CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Indiana State Softball went 2-2 at the Frost Classic, earning victories over Illinois State (2-0) and IU Indy (8-1), while suffering close losses to SEMO (3-2) and Lamar (7-5).
Game 1: Indiana State 2, Illinois State 0
Indiana State opened the Frost Classic with a 2-0 win over Illinois State, powered by Hailey Griffin's one-hit shutout and timely hitting from freshmen Madison Poulson, Abby Widmar, and Brailey Mills.
Indiana State took a 1-0 lead in the first as Madison Poulson singled, stole second, and scored on a shortstop error. Abby Widmar added a single before the inning ended on a flyout.
Indiana State extended their lead to 2-0 in the sixth as Brailey Mills led off with a single and later scored on a clutch RBI single from Madison Poulson. The Sycamores loaded the bases with back-to-back singles, but the inning ended on a pop-up.
Freshmen Madison Poulson, Abby Widmar, and Brailey Mills led the Sycamores with two hits each, while Morgan Goodrich and Hannah Welch added one apiece in the 2-0 victory.
Hailey Griffin (2-2) dominated in the circle, earning her second win of the season with a complete-game one-hitter against Illinois State. She struck out four and allowed just one walk, leading Indiana State to a 2-0 victory.
Game 2: SEMO 3, Indiana State 2
Indiana State fell 3-2 to SEMO in a hard-fought battle, with the Sycamores rallying to cut the deficit but ultimately coming up short.
SEMO struck first in the opening inning as Gerwitz singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by Winkler. Indiana State escaped further damage with a clutch double play to end the frame.
Indiana State tied the game 1-1 in the top of the second. Mills and Thatcher singled, with Mills scoring on a passed ball. Saylor and Poulson walked, but the inning ended with two strikeouts, leaving the score tied.
Southeast Missouri took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Luna's double scored Martinie, and Affolter's sacrifice fly brought Luna home.
In the top of the third, Indiana State cut the deficit to 3-2. Welch singled and Widmar reached base on a shortstop error, advancing Welch to second. Colip grounded into a double play, but Welch advanced to third. Mills singled, scoring Welch on an unearned run.
Lauren Sackett (0-4) pitched 6.0 innings for Indiana State, giving up 8 hits and 3 runs, 2 of which were earned. She walked 3, struck out 2, and faced 27 batters.
Game 3: Lamar 7, Indiana State 5
The Sycamores dropped a 7-5 decision to Lamar, despite a strong rally that saw the Sycamores tie the game at 4-4 and briefly take a 5-4 lead.
Lamar grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the game, scoring on an error and an RBI single after a leadoff walk.
Lamar extended its lead to 4-0 in the third, scoring two runs on a two-RBI single by V. Harrison after back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt.
Indiana State rallied in the third to tie the game at 4-4. After a pair of singles by Marsicek and Poulson and a walk by Goodrich to load the bases, a wild pitch brought in one run. Abby Widmar then delivered a clutch three-RBI double to even the score before the inning ended on two groundouts.
The Sycamores took a 5-4 lead in the fourth as Madison Poulson drove in Marsicek with a two-out RBI single before being thrown out at second to end the inning.
The Cardinals regained a 6-5 lead in the fifth, scoring two runs on a Brandon RBI double and a Harrison sacrifice fly. With the bases loaded, Indiana State escaped further damage with a strikeout and a flyout.
Lamar added a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by V. Harrison, extending the lead to 7-5.
Hailey Griffin (2-3) recorded the loss in the circle for the Sycamores after she pitched five innings, allowing six runs, on eight hits while striking out five and walking three.
Annie Waggoner threw the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits with three walks and one strikeout.
Game 4: Indiana State 8 , IU Indy 1
Indiana State defeated IU Indy 8-1, with home runs from Abby Widmar and Whitley Wischmeier.
Several players recorded hits in the 8-1 victory to close out the weekend in Chattanooga. Poulson had two hits, while Wischmeier recorded two hits, driving in three RBIs. Mills also had a hit, driving in two runs, and Widmar added a hit and an RBI. Erschen and Marsicek each contributed one hit, while Colip delivered a two-RBI double.
Indiana State took a 2-0 lead in the first, with Abby Widmar hitting her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field following Madison Poulson's leadoff double.
IU Indy got on the board in the bottom of the first with a run. After two quick outs, Molly Kable walked and scored on a double by Dickerson. A strikeout ended the inning with IU Indy trailing 2-1.
Indiana State took a 4-1 lead in the second, with Whitley Wischmeier hitting her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot to left center after Brailey Mills walked.
The Sycamores added another run in the third to lead 5-1. After a single by Welch and a stolen base, she scored on a sacrifice fly by Wischmeier.
ISU extended its lead to 8-1 in the sixth. Mills was hit by a pitch, and after a single by Wischmeier and a wild pitch, a groundout by Cornwell scored Mills. Livi Colip then doubled to bring in Marsicek and Poulson.
Cassi Newbanks (1-2) earned her first win of the season, pitching 7.0 innings. She allowed 5 hits, 1 run, and 2 walks, while striking out 6 batters.
Up Next:
The Sycamores will travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, next weekend from February 28 to March 2 to compete in a tournament. They will face UT Martin, Tennessee, and Delaware State.
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