Indiana Drops Pitcher's Duel to Duke in Weekend Opener

Friday, February 14

Durham, NC

5:30 PM

Indiana University

2-4

Duke

5-1

Indiana

Duke

Indiana Drops Pitcher's Duel to Duke in Weekend Opener

2/14/2020 10:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. – Indiana Softball (2-4) dropped a hard-fought pitcher's duel to Duke (5-1) by a final score of 2-1 to start play in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Friday (Feb. 14) evening. All three runs in the ballgame came across in the first inning of play. The Hoosiers will play Duke a second time in the Challenge, and will play Syracuse twice.

KEY MOMENTS

Indiana started the game with a bang as Grayson Radcliffe hit a leadoff home run over the fence in centerfield off of Duke right-hander Brianna Butler.
Duke responded in the bottom of the first inning getting two across as a result of an infield error.
It was a game of defense down the stretch as Emily Goodin recorded five scoreless innings following the first.
IU loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning after a single from Tete Hart, a fielder's choice to get Grayson Radcliffe aboard and a bunt single from Gabbi Jenkins. Peyton St. George would get the Blue Devils out of danger with a foul out and a pair of K's.
The Hoosiers drew two walks in the top of the seventh inning as Grayson Radcliffe and Annika Baez got aboard. The Blue Devils hung on to record the final out with a tag on base at second.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Junior Grayson Radcliffe hit her first home run of the 2020 season to leadoff the ballgame. She has now hit 10 home runs in her career for the Cream and Crimson. She reached base two more times with a single and a walk.
Emily Goodin had a third great start in a row tossing five scoreless innings. She pitched 6.0 innings total with four strikeouts and zero earned runs. She has 26 K's so far this year.
Tete Hart reached on a single in the top of a fifth inning in which the Hoosiers loaded the bases. Hart has four hits so far this season.
Tatum Hayes stole her first base for IU in the top of the sixth inning in a pinch running effort.

HEAD COACH SHONDA STANTON
"Offensively we left ten baserunners on. Didn't get a clutch hit in the heart of the lineup where I thought we could have. It was nice to see us fight at the end there with three quality at bats. The area that we have to improve is the in-game adjustment offensively; too many swings and misses on our end of the stick. On the flip side of the that, I felt Emily Goodin pitched well enough to get the win and we've got to provide the run support when she is in command like that. The solo home run by Grayson Radcliffe and the walk, single and error ended up being the difference in the ballgame in the first inning. The power of the moment tonight cost us."

UP NEXT
Indiana Softball returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 15) morning for day two of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. They will play Syracuse at 10 AM prior to a second meeting with host Duke at 12:30 PM.