Blaine Kinsey
GoSycamores.com
The Indiana State softball team kicked off its 2010-11 season Saturday at the UL-Monroe Tournament where the Sycamores fell to SEMO but got its first win the season against Northwestern State.
The Sycamores got things started early against SEMO as freshman Alex Baumgart singled to left field in the first inning and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore catcher Alex Lucas. Freshman Shelby Wilson then singled to right field to score Baumgart and get the RBI.
In the second inning junior Bailey Wittenauer hit a double to right center field to get the Sycamores going. Junior Alyssa Doyle then came in to pinch run for Wittenauer who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Halee Myers. Doyle then scored the Sycamores second run of the game on a ground ball hit by senior Stephanie Jonson.
The Sycamores could not keep their momentum going, however, as they eventually fell to SEMO 6-2.
Baumgart finished the game 2-3 from the plate while Lucas went 1-2, Wilson went 1-3 with an RBI and Wittenauer went 1-3 with a double.
The Sycamores then got their first win of the season against Northwestern State by a final score of 6-1.
The Sycamores once again got things going early as Baumgart hit an infield single before stealing second base. Baumgart then scored as Wittenauer singled to center field.
In the fourth inning Wilson reached base on an error which eventually led to a run for the Sycamores thanks to a sacrifice bunt and a single. The Sycamores then scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Doyle reached on a throwing error and junior Stephanie Robinson hit a bunt single. Both Doyle and Robinson advanced with a double steal and then scored as Wilson doubled to left center.
Junior Lindsey Beisser then sealed the win for the Sycamores with a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning. Junior Hailey Tinsman then doubled down the left field line and Doyle tripled to center to score Tinsman and to give the Sycamores the 6-1 win.
Wilson finished the game 1-3 with 2 RBIs, Wittenauer was 1-2 with an RBI, Beisserwas 1-3 with a home run. Tinsman went 2-3 for the Sycamores with a double and an RBI and Doyle was 1-3 with a triple.
On the mound for the Sycamores, Beisser had eight strikeouts and five in the first two innings, no earned runs, gave up only 3 hits.The UL-Monroe Tournament continues Sunday when the Sycamores will play the Panthers of Eastern Illinois University and host UL-Monroe.
