ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Indiana State softball team extended its winning streak to seven games on Sunday, posting victories over Youngstown State, 5-3, and Sacred Heart, 1-0.
Game 1 - Indiana State 5, Youngstown State 3
Indiana State opened with a 5-3 win over Youngstown State, with Meagan McCurdy earning the win in 4.2 innings of relief with five strikeouts. Lindsey Beisser started the game by throwing 2.1 innings, striking out seven and surrendering just one hit. The Penguins' Cheryl Cale took the loss over seven innings of work.
The Sycamores got on the board, 1-0, in the second, as Bailey Wittenauer led off with a double and scored a single by Alyssa Marcum. In the third, walks by Alyssa Doyle and Wittenauer sandwiched a Stephanie Robinson single, and Beisser sent a base-clearing double to center to put ISU in front by four.
YSU responded in the bottom of the inning, as Amanda Palmore and Caroline Krombach were plated on a two-run Kim Klonowski single. In the next frame, Marcum drew a walk and moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel McCleary, then scored on a single by Doyle.
The Penguins added a final run by (NAME) Thomas in the seventh, but it was not enough to get past the Sycamores. ISU left with its sixth straight win, 5-3 over YSU.
GAME 2 - Indiana State 1, Sacred Heart 0
McCurdy earned the complete-game victory in the second game, striking out eight and walking just two. In the shutout, the senior gave up just five hits, improving to 4-1 on the season. Sacred Heart's Jen Russell was credited with the loss.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Stephanie Jonson singled and advanced to second on a throwing error. MacKenzie Connelly then singled to score Jonson, and the run would prove to be the game-winner, as neither team crossed the plate again.
SHU threatened in the seventh, loading the bases on two singles and a walk. With one out, McCurdy came through in the clutch to strike out Taylor Froelich and pinch hitter Jill Timmer to seal the win at 1-0.
Indiana State returns to action on Monday, March 8, taking on Detroit Mercy at 1 p.m. (ET) and Fairfield at 5 p.m. in day two of the Rebel Games in Orlando, Fla.
