TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? The Indiana State Sycamores hosted the IUPUI Jaguars for a twinbill on Wednesday, April 25 for what was the final home stand of the 2007 Sycamore Softball season.
Game one saw Freshman Meagan McCurdy take the mound for the Sycamores as she lasted 3.1 shutout innings giving up only two hits in the 5-1 Indiana State victory.
The Sycamore offense got it going in the bottom of the 3rd innings as they rallied five runs aboard. The inning saw a plethora of hits as the Sycamores clubbed five hits to bring the five runs home. Senior Stephanie Spychaj, Junior Kelsey Anderson, Senior Jessica McGivney, Freshman Audrey Childress, and Junior Katie Iocoangeli all were credited with an RBI in the inning.
In the 4th inning the Sycamores made a pitching change, bringing in Junior Darcy Wood in relief for McCurdy. Wood would pitch the rest of the way going 3.2 innings giving up one run (unearned) on six hits while striking out six Jaguars.
The Jaguars brought their run home in the top of the 7th with a Cayleigh Harvey single which brought Molly Gulley home from third base; Gulley had reached on a fielding error earlier in the inning.
The game ended with a 5-1 margin in favor of the Sycamores.
Sophomore Lauren Kebely went 2 for 4 with a run scored and Spychaj went 2 for 3 with one RBI and a run scored.
Game two got underway following a brief 20 minute intermission to repair the field.
This game would be the last home contest of the Sycamore Softball season.
The game was locked at 0-0 going into the top of the 2nd when things changed and for about 30 minutes the Sycamores had greater things to worry about. While attempting to field a fly ball to right-center field Senior Jackie Chomicki, who was in at center field, collided with two other Sycamore defenders and was carted away in an ambulance. The trip to the hospital was deemed to be for precautionary reasons due to the nature of the injury.
When the teams returned to action the Jaguars pounced as Mandy Buckwalter blasted a 2-run homerun off Sycamore pitcher Katie Armour over the left field fence to make the score 2-0.
The Panthers would add another run an inning later.
Indiana State remained scoreless until the bottom of the 7th when Senior Stephanie Spychaj registered the Sycamores only run of the contest with her one out homerun over the left field fence. The final score became 3-1 for the Jaguars.
Katie Armour (0-2) took the pitching loss as she went 2.0 innings giving up three runs (one unearned) on four hits before exiting the game as Darcy Wood was brought in to finish the game.
In their final home game as Sycamores Spychaj went 1 for 3 with the homerun and Senior Natalie Kopp went 1 for 3.
With the split the Sycamore record became (19-23, 4-13 MVC) and the Jaguars record went to (12-28, 4-5 Mid Con).
The Sycamores continue Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend in Peoria, Ill. with a trio of games against host Bradley. The double header on Saturday, April 28 begins at 1:00 p.m. (CT) and the single game on Sunday, April, 29 begins at 1:00 p.m. (CT).
