Grenadiers Split Doubleheader With Ohio Christian

NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast softball team split a doubleheader with Ohio Christian on Saturday, losing 7-1 before winning 5-3 in the nightcap.

A four-run first inning helped the Trailblazers take control early. A pair of walks and a RBI double by Lexi King made it 2-0. Then Emma Hastings doubled to score King. A RBI single by Karissa McLean capped off the rally.

Ellie Jackman hit the first pitch she saw over the fence in left for a leadoff home run, her fourth home run of the year.

The Grenadiers (9-14, 3-3 RSC) had runners at first and second with one out in the second inning but a flyout and groundout ended the threat.

The Grenadiers had runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings but could not drive them in.

Katie Templeman had two hits in the loss.

In game two, Ohio Christian opened the scoring in the second inning when McLean hit a sacrifice fly to left to drive in King.

Macie Zink tied the game with a RBI single in the third when she drove in Lindsey Nelson.

IU Southeast took the lead for good with a wild four-run fourth inning. Brooklyn Gibbs reached base on an error when the throw to first hit her and allowed her to move to second. Natalie Schapker singled to put runners at the corners.

After Katie Templeman reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, Miranda Miller hit a grounder to first but the throw home was in the dirt which allowed Brooklyn Gibbs to score.

Lindsey Nelson singled to right to drive in Jackman and Miller and Katie Templeman was able to score when Nelson got caught in a run down and she crossed the plate before Nelson was tagged out.

The Trailblazers added a pair of runs in the fifth inning to get back into the game. Marissa Bardonaro led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Kristin Gardner.

After a single and a walk, Kylee Bako singled to center to drive in Emma Dammeyer.

The Trailblazers tried to scratch across another run by having the run at first attempt to steal second and get caught in a rundown to allow the runner at third to score but Dammeyer was tagged out at the plate after a good throw by Nelson to end the inning.

Starter Brooklyn Gibbs retired the final six batters of the game in order, she allowed three runs on five hits in seven innings, walked a pair and struck out six.

Lindsey Nelson had two hits and drove in three and Macie Zink and Natalie Schapker each had a pair of hits in the win.

IU Southeast hosts No. 12 Lindsey Wilson Monday at 2 p.m.