TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Sycamores continue their homestand at Price Field this weekend, hosting Murray State in an MVC weekend series. Games will be played at 3 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday, and noon on Sunday.
Last Time Out:
Indiana State (6-19, 1-1) went 1-1 in their home and MVC opener against Valparaiso before Sunday's series finale was canceled due to weather.
The Sycamores opened the weekend with a 6-2 victory on Friday, powered by a 10-hit offensive performance. Morgan Goodrich led the charge, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Hannah Welch and Madison Poulson each contributed two hits, with Welch driving in two runs. Hailey Griffin pitched a complete-game win, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out eight.
Saturday's game was a battle, with Indiana State falling 3-2 in 11 innings. Valparaiso took an early 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the third, but the Sycamores tied it in the fifth with an RBI double from Goodrich and a defensive miscue that allowed another run.
Despite strong defensive plays and clutch pitching, Indiana State surrendered the go-ahead run in the 11th and couldn't rally back. Lauren Sackett took the tough loss, pitching 10.2 innings with six strikeouts.
The series ended in a 1-1 split due to Sunday's cancellation.
Sycamore Standouts:
The Sycamores have played 25 games so far this season, recording a .233 batting average and a .614 slugging percentage. With 664 at-bats, the team has scored 76 runs and registered 155 hits, including 25 doubles, 4 triples, and 5 home runs.
ISU has driven in 61 RBIs and accumulated 203 total bases. The Sycamores on-base percentage stands at .306, and on the base paths, they have successfully stolen 20 bases.
Hannah Welch is the only Sycamore to start and play in all 25 games so far this season. She has made an impact with her combination of power and speed, totaling a perfect eight stolen bases and eight RBIs, along with a .247 batting average. Welch had a standout performance on Saturday, going 2-3 with a triple and 2 RBIs.
Morgan Goodrich had a strong weekend, going 4-4 on Friday, scoring two runs, hitting a triple, and driving in 3 RBIs. She has a .217 batting average in 24 games, starting 23 of them, with 15 hits, including 2 doubles and 1 triple, and 4 RBIs.
Madison Poulson has been a consistent performer, hitting .271 in 23 games, 22 of which were starts. She added a key hit in Saturday's game against Valpo and has totaled 19 hits, including three doubles, and driven in 2 RBIs.
Abby Widmar leads the team in RBIs with 12 in 17 games. With a .295 batting average, three doubles, and two home runs, she has been a constant threat in the lineup.
In the Circle:
Hailey Griffin picked up her fourth win of the season this weekend, leading the Sycamores to a 6-2 victory over Valpo. Griffin leads the Sycamore pitching staff, posting a 2.60 ERA with a 4-5 record in 12 appearances and 10 starts. Over 59.1 innings, she has allowed 44 hits, 32 runs, and 20 walks while striking out 52 batters.
Scouting Murray State:
Murray State (9-15, 1-4) enters the weekend following an 8-0 loss to Belmont on Tuesday. The Racers have also suffered a 3-0 defeat to Belmont last week and two losses to Bradley (5-2, 4-3). The Racers first conference win came last Friday with a 4-3 victory over Bradley.
Murray State is batting .245 through 24 games, with 147 hits, 11 home runs, and 93 RBIs, along with 23 stolen bases in 28 attempts.
Ailey Schyck leads Murray State with a .328 average, seven home runs, and a .703 slugging percentage. Starting all 24 games, she has driven in 16 runs and posted a .411 on-base percentage, making her a key force in the Racers lineup.
Bre Haislip has a 2.85 ERA with a 4-7 record over 19 appearances and 73.2 innings pitched. She has allowed 71 hits, 36 runs, and 25 walks while striking out 41. Opponents are hitting .249 against her.
Matchup History:
The Sycamores hold a 4-4 record against Murray State in their last 8 matchups from February 25, 2012, to April 6, 2024. Their largest margin of victory was a 2-0 win on April 6, 2024, and their smallest margin of victory was 2-1 on April 5, 2024.
Indiana State has scored a total of 13 runs in their last 8 matchups against Murray State, averaging 1.62 runs per game over that span. Indiana State claimed the series against Murray State last April, winning the first game 2-0, then falling 3-0 in the second game. The Sycamores secured the series victory on Sunday with a 2-1 win.
Promotions:
March 21 – First Responders & Military Appreciation:
We're honoring the brave heroes who serve our community with special recognition for first responders and military personnel.
March 22 – MVP Night:
Sycamore Softball players will honor the mentors and teachers who have made a lasting impact on their journeys.
March 23 – Happiness Bags Foundation:
A day dedicated to celebrating and supporting the Happiness Bags Foundation, which makes a difference in the lives of local children. The free one-hour clinic for young athletes with the Sycamores, rescheduled from last Sunday, will take place this Sunday after the game.
Up Next:
The Sycamores will host Ball State for a midweek matchup at Price Field on Tuesday, March 25, at 3 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Follow the Sycamores
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. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
#MarchOn
