Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 IU Columbus enjoyed another beautiful day at the ballpark on Friday as they hosted West Virginia Tech for a River States Conference doubleheader. Due to the recent weather, the Crimson Pride were unable to play at CERA Sports Park, but the games were moved to Columbus East High School (Thank you Columbus East!). The visitors took the opening game 9-3, but the Crimson Pride came back to take the second game 2-1 in extra innings.

Game 1
The West Virginia Tech Golden Bears came out swinging in the top of the 1st inning as Tori Wells singled on the 1st pitch, stole 2nd base on the next pitch, and moved on to 3rd on the following pitch as Haley Skeens doubled. The Golden Bears plated 3 runs in the 1st inning before a nice double play ended the threat in the top of the first. West Virginia Tech added 2 more runs in the top of the 4th, and their defense kept the Crimson Pride at bay as they turned double plays in the 1st, 3rd and 4th innings.

Down 6-0, the Crimson Pride were able to strike back with 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th to make it 6-3.  West Virginia Tech came back with 3 more runs in the top of the 6th, and that would be the final score as the Golden Bears took game one 9-3.

Game 2
The second game was a classic pitchers duel between WVU Tech's Taylor Scott and IUC freshman Destiny Forler. Scoreless through the first six innings, Ashleigh James connected on a solo home run to left-center in the top of the 7th, giving the visitors a one-run lead going into the bottom of the last inning.

Forler ripped a one-out single to get the rally going, and Destinee Allman came in as the courtesy runner for the pitcher. Pinch hitter Lily Retz hit a groundout to the pitcher, but the Golden Bears first baseman tried to throw out Allman at second base, only to throw the ball into left field, and Allman hustled all the way home to tie the game at 1-1, sending it into extra innings.

Forler was able to get through the eighth with no runs, bringing the home team to the plate.

Justice Cash led off the inning with a double, and the Crimson Pride were in business. Emma Chism's sacrifice bunt moved Cash to third with one out. Cierra Cramer came up with the game-winning base hit, scoring Cash and giving the Crimson Pride a split of the doubleheader.

Highlights:
Destiny Forler   CG 8.0 IP  1R  5H  8K 2BB
Cierra Cramer   3 H, Walk-off RBI

 Coach Tommi Stowers: " We are still working through lineups as we've only been outside for 3 days this year. Live at-bats may be  a struggle, and we left 7 runners on the bases with a couple of base running mistakes. The 2nd game was a great team win. Destiny was flawless in the circle, and Cierra really came through in the 8th with her 3rd hit of the game. All of our players contributed, and I believe this can be a big boost for our confidence going forward."

Next on the schedule:
No time to rest as the Crimson Pride host Rio Grande on Saturday, March 7 at Columbus East High School for a doubleheader