Press Release

MARCH 8, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: CHRISTINE FRANCIES, ASST. SID
260-481-0729

'Dons Start Rebel Games 1-5

Orlando, FL - The IPFW softball team headed to sunny Orlando, Florida for a 12 game stretch at the Rebel Games. The 'Dons finished the first half of their week going 1-5, securing their first win of the season against Sacred Heart, 5-1.

IPFW v. Maine
IPFW started off the Rebel Games with two games against Maine. In the first game, the 'Dons were shut-out, 2-0. Angela Pasquali recorded the Mastodons lone hit. Maine put their two runs on the board in the fourth and IPFW couldn't answer back.

Katie Aspegren received the loss after pitching the entire game. She struck out seven while only giving up six hits and two runs.

IPFW v. Maine
IPFW faced Maine a second time Sunday afternoon. The bats swung more often, but Maine prevailed, taking the W, 7-6.

IPFW loaded the bases in the first after Kacie Stone hit a double, Pasquali was walked and Abby Liden reached on an error. Jenna Beachy hit a double to bring in Stone and Pasquali, posting the 'Dons first two runs of the Rebel Games. Maine answered back in the first, but only posted a single run.

In the second, IPFW picked up right where they left off, posting another run after Stone hit a single to bring in Ashley Johnson. Maine answered the 'Dons scoring in the third, posting four runs off of two errors by IPFW and a homerun. Maine was up 5-3 going into the fourth.

In the top of the fourth, IPFW posted two more to tie up the game. After Michelle Meighen and Johnson singled, Ty Lambert was walked to load the bases. Beatrice Pedraza scored the 'Dons first run off of her single and the second run came in after Liden was walked. IPFW posted their sixth run in the sixth as Pasquali grounded out to bring in Pedraza. The 'Dons went into the seventh holding a 6-5 lead.

Maine wouldn't go quietly. After three singles and two wild pitches, Maine had tied the game up at 6. Their fourth single of the inning would bring in the winning run, defeating the 'Dons 7-6.

Stone went 3-4 with one run scored and one batted in. Jenna Connelly pitched 6.1 innings giving up nine hits and striking out five.

IPFW v. Robert Morris
On Sunday, the 'Dons faced Robert Morris. The 'Dons held the lead until the Colonials posted four in the sixth and IPFW couldn't answer, falling 9-8.

IPFW started the game off right, scoring six runs in the first inning. The 'Dons scored their six runs after six walks, two hit by pitch and a single hit by Lambert kept the bases loaded most of the first. Robert Morris posted a single run in the second after two errors and a wild pitch brought their runner around.

The Mastodons would add two more runs in the fourth after two singles and a double brought in Liden and Kayla Vargo. IPFW was up 8-1 going into the bottom of the fourth.

Robert Morris posted eight runs in the next three innings without any answer from IPFW. They would finish with the win, 9-8. Vargo went 2-3, scoring two runs and bringing in two. Connelly received the loss, after pitching just 2.1 innings. She gave up four runs on five hits and struck out two.

IPFW v. Holy Cross
The Holy Cross Crusaders defeated IPFW 4-3 in the 'Dons late game on Sunday.

Holy Cross started off with a one run advantage after posting it in the second. With two outs on the board, the Crusaders came in on an error by the first baseman to take a 1-0 lead. Holy Cross would score three more in the top of the fourth to take a 4-0 lead.

IPFW put three runs on the board in the fourth. After Liden singled and Lambert walked, Johnson brought in the 'Dons first run on an error by the catcher. Nancy Herron would bring in IPFW's next two runs with her single. The 'Dons couldn't make up the one run deficit after that, falling to the Crusaders, 4-3.

Johnson went 2-3 with one run and one RBI. Herron was 1-1 with two RBIs. Connelly pitched the entire game giving up eight hits and four runs while striking out four.

IPFW v. LaSalle
Against LaSalle, the game remained tied a 1 going into the seventh when LaSalle scored two to defeat the 'Dons 3-1.

IPFW's single run came in the fifth after Herron reached base on an error and moved to second on the throw. Johnson and Stone each hit singles, bringing in the 'Dons runner.

Johnson and Liden went 1-3 for the game while Herron scored the 'Dons single run. Stone received the RBI after going 1-4. Natalie Clark pitched the entire game, giving up seven hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts.

IPFW v. Sacred Heart
The 'Dons recorded their first win of the season against Sacred Heart, defeating the Pioneers, 5-1.

The Mastodons started off the first as Pasquali singled and Beachy and Clark were walked to load the bases. A single by Vargo cleared the bases, placing the 'Dons ahead, 3-0.

IPFW added two more in the fourth after Johnson tripled and a fielder's choice on Herron brought her in. With the corners loaded, a sac fly by Stone brought in Herron. Sacred Heart's single run came in the bottom of the fourth after a triple and a single.

Connelly received the win after pitching the entire game. She struck out seven while giving up one run and five hits. Jamie Miller went 1-1 and Johnson was 2-3 with one run. Clark and Vargo each went 1-2.

The 'Dons (1-9 overall) finished the first half of their week in Florida going 1-5. Johnson went 7-14 with four runs scored and three RBIs with a .643 slugging percentage. Meighen went 2-9 with one run scored.

On the pitcher's mound, Connelly struck out 18 batters in 22.2 innings pitched. Aspegren struck out 9 with 10.2 innings pitched and an ERA of 2.53 in two appearances.

~Dons~