Indiana Drops Two in Big Ten/ACC Challenge Doubleheader

Saturday, February 15

Durham, NC

10:00 AM

Indiana University

2-5, 0

Syracuse

3-2, 0

Syracuse

Indiana

Indiana Drops Two in Big Ten/ACC Challenge Doubleheader

2/15/2020 4:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score Vs Syracuse (PDF)Box Score Vs Duke (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. – Indiana Softball (2-6) dropped both games of their Big Ten/ACC Challenge doubleheader on Saturday (Feb. 15). The first was a low scoring defensive ballgame against Syracuse that took an extra inning of play to finish up. One run ended up being the difference as Indiana fell 3-2. Duke was then able to best the Hoosiers 16-2 in a run-rule decision.

Game One: Syracuse 3, Indiana 2 (8 innings)
KEY MOMENTS

Strong pitching and defense kept the bats quiet on both sides to start. Emily Goodin picked up from where she left off on Friday night tossing four scoreless innings to start the game.
Taylor Lambert knocked a triple in the bottom of the fourth. The Orange were able to get a fly out to end the inning.
Syracuse got on the board first in the top of the fifth inning as a walk followed by a double from Toni Martin brought one across.
Indiana loaded up the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk, a single and passed ball. The Hoosiers then tied it up as Desiree Dufek's sac fly to right field allowed Columbia Holeman to run home.
Syracuse would plate two in the top of the eighth inning as an RBI triple and a fielder's choice got two across for the Orange. Indiana responded with a sac fly in the bottom of the eighth to try and tie things back up. Syracuse was able to work around the danger to get the final outs.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Emily Goodin turned in another strong start pitching all eight innings. She's given up just four earned runs in her last 26 innings with 19 strikeouts (30 strikeouts total).
Taylor Lambert's triple in the fourth inning was her second of the season thus far. She leads the roster with two.
Desiree Dufek's RBI sac fly to tie the game in the fifth was her fourth RBI of the season. She leads the roster along with Hannah Davis with four each.

Game Two: Duke 16 Indiana 2 (5 innings)
KEY MOMENTS

Duke opened up the game getting four across on three hits. Josie Wood was able to get the Hoosiers out of the inning in a relief effort.
The Blue Devils plated three more in the second inning with three hits extending the lead the seven.
Gabbi Jenkins knocked a single that brought pinch runner Columbia Holeman around to third base in the third inning. The Hoosiers then brought a run home with a double steal in which Jenkins reached second as Holeman came home.
Bella Norton hit a double in the fourth inning following it up with a steal to reach third. Hannah Davis brought her home with a two out single to cut into the Blue Devil lead scoring IU's second run of the ballgame.
Duke extended the lead in the fifth inning putting up nine runs on four hits and two errors totaling 16 runs in the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Taylor Askland registered 2.2 innings of middle relief earning the first two strikeouts of her career with the Cream and Crimson.
Bella Norton is on a four game hitting streak after Saturday's games going three for five on the day with a double against Duke.
Indiana stole four bases on four attempts over the course of the game as Columbia Holeman, Gabbi Jenkins, Juvia Davis and Hannah Davis swiped bags.

HEAD COACH SHONDA STANTON
"On the day Emily Goodin pitched really great. Another outstanding performance from her. She's keeping her pitch count low so her durability is going to be there over the course of these weekends. Proud of her and what she did, she gave us a chance to win in the circle. Again, the power of a moment got to us. Whether it was a single, a base running mistake, a walk, that was the difference in that ball game. We had opportunities again late, we just came up short.

We let a couple of one run ballgames get away from us. When we're not playing well with a thin pitching staff that going to hurt on a day when we play a doubleheader. You saw that in the second game, we just didn't get what we needed out of the circle, and we weren't able to muster any offense. We just have to continue to get better, we've got to stay patient, and stay committed to progress."

UP NEXT
Indiana will close out play in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Sunday (Feb. 16) morning with one game against Syracuse. First pitch is scheduled 10 AM.