CLEARWATER, Fla. – An Erika Crissman inside-the-park grand slam and another shutdown save performance by Della Gher were the difference in a 5-3 win for the Sycamores over Holy Cross on Sunday morning.
 
Indiana State (12-7) had fallen behind 1-0 to Holy Cross (2-12) briefly in the third inning after a deep error in right field scored one unearned against starter Kenzie Ihle (9-4), but in the bottom half the Sycamore offense awoke in time for Crissman's big hit.
 
Freshman Becky Malchow (2-4) got it started with a single into center field, and was followed by a beautiful slap single through the right side by Bailey Martin (2-4, RBI) to make it a first-and-third situation. Red-hot catcher Brooke Mann (1-1, 3 BB) then drew one of her three walks on the day to load the bases for Crissman.
 
On a 1-1 count, Crissman tagged one deep into the right-center gap to clear the bases and round them all herself for the inside-the-park grand slam – her first home run and sixth of her career – to give ISU a 4-1 lead. This was also the third inside-the-park home run by the Sycamores this season, as well as the second inside-the-park grand slam.
 
Holy Cross responded with two in the top of the fourth on an RBI double and an RBI fielder's choice to make the game 4-3, but Ihle got out of it in her final inning to leave with the win in her hands.
 
Bailey Martin added an RBI single in the bottom half to make the game 5-3, giving reliever Della Gher a cushion for the save. In her two innings pitched, Gher allowed just two hits and even had four putouts herself defensively. Holy Cross had two on with two outs, but Gher forced a flyout to left field for the final out of the game. In five appearances this tournament, Gher has a 0.89 ERA and now three saves in 15.2 innings pitched.
 
Ihle had a great outing today as well with the win at 5.0 innings, allowing just five hits and striking out three.
 
Indiana State now stands at 12-7 overall on the season, the best start in 19 games since 2014 (12-7). However, the Sycamores aren't done in Florida yet. ISU will travel over to Clermont, Fla., on Tuesday morning for a 10:30 a.m. tilt vs. Cleveland State before a doubleheader on Wednesday to close against Monmouth and Army.
 
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.