IU Southeast sweeps WVU Tech in thrilling KIAC Games of the Week
IU Southeast sweeps WVU Tech in thrilling KIAC Games of the Week
NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast softball team needed late-game heroics, but picked up 8-7 and 6-5 wins over West Virginia Tech on Senior Day on Friday.The doubleheader was designated as the KIAC Softball Games of the Week.
In game one, the Grenadiers led 3-2 after four and half innings and added four runs in the fifth to put the game comfortably in hand.
In the fifth, Brooke Barnett walked and Sydney Seger reached on an error. Senior Brookelyn Visker doubled to center to clear the bases. Later in the inning, Morgan Keefer hit a two-run single to bring in Hannah Veit and Montanah Rogers.
The Golden Bears (15-24, 4-6 KIAC) answered with a five-run sixth inning to tie the game. IU Southeast starter Emily Weiss walked the leadoff batter and then allowed a hit to MiKayla Craze and then she hit back-to-back batters. A two-run single by Skylar Connelly made it 7-5. Rachel Rusch reached on fielder's choice as MaKayla Waugh beat the throw home. An RBI single by Megan Blythe tied the game.
The Grenadiers (28-13, 13-1 KIAC) roared back in the bottom of the seventh. After Rogers walked, Tatum Oppenhuis got a sacrifice bunt down to move Rogers to second. After Keefer single to move Rogers to third, Becca Schoenung hit a walk-off single to center to win it.
Caroline Cato got the win in relief of starter Emily Weiss. Cato worked one and two-thirds perfect innings of relief and struck out two.
Brookelyn Visker and Morgan Keefer each had two hits and two RBI and Justice Kline had two hits.
In game two, after the Golden Bears scored three in the top of the first, Visker hit a three-run home run to left to tie the game. She became the Grenadiers' career home run leader with 17, passing Carmen Davis who played from 2007-2008.
The Grenadiers took a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the fourth. After Rogers hit a leadoff double to right and later scored on a fielder's choice. Oppenhuis scored on a wild pitch and then Justice Kline scored on a bunt base hit by senior Brooke Barnett.
In the top of the seventh, WVU Tech trailed 6-4 with runners on second and third and one out. Lexi Huck filed out to center and Megan Blythe tagged. Montanh Rogers made the catch and threw home and Blythe was tagged out at the plate by Oppenhuis to seal the win for IU Southeast.
Caroline Cato worked four and a third innings to get the win. She gave up five runs, three earned on eight hits and struck out three.
Brookelyn Visker went 2-for-3 with three RBI and fellow senior Brooke Barnett had the other Grenadier RBI in the win.