Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
INDIANA
Hoosiers Top Falcons, 8-3
February 16, 2003 | Softball
Feb. 16, 2003
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Indiana University scored four runs in the top of the third inning en route to an 8-3 win over the Bowling Green State University softball team Sunday (Feb. 16). The game was the final action for both teams at the New Mexico State Tournament at Presley Askew Field.
With the victory, the Hoosiers improve to 3-2 on the year, while the Falcons drop to 2-3.
IU had back-to-back doubles off Falcon senior McKenna Houle in that third inning to break a scoreless tie. After a walk and a groundout, Hoosiers starting pitcher Heather Stillians hit a three-run homer to stake herself to a four-run lead.
The Falcons cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the third. Redshirt sophomore Marla Murphy drew a one-out walk, then took second on an infield hit by senior Kandice Machain. After Stillians got a fly ball for the second out, senior Libby Voshell singled to load the bases, and freshman Gina Rango reached on an IU error which plated both Murphy and Machain.
The teams traded runs in the fifth. After the Hoosiers' Stormy Hanson homered off of junior Jody Johnson in the top of the inning, BG cut the IU lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the inning. Machain led off with a double, chasing Stillians and bringing on reliever Katie Witham. She got a ground-ball out, with Machain taking third. Then, Voshell's single to left field scored Machain.
In the sixth, however, the Hoosiers got two more runs, via four hits and a Falcon error. IU completed the scoring with a seventh-inning marker. Each of the final two runs of the game were unearned.
The Hoosiers had 10 hits to the Falcons' six on the day. Machain and Voshell each had two hits for the Falcons, with Machain scoring two of BG's three runs. Hanson and Valerie White each picked up a pair of hits for IU.
Stillians got the win, allowing three runs (one earned) in four-plus innings. Witham threw three shutout innings, allowing two hits.
Houle took the loss for the Falcons, giving up four runs and four hits in two-and-two-thirds innings. Johnson allowed three runs (two earned) in three innings, while freshman Liz Vrabel pitched the final inning-and-a-third, allowing one unearned run.
BGSU's next action will be in Cookeville, Tenn., next Friday through Sunday (Feb. 21-23). The Falcons will play six games in the Tennessee Tech Tournament, beginning with Friday games vs. host TTU and Louisville.
