TERRE HAUTE, IN ? On a record setting day right here at Price Field, the Sycamore softball team swept Butler University in both games of a non-conference doubleheader to increase their winning streak to five straight. Back-to-back homeruns by Lindsey Starwalt and Meredith Simpson sealed the 3-2 game one victory for the Sycamores as two all-time Indiana State records were broken. Simpson broke the single season homerun record which now stands at seven and the 2008 Sycamore team now sits at the top of the list for most homeruns in a single season as well (23). Game two was as exciting as they come as the Sycamores received a two-run walk-off homerun from Sam Markowski to take the second game 6-5.
Game One
Meagan McCurdy (10-9), who has been solid on the mound for the Sycamores this season, moved to over .500 today as she set a personal career best of ten strikeouts in a single game. The sophomore standout pitched all seven innings in game one, giving up just four hits to the 29 batters she faced.
With Starwalt on first who reached on an infield single, the Sycamores took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning thanks to an RBI-double from Simpson who is now just two away from being tied for tenth-all time for the most RBI in a single season.
The Bulldogs would net the score at one a piece in the very next inning on a passed ball by Markowski who would later redeem herself in game two.
For the first time this season, the Sycamores received back-to-back homeruns from Starwalt and Simpson in the fifth inning to go up 3-1 on the Bulldogs. Starwalt's ball actually hit off the very top of the fence as Price Field worked its home field magic and kept the ball from coming back into the field of play. With her seventh homerun of the season, Simpson is now the all-time single season homerun leader.
Butler put a final runner across in the sixth inning but it would be unearned as Bridget Paine crossed home plate on an error by Simpson. The Sycamores won their fourth straight with a final score of 3-2.
Game Two
If you thought game one was exciting, game two was a bit of d?j?-vu for the Sycamores as they saw their second game-winning walk-off homerun in five days. This time, however, it wasn't from Kelsey Anderson. Markowski became the hero as she hit her second homerun of the game and fourth of the season to give the Sycamores their fifth straight victory, their longest winning streak yet.
It didn't look good for the home team as they fell behind 3-0 in the first inning after Stephanie Jonson, who saw just her third appearance this season, let off of a three-run homerun.
The Sycamores slowly made their way back into the game beginning in the second inning. Audrey Childress drew a walk and advanced to second on a 2-3 sacrifice bunt from Anderson. Markowski then hit a deep single to centerfield to score Childress and put the score at 3-1.
The Bulldogs went ahead 5-1 in the fourth and fifth innings respectively before McCurdy came into the game in the middle of the fifth to lead the Sycamores to victory.
The sixth inning showcased Markowski's first homerun of the game when she blasted a pitch over the left field fence with Anderson on first to bring the Sycamores within two.
After McCurdy denied the Bulldogs of scoring any more runs, the Sycamores, down two, had one final opportunity to make a comeback. Katie Iocoangeli led off the inning and came up huge on her first hit of the afternoon doubling to centerfield. With two outs and Kacy Kestner on second pinch running for Iocoangeli, Anderson singled to centerfield to score Kestner and put the Sycamores one run closer. Markowski, who already registered one homerun in the previous inning, electrified the home team dugout and fans as she belted another 2-RBI homerun over the left field fence to win the game for the Sycamores!
Indiana State boosts their overall record to 16-20-1 and 8-6 while playing in front of Price Field fans. Markowski, who has been invaluable to the Sycamores in the last two days tallying four RBI against Eastern Illinois just yesterday, finished the afternoon with 3 hits, 2 runs, and 5 RBI.
The Sycamores will bring their five-game winning streak momentum into this weekend's conference games against Northern Iowa, who sits just one game behind Indiana State in the MVC standings. A doubleheader versus the Panthers will begin at noon on Saturday as Sycamore fans will participate in “Paint It Pink Day” to try and help the ISU softball team raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer. The series finale against Northern Iowa and the final home game of the 2008 softball season will be played on Sunday at noon as we honor our three Sycamore seniors for their dedication to Indiana State University and its athletic program.
All games will be broadcasted live on GoSycamores.com.
