IU Southeast Softball Wins KIAC Tournament
IU Southeast wins tournament on Saturday after rainout late Friday
NEW ALBANY, Ind. - The IU Southeast softball team defeated Berea College 9-3 on Saturday to win their third KIAC Conference Softball Tournament Championship. IU Southeast needed two days to get the win as the originally scheduled championship game in Owensboro, Ky. was suspended on Friday night (5/7) in bottom of 5th inning due to rain.
At the time the game was suspended, Berea College was leading over IU Southeast, 3-1.The game on Saturday (5/8) resumed at 12 p.m. in New Albany, Ind. at the Koetter Sports Softball Complex with IU Southeast up to bat. The Grenadiers stepped behind the plate with no outs and senior Shana Andres on first base.
Andres was able to steal second base for Grenadiers to get in scoring position. After that the rest of her Grenadier teammates came out swinging the bats in the bottom of the fifth inning. IU Southeast scored four runs in the bottom half of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead.
KIAC Pitcher of the Year Kayla Duke then entered to the game for IU Southeast and threw two impeccable innings without allowing a single Berea run to cross the plate.
The Grenadier hitters came out striking again in the bottom half of the sixth inning by scoring four more runs to increase their lead over Berea, 9-3.
This is the third KIAC Tournament Championship for the IU Southeast softball team. The Grenadiers also won in 2008 and in 2007 during their inaugural season of NAIA competition.
IU Southeast is currently 33-12 overall. The Grenadiers also won the conference regular-season title with a 17-1 record against KIAC opponents this season.
With the win on Saturday, the Grenadiers will represent the KIAC at the 30th Annual NAIA Softball National Championship in Decatur, Ala. at the Wilson Morgan Softball Complex from May 20-26.