The Grenadiers won the second game of a doubleheader on March 17 at the Koetter Sports Softball Complex.
IU Southeast lost the first game, 1-2, to Madonna College but won the second 2-1.
“We could’ve played better,” Megan Sutherland, sophomore second baseman, said, “but we did what we were supposed to do.”
Madonna College came into the game ranked No. 15 in NAIA Division II and only had one loss on the season.
The game remained tied at zero until IU Southeast got together in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Allie Alford, junior outfielder, came to bat with one out and hit a double to the center-field wall.
Alford’s double was followed by an infield single, which put runners at the corners.
As Sutherland went up to bat, the Crusaders subbed in Jess Irwin, senior pitcher, to try to take the momentum away from the Grenadiers.
Irwin was unsuccessful and threw a pitch over the catcher’s head, allowing the runner from third to come in and give the Grenadiers one of its two runs.
The Grenadier player on third faked to steal home, allowing Sutherland to steal second base off a walk.
The inning was ended due to Nicole Mills, junior shortstop, hitting a foul ball to left field which was caught.
The Grenadiers left two runners on base.
The Grenadiers had only seven hits and just one run batted in by Rachel Mulvey, junior outfielder, to bring in the first score of the game for the Grenadiers by Alford.
“It’s the biggest win of the season,” IUS head coach Todd Buckingham said. “Our pitching was phenomenal.”
Bethany Sullivan, freshman pitcher, pitched a complete game and allowed only one run. IUS defense retired seven straight batters between the fourth and sixth innings.
Sullivan only allowed five hits in 28 at-bats for Madonna College. Sullivan had three strikeouts on Madonna College and allowed only one walk. Buckingham said his team needs to be more consistent when up to bat.
“We need to focus more on putting together good offensive rallies together,” Buckingham said.
Only four players for IU Southeast managed to get hits in the game. Blaire Hornberger, freshman centerfielder, and Fowler had two hits each, Mulvey added two hits and Alford added one hit.
The Grenadiers improved to an 11-9 record after defeating the Crusaders in game two.
By JOSHUA WILSON
Staff
wilsjosh@imail.iu.edu