IUSB Softball wins fourth straight with sweep of Judson

by | Apr 30, 2022 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

ELGIN, Ill. – IU South Bend matched the longest winning streak of the season on Friday afternoon, taking their third and fourth victories in a row with a doubleheader sweep of Judson, 9-5 in game one, and 8-0 over five innings in game two.
The Titans (19-23, 10-10 CCAC) broke through a scoreless start to the opening game, when Shelby Baker connected on a two-run home run in the top of the 4th, her first of the year and first since her freshman season in 2018. In the top of the 5th, IU South Bend took an 8-0 lead, scoring six runs on six hits including three straight RBI from Haley Fair, Brittany VanderBrink, and Kaylee Darnell.
Judson (5-27-1, 3-19 CCAC) battled back, scoring twice in the bottom of the 5th to extend the game. Three more runs in the 6th closed the gap further, before the Titans added an insurance run in the top of the 7th on Jaela Patton’s solo home run, the first of her collegiate career.
Baker and Emily Anglin each finished 2-for-3 in the first game to lead the IUSB attack. Maddy Edwards earned the win in the circle, working around a pair of earned runs for her team-leading sixth win of the season.
In the second game of the day, starting pitcher Abby Yarnell opened the scoring with a solo shot in the top of the 2nd. The Titans added three more runs on back-to-back doubles from Yarnell and Patton, then tacked on four more in the 4th inning to reach an 8-0 lead. Yarnell her sixth win of the season, matching Edwards, with three shutout innings, while Courtney Welborn came on in the 4th inning to close out the victory, holding the Eagles to just one base hit down the stretch.
Yarnell and Maddie Leisher each went 3-for-3, while Yarnell recorded five RBI in the win.
The Titans will close out the regular season with a trip to St. Ambrose on Sunday afternoon. The doubleheader will determine the Nos. 6 & 7 seeds of the CCAC Tournament next week, as both teams will enter play with a 10-10 conference record in the final games of the season. First pitch from Davenport, Iowa is set for 1:00 p.m. ET.