Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Kentucky
Hoosiers Notch Series Sweep over Kentucky
4/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 12, 2006
Box Score
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana softball team claimed its second 20-win season since 1997 with its series sweep of Kentucky at the IU Softball Field on April 12. Indiana took game one 2-0 behind the impressive arm of senior pitcher Mariangee Bogado, while sophomore third baseman Jennilee Huddleston drove home the winning run in IU's 6-5 game-two victory in nine innings.
With the pair of wins, Indiana improved to 20-17-1 on the season, while Kentucky fell to 18-24 on the year.
In game one, Bogado threw Indiana to victory behind a no-hitter and a 12 strikeout performance in the circle. The senior did not end her effort there, as the Mariara, Venezuela native went 2-for-3 from the plate, including the game-winning two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the third to help lead the Hoosiers past the Wildcats, 2-0.
The win also helped halt a five-game skid for the Hoosiers.
In game two of the twin bill, IU found itself in a slugfest through the first four innings. Kentucky scored first in their half of the opening frame, taking advantage of a leadoff single.
In the bottom of the first, IU returned the favor, scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead. The IU runs came courtesy of four Hoosier hits, three of which were doubles by designated player Bogado, junior first baseman Rachel Terry and senior right fielder Lauren Hines.
Both teams took a break in the second inning from their respective scoring agendas before Kentucky went on a run. The Wildcats recorded back-to-back two-run innings in the third and fourth frames to take a 5-2 lead. Indiana retaliated with a run in the third to keep the game close.
Senior pitcher Megan Roark started the game in the circle, fanning five in the process. After a couple of hiccups in the third and fourth, Roark dismissed three straight in the fifth to keep the Hoosiers in the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, junior center fielder Kim Richards tied the contest on a one-out, two-run homer over the left field wall. Richards' home run brought in Hines who reached on a walk, and marked the eighth long ball of the season for the Indianapolis native.
After five solid innings, Roark handed the reins over to Bogado in the top of the sixth. Taking over where she left off, IU's season strike-out leader registered two in the top of the sixth and recorded another in the seventh to hold the Wildcats scoreless.
In the decisive bottom of the seventh, Kentucky pitcher Samantha Allen threw eight straight balls to place Huddleston and Hines on base at second and first, respectively. Huddleston, the winning run, advanced to third on a groundout to the shortstop, and just missed giving the Hoosiers the win after a slide into home fell short on the next play.
Looking fresh in the circle, Bogado then punched out three straight Wildcats in the top of the eight, bringing her total to 17 on the day.
A tight contest going into the bottom of the ninth, the top of the IU batting order looked hungry for a win. Bogado reached the base bath after being hit by a pitch, while junior left fielder Heather Hohs advanced the senior on a sacrifice bunt. With the game on the line, Huddleston waited for her second pitch of the count to send the game-winning double to left center, bringing home Bogado and giving IU the series sweep.
The last time Indiana had 20 wins in a season came in 2004 when the squad posted a 32-31 record. Before that, the Hoosiers went 27-21 in 1997.
With a 2-for-3 effort in game one and a 2-for-4 outing in game two, Bogado has registered at least two hits in a game in her last four outings, accounting for 10 hits in the last six games.
Huddleston finished the second game with a 2-for-4 effort, while Richards finished 2-for-3.
Indiana returns to the diamond when it travels to Northwestern and Illinois April 14-16 for a pair of league contests.
