Blaine Kinsey
GoSycamores.com
The Indiana State softball team picked up its first Missouri Valley Conference wins of the season this past weekend on the road at Wichita State as they won the series against the Shockers 2-1. Now the Sycamores will take a short break from MVC play and turn their attention toward the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State University. The Sycamores will make the trip to Cape Girardeau, Mo. Wednesday for a double header against the Redhawks before returning home Saturday to resume MVC action as they will host the Purple Aces of Evansville for a three-game series.
Last time out
The Sycamores last saw the field on Sunday, April 3 where they dropped the finale of the three-game series on the road to the Shockers of Wichita State. The Sycamores won the series, however, after sweeping both games of the double header on Saturday, winning 9-3 and 7-3 respectively. The Sycamores took a 2-0 early lead in the final game of the series but the Shockers rallied and avoided the Sycamore series sweep. This marks the third straight season the Sycamores have won the series against the Shockers.
A Little History - SEMO
This will be the eighth overall meeting between the Sycamores and the Redhawks with the Redhawks holding the advantage 2-5. The two teams first met in 1999 where the Redhawks came away with a 1-0 win over the Sycamores. The most recent meeting between the two teams was on Feb. 12 when the Sycamores opened their 2010-11 season with a 6-2 loss to the Redhawks at the UL-Monroe Tournament.
Scouting The Redhawks
So far in the 2011 season the Redhawks are 12-20 overall and 8-6 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks are coming off a 2-1 series win at home over Austin Peay where they won the first two games before dropping the finale. The Redhawks are led by freshman infielder Carmen Fowler who is batting .394 with 39 hits, 24 RBI's and 18 runs scored.
Weather Issues
Along with many other teams, the Sycamores have had a particularly rough time with the weather this season. With Wednesday's game against Indiana being postponed, the Sycamores have now had six games cancelled or postponed due to either rain or cold temperatures this season.
Off To A Quick Start
So far this season it has been a battle to get on the scoreboard first for the Sycamores. The Sycamores have only lost one game and are 9-3 on the season when they are the first team to have a run cross home plate. The Sycamores are also 8-1 when leading after the fifth inning of play.
Freshman Baumgart Leads The Way
Now 26 games into the 2011 season, the Sycamores find themselves being led offensively by their lead off hitter, freshman center fielder Alex Baumgart, who has a team leading .373 batting average and a team leading 25 hits and 16 runs scored with five RBI's. Baumgart is also second on the team in total bases with 27.
Using The Long Ball
As the Sycamores are just 26 games into the season, Junior first baseman Bailey Wittenauer has been swinging the bat with power as she leads the team with home runs. Wittenauer already has three home runs on the seasons which makes 11 total home runs for the junior in a Sycamore uniform including a grand slam last season which puts her third in the ISU record book for career home runs and nine homers out of first place. As a team the Sycamores have hit eight home runs which is a tie for 9th place in the ISU record book.
Felker Named MVC Pitcher Of The Week
Indiana State softball picked up its first Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week award for the 2011 season on March 7th with the selection of sophomore right-handed pitcher Kristen Felker.
Felker pitched a complete game Sunday giving up no earned runs and struck out nine batters to get the win for Indiana State over Holy Cross at the Rebel Games Classic in Orlando, Fla. Felker, a native of Defiance, Mo. and a physical education major, now has 20 strikeouts in her four games of the 2011 season.
Follow ISU Softball Online
Keep up to date with Sycamore softball all over the web this season. Full stats, box scores and recaps will continue to be available on www.GoSycamores.com. However, you can also follow the Sycamores on Facebook at with the Indiana State University Softball fan page.
Whats Yet To Come
After this weekend's games the Sycamores will travel to Cape Girardeau, MO where they will square off against the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State in a double header on Wednesday. The Sycamores will then return home on Saturday, April 9 to host a three game Missouri Valley Conference series against the Purple Aces of Evansville University beginning with a double header on Saturday.
