The Indiana State softball team continues its early-season tournament run with the Rebel Games, March 7-12 in Orlando, Fla. The Sycamores, who are 5-3 on the year after Tennessee State's Tiger Classic last weekend, have a slate of 10 games over six days. On Sunday, March 7, they open with Youngstown State at 9 a.m. (ET), with the doubleheader conclusion with 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifier Sacred Heart at 1 p.m.
Indiana State went a perfect 4-0 at the Tiger Classic last weekend, with sophomore Bailey Wittenauer leading the way with a team-best six hits and a .429 batting average. Wittenauer had a pair of doubles and her first homerun of the season, while also totaling five RBI and three runs scored. Against Alabama A&M, Wittenauer went 2-for-4 in plate appearances, including her roundtripper, scoring twice and knocking in two RBI. In Sunday's finale with TSU, she finished 2-for-3 and sent a double to right that scored the eventual game-winning run.
McCurdy Named MVC Pitcher of the Week
Meagan McCurdy was named MVC Pitcher of the Week for games of Feb. 23-28, the conference office announced on March 1. The senior made four appearances last weekend at the Tennessee State Tiger Classic, going 2-0 with a save in 18.2 innings of work. McCurdy averaged just one walk per game and struck out 21 batters, holding her opponents to a .211 batting average and three extra-base hits. For the weekend, she threw two complete-game victories and had a 0.38 earned-run average, which helped her to a 0.44 ERA for the year.
Sycamores Selected for All-Tournament Honors
Four Indiana State players were selected to the Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team last weekend, as the Sycamores posted a 4-0 record. Meagan McCurdy, Alyssa Doyle, Bailey Wittenauer and Stephanie Jonson all represented ISU with the honors, the most of any squad at the tournament.
McCurdy also opened the season by being named to the Memphis Blues City Classic All-Tournament Team after going 1-1 in two appearances as a starter with a 0.54 ERA. Over 13.0 innings of work, McCurdy gave up just nine hits and struck out 12, holding her opponents to a .176 batting average.
ISU Schedule Features Four Postseason Teams
ISU's schedule for the 2010 season will serve as a challenge for the Sycamores in preparation for postseason competition in May. The slate includes games with four postseason-qualifying teams from last season -- Sacred Heart, Lehigh, Illinois and Bradley.
Lehigh was the farthest-advancing of the four squads, knocking off Texas A&M and Florida A&M before it faced top-seeded Florida in the final of the NCAA Gainesville Regional.
Rebel Games Include Mix of Familiar Foes, First Meetings
Indiana State will face four opponents in the Rebel Games for the first time in program history this weekend: Youngstown State, Fairfield, Bryant and South Dakota. For teams they have previously faced, the Sycamores hold a combined advantage of 11-4 all-time. Their most recent meeting with any Rebel Games opponent came in 2008-09 with Detroit Mercy, when ISU posted a 3-1 win.
School Series Record Last Meeting
Youngstown State 0-0 First Meeting
Sacred Heart 1-0 W, 13-4 (1999-2000)
Detroit Mercy 4-1 W, 3-1 (2008-09)
Fairfield 0-0 First Meeting
Lehigh 1-0 W, 10-1 (1986-87)
Loyola Chicago 4-2 W, 3-2 (1999-2000)
Bryant 0-0 First Meeting
Wagner 1-0 W, 16-2 (2005-06)
South Dakota 0-0 First Meeting
LaSalle 0-1 L, 6-2 (1992-93)
Coldren Inks Two for Class of 2010
Head coach Brenda Coldren announced in the offseason that two student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join Indiana State in 2010-11: Danielle Ketner and Shelby Wilson.
Ketner is a two-time All-MIC selection at North Vigo High School for Coach Jack Kirchner. A three-year varsity starter and the Patriots' third baseman, she earned all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior, as well as All-Wabash Valley standing both seasons. In her senior season, Ketner batted .394 with 14 RBI, seven doubles, three triples and a homerun. Additionally, Ketner has lettered three years in basketball for THN.
Wilson is a utility player hailing from Whiteland, Ind., who plays as a shortstop, third baseman, catcher and outfielder. Wilson has lettered at Whiteland High School for Coach Dana Griffin, and her club squad is Team Indiana. As a sophomore, Wilson posted a .429 batting average, followed by a junior season that saw her hit .374 with six doubles. She earned All-South honors from the Indianapolis Star in 2008, and in her senior year, batted .316 with a .418 slugging percentage.
Up Next for the Sycamores...
Indiana State returns to Terre Haute for its home opener, a doubleheader with SEMO on Wednesday, March 17. First pitch it set for 3 p.m. at Price Field, followed by the nightcap at 5 p.m.
