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May 6, 2006 INDIANA STATE SPLITS SOFTBALL TWINBILL AGAINST DRAKE TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State scored a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings during Saturday’s second game of a MVC doubleheader to take a 2-0 victory over the Bulldogs and salvage a split. Drake won the day’s first game by a count of 1-0. ISU is now 24-26, 11 -15 MVC, while the Bulldogs are 22-27, 10-11 MVC. With the doubleheader split, the Sycamores are eliminated from MVC Tournament contention, having needed a sweep of the series with Drake to earn their first postseason berth since the 2000 season. ISU sophomore pitcher Darcy Wood allowed just one earned run in 14 innings of work against the Bulldogs. She tossed her school record tenth shutout of the season against Drake en route to capturing her 20th victory of the year. She is the first pitcher in the history of the program to win 20 or more games in a single-season. ISU’s 11 MVC victories also tie a school-record set by the 1986 squad, which won 11 games in the Gateway Conference. In the day’s second game, Wood fanned five Bulldogs while Drake starter Cassie Heller tossed six effective innings, giving up two runs, one of which was earned. ISU broke through a scoreless affair in the bottom of the fifth inning, when freshman Lauren Kebely singled up the middle, and then moved to second on the strength of a sacrifice from freshman Sam Markowski. After freshman Christina Meyers grounded out to move Kebely over to third base, junior Julie Damico posted her tenth RBI of the season with a single up the middle for the 1-0 advantage. In the sixth, freshman Meredith Simpson belted a double to rightfield, and then advanced to third on a groundout by junior Stephanie Spychaj. Senior Alyssa Duncan reached on an error by Drake’s Jaci Faidley, which plated Simpson for an insurance run and the 2-0 lead. Wood made it hold in the top of the seventh, as she struckout one Bulldog and forced two others to groundout for the split. Drake captured the first game behind the stellar pitching of senior Jessica Hicks. She tossed seven innings of four-hit ball, in posting her third shutout of the season. Wood struckout eight batters in the day’s first game, but it was not enough in the 1-0 victory for the Bulldogs. DU scored its run in the top of the fourth inning, when Susan Slycord reached via a walk to lead off the inning. Jamie Desjarlis reached on a fielder’s choice, and then Kristin Birocci loaded the bases with an infield single. Mollie Daniels hit a slow roller to Jessica McGivney, whose only play was to first base, and she got the out, but the play allowed Slycord to score for the 1-0 lead. The Sycamores could post no threat the remainder of the game as Drake won 1-0, and eliminated the Sycamores from the MVC Tournament hunt. Indiana State and Drake will finish off their three-game conference series on Sunday beginning at Noon (EDT). Following the contest, ISU will honor the careers on seniors Alyssa Duncan, Margaret McQueen and Ashley Trover, who will be playing final games in a Sycamore uniform. |