mark of 29-2 over
ISU prior to the Sycamore series victory. The Bluejay loss also
gives both teams identical overall and Missouri Valley Conference
records at 16-17 and 6-8, respectively.
For the first time in over seven
seasons, the Indiana
State softball team has
won three conference series during the year. The Sycamores have
won each of the last three MVC weekends.
The Sycamore offense wasted no time in getting on the board,
scoring three in the first inning and chasing CU starter Cassidy
Nee after only four hitters. The rookie right-hander allowed two
base hits and three earned runs in just one-third of an inning,
before Stephanie Cortese relieved her in the first. A ground-rule
double by Jessica McGivney drove in the first ISU run of the day
and ran Nee from the game.
ISU plated two more runs in the top of the second inning. After
Cortese set down the first two ISU hitters in the frame, she
loaded the bases on a single and two walks. Kelsey Anderson then
ripped a two-run double off the left center field wall to put the
Sycamores up 5-0 after
two.
The score stayed 5-0 until Lauren Cisneros belted her career-high
11th home run of the season to lead off the sixth inning. The
home run gives Cisneros 35 in her career, just two shy of the CU
career record.
Wood bounced back after the Cisneros home run, and struck out four
Bluejay batters in the inning (one reaching base on a wild pitch).
Those were just four of 12 Ks on the day for the ISU
career-leader. The sophomore allowed six hits, one run and walked
one to improve to 13-8 on the season. The right-hander peppered
the strike zone all day, hurling an impressive 91 of her 114
pitches for strikes.
Nee dropped to 7-9 in defeat. Cortese pitched 5.1 innings,
allowed six hits and two earned runs, while walking four and
striking out five. Laura Fonda tossed the final 1.1 innings,
allowed one hit and two unearned runs.
Every ISU starter had at least one hit in the game, while Julie
Damico went 2-for-3 with a double for the Sycamores. Anderson
finished with three RBI for ISU, including a sacrifice fly in the
first inning.
The Sycamores return to action on Wednesday, April 12 when they
travel to IUPUI for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is
set for 3:00 p.m. (EDT).
GAME BOX SCORE
