Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
8-6
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University of Texas-El Paso
6-9
Fifth-Inning Rally Pushes IU Past UTEP, 5-4
2/28/2016 2:37:00 PM | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Powered by a four-run fifth inning, the Indiana Softball team came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat UTEP on Sunday in the Texas A&M Invitational, 5-4.
Freshman pitcher Tara Trainer picked up the win as she tossed 4.0 relief innings, giving up just one run on one hit and tying her career high with 10 strikeouts. Combined with starter Josie Wood's four strikeouts, Indiana's 14 strikeouts were the most for a Hoosier team since 2011.
On the other side of the ball, the Hoosiers (8-6) saw junior Erin Lehman and sophomore Rebecca Blitz each go 2-for-4 on the day. In addition, Lehman recorded three RBI and plated a run.
The Miners (6-9) struck early as an RBI single by Hope Moreno scored Courtney Clayton in the bottom of the first. Next batter up, Taylor Sargent doubled to center to make it 3-0.
Outside of the final frame, Indiana put runners on base in every inning and finally was able to capitalize in the third as Lehman's fielder's choice brought in sophomore Aimilia McDonough.
Trainer came in to the game to start the fourth and struck out the side.
After a pair of walks to senior Kelsey Dotson and junior CaraMia Tsirigos to start the fifth frame, senior Shannon Cawley singled to load the bases with no outs. Lehman then picked up her second and third RBI of the day on a game-tying single to left, scoring Dotson and sophomore Taylor Uden, who pinch ran for Tsirigos. The Hoosiers took the lead for good on a bases-load sacrifice fly by sophomore Rachel O'Malley to score Cawley. Blitz added the final Indiana run as she singled up the middle to bring in Lehman.
UTEP got one run back in the bottom of the inning as Clayton hit a leadoff homer, but the Miners could not get any closer.
Indiana returns to action next weekend as the Hoosiers travel to Auburn for the Wilson/DeMarini Classic.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Trainer, Tara (4-4)
L: Fifield,Kaitlin (1-4)
Batting:
RBI: Blitz, Rebecca 1 ; Lehman, Erin 3 ; O'Malley, Rachel 1
SF: O'Malley, Rachel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McDonough, Aimilia 1 ; Dotson, Kelsey 1 ; Uden, Taylor 1 ; Cawley, Shannon 1 ; Lehman, Erin 1
SB: Blitz, Rebecca 1 ; McDonough, Aimilia 1 ; Lehman, Erin 1
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Batting:
2B: Sargent,Taylor 1
HR: Clayton,Courtney 1
RBI: Clayton,Courtney 1 ; Moreno,Hope 1 ; Sargent,Taylor 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Clayton,Courtney 2 ; Pepi,Kiki 1 ; Moreno,Hope 1
HBP: Ryder,Kaitlin 1
