Saturday, April 6, 2002

IU opens the Sun Belt Conference season with two shutouts over Middle Tennessee, 3-0, 2-0, at University Park.

In the first game, the Golden Panthers (30-23, 2-0 Sun Belt) got on the board in the first inning as Stephanie Wolter reached on an error by the shortstop. Lesley Gillen sacrificed her over to third. Jennifer Owens ripped a RBI single to bring in Wolter.

In the second inning, Sabrina Smith lead off with a double to left center. Crystal Boyer then crushed an RBI ground rule double over the center field fence to score Smith.

In the top of the third inning, the Lady Raiders (17-18, 0-2 SBC) had runners on first and second with one out. Daniel Decamino hit a sharp ground ball to Boyer at third, she touched third then rifled the ball to first to complete the double play and got the Golden panthers out of a jam.

With 2 outs in the top of the fifth with runners on second and third with 2 outs, Leah Barnes replaced starter Vanessa Preston and got Lisa Sherman to strike out looking.

In the bottom of the sixth, Nicole Dubovik hit an RBI single to center field that plated Owens.

Also in the bottom of the sixth inning Head Coach, Cindy Connelly, was thrown out of the game for having some choice words with the umpire.

Preston (9-8) picked up the win, pitching 4 2/3 innings, giving up 6 hits, 1 walk, while striking out 1. Barnes pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up 1 hit, 2 walks and struck out 1.

Jennifer Martinez (12-6) picked up the loss pitching the complete game. She gave up 3 runs on 8 hits, no walks and no strike outs.

In game two, Wolter broke up the no hitter in the bottom of the fourth inning with a base hit up the middle.

In the top of the 5th inning, Gillen saved a run from scoring as she threw a bullet to Smith at home to tag out Ashley Way trying to score from second base on the single by Kip Phillips.

In the bottom of the 5th, the Golden Panthers made things interesting, Marleah Stapf singled to left. Melissa Fleitas reached on a throwing error trying to bunt Stapf over to second. Dubovik bunted the runners over on the sac bunt, Boyer then hit a sac fly to right to score Dontrich who pinch ran for Stapf. Kristen Perry had a pinch hit RBI single that scored Fleitas.

Kendra Laminack (8-5) picks up the victory after pitching 5 scoreless innings scattering 8 hits, 1 walk, while striking out 2. Amanda Nealer (3) got the save pitching 2 innings of scoreless ball, while only giving up 1 hit.

Stayc Preator (4-8) gets the loss pitching the complete game while giving up hits, 2 runs - 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts while walking no one.