VALPARAISO, Ind. – Indiana State stole a season-high seven bases, Olivia Patton continued her offensive tear and Annie Tokarek hit a grand slam as the Sycamores claimed a 9-1 win in the series finale at Valparaiso Saturday afternoon.
 
The Sycamores (15-29, 3-16 Missouri Valley) seven stolen bases – the most in a game since swiping eight against La Salle in 2017 – thanks in part to the three stolen bases claimed by Olivia Patton. The true freshman from Macomb, Michigan reached base in all five trips to the plate, scored twice, recorded two hits and drew two walks.
 
Patton's one non-hit of her three at bats was a fielder's choice that did not result in an out. Valparaiso looked to third, where it was too late to stop the speedy Leslie Sims, before finding that Patton was already safely at first. She and Sims would score in the next at bat when Shaye Barton laced a double to center.
 
Later in the first with the bases juiced, Annie Tokarek made her first collegiate home run a memorable one. Despite hitting it into the 17 mile per hour winds, Tokarek sent the ball well past the left field fence for a grand slam, giving Indiana State the 6-0 lead in the first inning.
 
Valparaiso (15-23, 4-15) would score their only run of the game in the third when Carly Trepanier singled up the middle to score Morgan Matalin from second.
 
Patton would help extend that lead in the fifth when her two-out single through the left side sent Alexis McCullough – pinch running for Tokarek – across the plate. In the seventh, Sims would reach on a single and steal second before Patton would follow suit. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Barton and Brooke Mann sent them both home for the 9-1 advantage.
 
Gabbi Schnaiter (8-12) claimed win with her sixth complete game performance of the year, allowing the one run on six hits. Jenna Edwards (6-13) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs on three this in one inning. Emily Richardson pitched the final six innings for the Crusaders, allowing three runs on four hits while walking nine and striking out five.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
While there were several noteworthy performances – Gabbi Schnaiter's complete game performance and Annie Tokarek's grand slam among them – it is hard to pass up the stat line recorded by Olivia Patton Saturday. Patton tied a school record with three stolen bases, was 2-for-3 at the plate, scored two runs, drove in another and her one non-hit at bat was a fielder's choice where no outs were recorded.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
Indiana State stole a whopping seven stolen bases in the game. That is the most by any Missouri Valley Conference team this season and ranks as the second-most any Sycamore team has recorded in a single game in school history.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Gabbi Schnaiter, Indiana State (8-12)
• Loss: Jenna Edwards, Valparaiso (6-13)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 15-29 (3-16 MVC)
• Valparaiso: 15-23 (4-15 MVC)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State moves to 12-4 all-time against Valparaiso.
• The seven stolen bases are a season-high and are the second-most a Sycamore team has recorded in a single game.
• Indiana State turned their Missouri Valley Conference-leading 19^th double play of the season in the contest.
• Olivia Patton's three stolen bases tie a school record for the most stolen bases in a single game by a Sycamore player.
• Brooke Mann was hit by a pitch in the game for the 11^th time in her career. That moves her into a tie for ninth all-time at Indiana State for career hits by pitch alongside Sarah Kothe (2002-04).
• Leslie Sims's stolen base marked the 27^th steal of the season for the speedy junior.
• Sims now has 73 career stolen bases, claiming sole possession of fifth all-time in MVC history in career stolen bases.
• Annie Tokarek's first career home run was a grand slam.

 
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, Twitter and Instagram.