WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Indiana State softball got their second Power Five victory of the season, splitting a doubleheader against Purdue at Bittinger Stadium on Tuesday.
 
The Sycamores (14-12) took game one of the DH 6-2, giving Indiana State their first win over the Boilermakers since 2018. Purdue (15-13) took game two 9-2 to earn the split.
 
Game One
A scoreless game through two innings, Indiana State would strike first in the top of the third. Abi Chipps singled up the middle for ISU's first hit of the game and would move to second on an Olivia Patton bunt single. Danielle Henning grounded a ball back to the pitcher which was thrown into centerfield, allowing Chipps to score and put Indiana State up 1-0.
 
Lexi Benko started for the Sycamores and was strong once again. She worked out of a jam in the third inning, stranding a pair of Purdue runners to keep the game tied.
 
The Indiana State offense got their bats going in the fourth, loading the bases with just one away in the inning. Maeve McDonough was called on to pinch-hit and delivered with a single to score Cassie Thomerson who reach on a hit by pitch. Danielle Henning then extended the 2-0 lead with a 2-RBI double to make it a 4-0 game. Purdue would get one run back in the fourth but Benko limited the damage to keep it 4-1 ISU.
 
To begin the fifth, Hailey Griffin replaced Benko who went four innings and allowed just one run with two strikeouts. Griffin worked a scoreless fifth and worked out of a jam in the sixth to limit the Boilermakers to just one run in the frame.
 
With the Sycamores leading 4-2 entering the final inning, Indiana State looked to add some insurance. The ISU offense did just that as Kennedy Shade and Annie Tokarek each drove in a run to increase the Sycamore lead to 6-2. Lauren Sackett entered the circle for the Sycamores in the seventh and closed out the Boilermakers in order to secure the 6-2 win.
 
Benko improves to 6-3 on the season with the win. The Indiana State offense finished with 10 hits led by Annie Tokarek who went 3-for-3.
 
Game Two
Purdue took the early lead in the second game of the doubleheader, getting a run across on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first.
 
Annie Tokarek and the Sycamores answered quickly as Tokarek launched a solo shot, her second of the year, over the wall in left center to tie the game at one.
 
Still tied 1-1, Purdue came to the plate in the fourth and got to work quickly. A leadoff double started the Boilermaker rally which would find the bases loaded after a pair of walks with one out. Sycamores starter Lyndsi Adamson was then replaced after 3.1 innings of work by Cassi Newbanks. Newbanks inherited a bases loaded situation fresh out of the bullpen and Purdue's Alex Echazarreta took advantage, launching a grand slam to left field to give the Boilermakers a 5-1 lead after four innings.
 
Indiana State would get a run back in the fifth, making it 5-2. TeAnn Bringle led the frame off with a double and scored on a single to center by Cassie Thomerson.
 
The Sycamores would threaten in the sixth with a Kennedy Shade single but couldn't get anything else going. Purdue added to their lead with another home run in the borrom of the frame as Tyrina Jones homered to left to put two more runs on the board and go up 7-2. Following a walk, the Boilermakers hit another two-run shot to left center to extend their lead to 9-2. Maeve McDonough reached with a pinch-hit single in the top of the seventh but that would be all for the Sycamores in the final frame to give Purdue the victory and split the DH.
 
Up Next
Indiana State heads to Des Moines, Iowa to continue MVC play with a three-game series at Drake beginning Friday at 4 p.m. ET.
 
For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.