NEW ALBANY, Ind. - IU Southeast softball extended its win streak to three after sweeping a doubleheader against WVU-Tech Friday afternoon.
IU Southeast improved to 10-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play following Friday's results. The Grenadiers are back home again Saturday afternoon for a 12:00 p.m. RSC doubleheader against the Rio Grande Red Storm at the Koetter Sports Softball Complex.
Game 1: IU Southeast 5, WVU-Tech 2
The Golden Bears scored their only runs of the game in the top of the first after a pair of RBI singles. The Grenadiers responded with four runs one inning later.
Grace Stapleton got the rally started with a leadoff walk, then stole second. Stapleton would score three batters later after Alaina Winzeler singled to center to get the Grenadiers on the board.
Winzeler got into scoring position after a wild pitch, then scored to tie the game after an infield single by Ava Allen. Two batters later, with two on and two outs, IU Southeast went up two runs after McKenzie Walters singled to center. Allen scored from second and Josie Lemmons scored all the way from first after an errant throw from center field.
The Grenadiers added an insurance run in the fourth. Lillian Mackey was hit by a pitch in the leadoff spot, then Raycee Stallings checked into the game as a courtesy runner. Stallings stole second, then advanced to third after a grounder by Allen, and then scored after WVU-Tech committed an error.
Stallings' run would prove to be the final run scored between the two teams and IU Southeast went on to win 5-2.
Game 2: IU Southeast 8, WVU-Tech 0 (5 innings)
The Grenadiers scored early and often in game two, plating six runs in the bottom of the first inning. IU Southeast batted around, with seven of IU Southeast's first eight hitters reaching base either via a walk or a base hit. Savannah Gaither, Stapleton, Kaitlyn Leister, and Emily Wolf all recorded at least one RBI in the first inning.
IU Southeast added another run in the next inning. Sofia Guy hit a one-out triple, then scored after Gaither flew out to left field. After two innings, the Grenadiers held a commanding, 7-0 lead over WVU-Tech.
Three innings later, the Golden Bears loaded the bases with one out but came up empty handed. Emma Davis and the IU Southeast defense came up big. Davis recorded a strikeout and forced a fly out to left to the frame.
Leading 7-0 with a chance to run-rule, the Grenadiers' offense went to work. Kaitlyn Chitwood drew a walk, then advance to two bases after back-to-back singles by Emily Wolf and Lizzy Leitgabel. Chitwood would score the game-ending run after WVU-Tech fielding error.
