VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Indiana State softball team swept its doubleheader against Valparaiso Friday afternoon. The Sycamores (9-16, 3-5 MVC) mercy ruled Valpo in game one by a score of 13-3 and earned a shutout win in the second by a score of 10-0 at the Valpo Softball Field.

KEY MOMENT – GAME ONE
The Sycamores used the long ball to power over Valpo in game one, coming away with a  13-3 five-inning victory. Amanda Guercio blasted a pair of home runs in the game going 4-for-4 with five RBIs. Bella Peterson and Annie Tokarek also recorded home runs for the Trees.

SCORING SUMMARY – GAME ONE
Top 1st – (ISUI 6, VU 0)
Mallory Marsicek drew a leadoff walk and Bella Peterson brought her home with her fourth home run of the season. Isabella Henning also drew a walk and Annie Tokarek plated two more ISU runs with her second home run of the year. Mycaela Miller drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in another run. In Marsicek's second at bat of the inning, she drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield.

Bottom 1st – (ISUI 6, VU 1)
Valpo plated a run with an RBI double down the left field line.

Bottom 2nd – (ISUI 6, VU 3)
The Brown and Gold plated two runs with a triple to left field.

Top 4th – (ISUI 9, VU 3)
Amanda Guercio connected on her fifth home run of the year bringing in three runs for the Trees.

Top 5th – (ISUI 13, VU 3)
Back-to-back doubles from Bella Peterson and Isabella Henning plated a pair of Sycamore runs. Amanda Guercio blasted her second home run of the game to bring in two more ISU runs.

PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Gabbi Schnaiter, Indiana State (4-3)
• Loss: Madison Wathen, Valparaiso (0-2)
• Save: None

 
KEY MOMENT – GAME TWO
Lexi Benko went the distance throwing her first career complete game shutout. Benko fanned seven Valpo batters while only giving up a trio of hits.

SCORING SUMMARY – GAME TWO
Top 3rd – (ISU 2, VU 0)
Bella Peterson doubled to left center field plating TeAnn Bringle and Alexis McCullough to give ISU the early lead.
 
Top 4th – (ISU 3, VU 0)
Annie Tokarek led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Kristen Kelly pinch ran for Tokarek and TeAnn Bringle brought her in with a single to right field.
 
Top 5th – (ISU 4, VU 0)
Isabella Henning drove in McCullough with a sacrifice fly to left field extending ISU's lead.
 
Top 6th – (ISU 5, VU 0)
Kaylee Barrett hit her first double of the season and plated a run to extend ISU's lead.
 
Top 7th – (ISU 10, VU 0)
Isabella Henning hit a solo home run over the left center field wall, her fifth of the year. Lexie Siwek singled up the middle to bring in a run. Mycaela Miller hit a bases-loaded double to bring in a trio of runs.

PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Lexi Benko, Indiana State (2-4)
• Loss: Caitlyn Kowalski, Valparaiso (4-7)
• Save: None

 
ON DECK
Indiana State will look to sweep the series against Valparaiso with the series finale on Saturday Apr. 3 at noon a.m. ET

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.