Rachel Cowan
IUPUC had to wait a few hours for a chance to claim its first softball win in program history, but the Crimson Pride made the most of their chance.
After freezing temperatures forced Friday’s doubleheader with Calumet to be pushed back from Noon to 3 p.m. and shortened from a doubleheader to a single game, IUPUC went out and posted an 8-6 victory at Ceraland.
“Exciting is definitely an understatement,” IUPUC coach Tommy Stowers said. “I’m thrilled.”
The Crimson Pride (1-4) jumped out to an 8-2 lead after four innings.
“It was awesome to see that in the first few innings, we could put up eight runs,” Stowers said. “I always tell them to keep their foot on the gas.”
Sydney Owens allowed two runs and five hits the first three innings and picked up the win for IUPUC. Columbus North graduate Rachel Cowan allowed seven hits and four runs with six strikeouts over the final four innings and earned the save.
Elyse Goad went 3 for 4 to lead the Crimson Pride at the plate. Gracie Holok had a triple, and North graduate Taylor Hadley had a hit and three stolen bases.
“They have to realize you have to play solid defense and get good pitching, but the biggest thing today is, all our hitters showed up,” Stowers said. “We had hits, we had walks, we had sacrifices. That was exciting to see them all come together to get the win.”
Meanwhile, the IUPUC baseball team dropped a doubleheader Friday at Oakland City, falling 11-4 and 5-3.
Wyatt Sutton went 3 for 4 in the first game to lead an 11-hit attack. Hauser graduate Trey Johnson and Alec Beatty each went 2 for 4, Peyton Blinn went 2 for 5 and John Codner had two RBIs. Hauser graduate Jackson Paradise allowed one earned run in 1.1 innings in relief of starter Riley Mertl.
The Crimson Pride (1-10) were limited to two hits in the second game, one of which came from Johnson. Blake Nigg started on the mound and took the loss.
