BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Indiana State Softball had an offensive explosion in Game One of the WKU Hilltopper Spring Fling in a 15-8 win over IUPUI before falling to host Western Kentucky in five innings, 8-0.
 
It was the tale of two Indiana State (3-4) teams on Friday, with seven different Sycamores recording multiple hits against IUPUI (2-9) but only able to muster three in the finale against the Hilltoppers (7-4).
 
The Sycamores will resume their stay at Western Kentucky tomorrow morning against Wright State at 10:30 a.m. ET with the weekend finale vs. Austin Peay at 6:30 p.m. ET.
 
Game One:
Indiana State (3-3), 15
IUPUI (2-9), 8
WP: Kenzie Ihle (2-1)
LP: Erica Tharp (0-6)
 
At first, it seemed disaster loomed for the Sycamores against IUPUI as the Jaguars put up a four-spot in the bottom of the first to jump off to a big lead. The Sycamores chipped away with two in the second before taking control of the game in the fourth inning en route to a 15-run, 20-hit performance against the Jaguars.
 
In that inning, ISU tied the game after scoring on a bunt single by Kassie Brown (2-5), an RBI fielder's choice by Rylee Holland (3-4, 2 RBI) and an RBI single by catcher Brooke Mann (3-4, 5 RBI, HR) before one of three doubles by JUCO transfer Gabi Carter (4-5, 3 2B, 2 RBI) gave ISU a 7-6 lead over IUPUI.
 
The Sycamores scored nine runs in the final three innings, which included a two-run round-tripper by Mann – her second of the season to lead Indiana State. Recording multi-hit games were Becky Malchow (2-5), Leslie Sims (2-4), Holland, Mann, Bailey Martin (3-5, RBI) and Brown. Senior Brooke Riemenschneider also added an RBI double in the mix as a pinch hitter.
 
The Sycamores especially came through in the clutch, hitting .414 with runners on, .391 with runners in scoring position and .333 with two outs (as opposed to a .235/.143/.273 line by IUPUI).
 
Junior transfer pitcher Kenzie Ihle also came in and put in three solid innings of relief for the win. In those three innings, Ihle gave up just one run and struck out three.
 
Game Two (5 innings):
Indiana State (3-4), 0
Western Kentucky (7-4), 8
WP: Haylee Towers (1-3)
LP:  Kenzie Ihle (2-2)
 
Ihle had the making of another great outing in the afternoon finale against Western Kentucky (7-4), fanning a season-high eight batters and keeping the Sycamores within striking distance for four-and-a-third innings, but the Hilltoppers executed an offensive explosion of their own in the fifth inning for the walk-off run-rule over Indiana State.
 
In that fifth inning, a grand slam by WKU's Paige Carter off Della Gher pushed the lead to 7-0 Hilltoppers before an RBI single by Brittany Vaughan ended the game at 8-0.
 
Three Sycamores managed singles: Brooke Mann (1-2), Erika Crissman (1-1) and Kassie Brown (1-1).
 
On the day, Ihle ended the day split 1-1 with 11 strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Softball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.