IU Drops Twinbill to Furman

Friday, March 2

Greenville, SC

3:00 PM ET

Indiana University

2-12

Furman

13-3

Indiana

Furman

3/2/2018 7:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (PDF) - Game One Box Score (PDF) - Game Two

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Indiana Softball dropped a pair of close games to Furman in Friday's Wings Etc. Classic at Pepsi Stadium, falling to the Paladins, 1-0 and 4-3.

Furman 1, Indiana 0
The Hoosiers outhit Furman in game one, 5-2, but could not overcome a first inning deficit.

Indiana started off the game by putting a pair of runners on as sophomore Gabbi Jenkins reached on a fielding error and senior Rebecca Blitz singled on a bunt. However, Jenkins was caught stealing and Furman pitcher Emily DeMonte collected a pair of strikeouts to get out of danger.

In the bottom of the opening frame, Furman's Caroline Cash reached on a Hoosier error before stealing second. Candace Johnson's single up the middle plated Cash to take a 1-0 lead. A walk and single by AnnaRose Borrelli loaded the bases with two outs, but a flyout to Blitz in center left them loaded.

In the fourth frame, it was the Hoosiers' turn to load the bags as senior Taylor Uden reached on an error, freshman Maddie Westmoreland walked and junior Sarah Galovich was hit by a pitch. However, a line out to second base and a strikeout ended the threat.

Meanwhile in the circle, after Furman's first-inning offense, junior Tara Trainer sent down the next 14 batters she saw and did not allow another hit for the rest of the game. The only other Paladin runner to reach base came on a one-out walk to Johnson in the sixth, but she was stranded.

"She did an incredible job after that first inning and struck out nine on the day," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "What we're trying to challenge this team to do is compete on every single pitch. In that first inning, there was an error then they scored on a single and then the rest of the way, we handled them. It shouldn't be all the pressure on the pitcher, our offense has to do their job. We didn't get the clutch hit but tip your hat to Furman, because they did."

Galovich looked to start a rally as she led off the seventh with a single to right center, but the Hoosiers couldn't capitalize.

Furman 4, Indiana 3
In game two, Indiana again put runners on the base paths early as Westmoreland earned a second-inning walk and sophomore Katie Lacefield singled to short. However, Indiana stranded two as a bunt attempt and groundout ended the inning.

The Hoosiers would strike in the following frame after freshman Mykayla Ferrari led off with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jenkins. She was then brought home as Blitz sent an RBI single up the middle.

The Paladins responded in the fourth as Lindsey Bert doubled with two-outs off the fence in center. Borrelli then sent a two-run homer to right field to put Furman up, 2-1.

IU didn't waste any time tying things up at 2-2 in the fifth as senior Rachel O'Malley drew a leadoff walk and Ferarri collected her second hit of the game. Both runners advanced on a groundout by Jenkins before O'Malley was brought in on an RBI groundout by Blitz to first base.

After sophomore pitcher Emily Goodin sent the Paladins down in order in the bottom of the fifth, Westmoreland started the sixth with a single to center. Galovich's second hit of the day two batters later put two on before a groundout moved both runners over. However, a strikeout would strand them.

With Galovich's performance on Friday, she extended her hitting streak to six games.

"Galovich has been a bright spot over the last couple weeks," said Stanton. "I know our offense can find its ability and come alongside what she's doing. The pitchers are keeping us in ballgames, but we need to find that run support."

Goodin finished the day with nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. Redshirt sophomore Josie Wood took the loss for Indiana as she went 0.2 frames in relief.

Furman took back the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a solo shot to right by Cash to make it 3-2.

Indiana wouldn't go quietly as Jenkins singled to second base before stealing second with one out in the seventh. An infield single back to the pitcher and stolen base by Blitz put two in scoring position before Uden delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Jenkins and tie the game up at 3-3.

However, the third Furman homer of the game ended things in the bottom of the seventh as DeMonte led off the frame with a solo shot to left.

"We know we have to do a better job, but I was pleased with some of the moments where we saw some kids step up in game two," said Stanton. "For us to continue to fight back and answer was good to see. But again, Furman had the clutch hit. As a group, we have to build on the things we did well today and we've got to dig deeper in finding a way to fight to get the result we want."

The Hoosiers return to action on Saturday as they play Delaware State and USC Upstate. Both games will be played at USC Upstate with first pitch coming against Delaware State at 11 a.m.