Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Illinois-Chicago
Hoosiers Douse Flames; Bring Home Pair of Victories
3/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 30, 2006
CHICAGO - With an outstanding performance at the plate, the Indiana softball team swept its doubleheader against Illinois-Chicago by scores of 6-2 and 9-2, respectively, at Flames Field on March 29. In the effort, IU registered two home runs, one triple, four doubles and 21 hits overall, while UIC notched only 10 hits on the day.
With the wins, Indiana improved to 15-11-1 on the season, while Illinois-Chicago fell to 9-21 on the year.
"Today's performance just goes to show how hard the players have been working in practice," head coach Stacey Phillips said. "They team has been working hard on being the one to step up to the plate and make a play. There hard work has been paying off more and more as the season goes on. It's great to see this type of effort right before we open the Big Ten season.
There was no lack of excitement on the Hoosiers end of the bat as they opened the first game of the doubleheader with a one-run second inning. They then contributed back-to-back two-run innings in the fourth and fifth frames to build a 5-0 lead. The Hoosiers' runs in the fourth and fifth innings were courtesy of a pair of doubles from sophomore designated player Anna Olson and senior center fielder Kim Richards, while freshman second baseman Sarah Padove and senior right fielder Lauren Hines recorded base hits.
Padove, going 3-for-4 from the plate in the first game, led a Hoosier offense that recorded nine hits in the performance. Senior pitcher Mariangee Bogado (8-4) also fanned six in the outing and notched her second triple of the season, while Olson notched two RBI. The Hoosiers took the game 6-2.
In the nightcap, the Hoosiers showed they had just been warming up as they registered 12 hits in the 9-2 routing of the Flames. While UIC took an early 2-1 lead after two innings, the Hoosiers stuck to their guns and countered in their half of the fourth. Sophomore Jennilee Huddleston, who finished the game a triple short of the cycle, opened the fourth with a solo home run over the right center wall. The feat marked her second long ball of the season.
The Flames managed a pair of quick outs after the blast, but had not seen the end of the Hoosier down pour.
Olson and sophomore catcher Janetta Deaven drew walks to reach base, while sophomore left fielder Julia Hamilton joined the Hoosier runners off a single up the middle to load the bases.
On her third pitch of her at bat, Richards then blasted her first career grand slam over the right field fence to give IU a 6-2 lead. Hines and Huddleston then registered singles to setup junior first baseman Rachel Terry to for a two-run RBI single. The runs increased the IU advantage to 8-2. The Flames finally managed a strikeout to end the Hoosiers' half of the fourth.
Another IU run in the sixth inning, courtesy of a Deaven single and then a Bogado double to bring her home, sealed the win for the Hoosiers, 9-2.
The Hoosiers return home to open Big Ten action with a two-game series against Ohio State on Friday-Saturday, March 29-April 1, at 3 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. The Hoosiers then welcome Penn State for a doubleheader on Sunday, April 2, with first pitch at Noon.
