ST. LOUIS – Indiana State broke the single-season double plays school record as it split its final non-conference series of the season at Saint Louis on Tuesday, taking Game One 5-2 and falling 4-1 in Game Two.
 
The Sycamores (22-28) got another great start out of Kenzie Ihle (16-13) in Game One, as well as a stellar day at the plate by freshman Becky Malchow (2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI). In total, Malchow went 4-for-7 with three RBI across both games. Indiana State matched SLU (22-23) with six hits in Game Two, but the Billikens had more timely hits in the 4-1 loss.
 
Indiana State now travels to Bradley this upcoming weekend for a crucial final weekend of regular season Valley action. In order to make the MVC Tournament, the Sycamores need to sweep the Braves and Drake needs to be swept by Loyola.
 
Game One:
Indiana State (22-27), 5
Saint Louis (21-23), 2
WP: Kenzie Ihle (16-13)
LP: Maddie Baalman (13-12)
 
The Billikens jumped on Ihle right out of the gate with a leadoff home run to deep left field by Alex Nickel and a follow-up single by Josie Knesel, but the junior transfer collected herself and shut down SLU the remainder of her start. That very inning the Sycamore defense picked her up with their school-record 25th double play of the season on a bunt popped foul to Brooke Mann, who fired down to Shaye Barton at first to double the Billikens off.
 
Ihle ended the game with 6.0 innings pitched and three strikeouts, and just that solo home run to show in addition to four hits allowed. After allowing hits in her first two batters faced, Ihle retired 15 of the next 18 should would encounter.
 
SLU was cruising along with that 1-0 lead until the fourth inning, when Malchow and the Sycamores decided to pounce. The freshman native of Rochester, Ind., crushed her second triple of the season high off the wall in right center, scoring Shaye Barton (1-4, 2B) and Mary Turitto (1-2, 2 BB). Senior Kassie Brown followed that up (2-3, 2B, RBI) with an RBI single into left field to give the Sycamores a 3-1 lead.
 
Lady Luck was on ISU's side in the bottom half of the fourth, as the leadoff hitter Mackenzie Lawson crushed what was nearly another HR to left field, but it bounced off the top of the fence and back into the field of play for a double. Ihle settled back in again with three quick groundouts to strand her at second.
 
The Sycamores padded their lead out to 5-1 after scoring two unearned in the fifth – sparked by the sixth double of the season by Shaye Barton.
 
Freshman Della Gher, already the all-time single-season record holder with five saves this year, came in relief in a non-save situation up 5-1 in the seventh. Her first pitch was sent over the centerfield wall by Mackenzie Peter to make it a 5-2 game, but Gher followed Ihle's lead and collected herself for two quick groundouts.
 
However, the Billikens eventually brought the tying run up to the plate with two outs, but a grounder to short sealed the deal for the Sycamore victory.
 
Also notching base hits in Game One were Erika Crissman (1-4), Rylee Holland (1-3, SAC) and Brooke Mann (1-2, BB).
 
Game Two:
Saint Louis (22-23),4
Indiana State (22-28), 1
WP: Kaylea Chappelle (6-9)
LP: Kylie Stober (3-14)
 
Game Two was a pitcher's duel for the first three innings, and it also included ISU's 26th double play of the season in the bottom of the first to help starter Kylie Stober out of a jam. However, the Billikens would score their four runs in just two innings and stymie the Sycamores the remainder of the game.
 
SLU struck first in the third inning on a bases loaded sacrifice fly, but the Sycamores would respond in kind in the top of the fourth. Erika Crissman (1-2, BB) drew a leadoff walk and Shaye Barton laid down one of her two sacrifice bunts in Game Two to move her to second. Mary Turitto (1-3, 2B) hit a short double to right field to make it second and third for another clutch RBI single by Becky Malchow (2-3, RBI).
 
A two-run single by SLU's Emma Buckles in the bottom half restored the Billiken lead at 3-1. Reliever Della Gher then came in and yielded a bases loaded walk to make the score 4-1.
 
The Sycamores were able to get singles in the final three innings from Crissman and Brooke Riemenschneider (1-2), but were unable to bring them in to score.
 
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.