The IUC softball team closed out the regular season with doubleheaders at CERA Sports Park on Friday and Saturday. They swept St. Mary of-the-Woods on Friday and split with conference leader Oakland City on Saturday.

Friday, April 24
Game 1
Chloe Linn got the start for the Crimson Pride in the opener after throwing a no-hitter last week. She gave up a run in the first on a walk and a pair of groundouts. Linnea Baldner opened the bottom of the first with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lex Heafner, and she scored on an infield error to tie the game 1-1. Mackenzie Matern reached on an error to start the third and moved to third on a double by Baldner. Mallory Shelton doubled with one out to score both runners and make the score 3-1.

With one out in the fourth Justice Cash singled and Jaz Stewart was hit by a pitch. Back-to-back doubles by Baldner and Heafner scored three runs, pushing the lead to 6-1. Linn was cruising through six innings in the circle, allowing a lone single in the second inning for St. Mary's only hit of the game. 

Stewart led off the sixth wit a single, and one-out walks to Baldner and Heafner loaded the bases. Shelton cleared the bases with a double, and those three runs secured the victory via the run-rule, 9-1.

Game 2
Matern was the starting pitcher in the second game, and the offense gave her early run support. Three straight one-out singles by Heafner, Shelton and Emma Chism scored one run. Carli Hosler walked to load the bases, and Cash smacked a 2-RBI double for a 3-0 lead after one inning. Lily Culp homered to lead off the second inning, and the Crimson Pride added one more on a double by Heafner and single by Shelton.

St. Mary scored three runs in the top of the third to close the gap to 5-3. IUC got one run back in the fourth as Baldner singled, Shelton walked and Chism singled in Baldner. They added three more in the bottom of the fifth. Renee Lecher walked , Stewart doubled, and singles by Baldner and Heafner completed the scoring. 

Destiny Forler came on in relief of Matern to start the sixth inning. She went the final two innings, giving up no runs and securing the 9-3 win.

Saturday, April 25
Game 1
Oakland City came into the final day of the regular season as conference champions, sporting a glittering 29-5 conference record. They scored in the top of the first as Grace Butcher led off with a double and scored on an infield error for the early 1-0 lead. The Crimson Pride answered in the second as Carli Hosler doubled, with Cash coming in as the pinch runner. Cash tagged up on Stewart's fly to right, and scored on a throwing error by the right fielder, tying the game 1-1.

Matern was in the circle for the Crimson Pride, and she was locked in a pitchers' duel with Morgan Sonner of the Mighty Oaks. The score stayed 1-1 until the top of the fifth. Butcher led off with her third hit of the game, and she scored on a two-out double by Jordan Bufford.
Linn Relieved Matern in the sixth, and the score stayed at 2-1 until the seventh. Butcher was an offensive force for Oakland City, and her fourth hit of the game was a solo homer in the seventh. The visitors added one more in the frame to make the final score 4-1.

Game 2
Linn got the starting nod in circle in the second game and pitched well. Oakland CIty got one run in the first for the early lead. Baldner led off the bottom of the first with a single, stole second and moved to third on Heafner's sacrifice bunt. Shelton's single scored Baldner to tie the game after one inning. Stewart reached on an error to start the second, Culp singled and Baldner walked to load the bases with no outs. Matern's sacrifice fly to center scored Stewart. Shelton's RBI single made it 3-1 IUC after three innings.

Oakland City scored two in the fourth to tie the game 3-3. Culp doubled to lead off the bottom of the fifth for the Crimson Pride. After the next two batters struck out, Shelton came to the plate for what would be her final regular season at-bat. The senior from Bloomfield came through, as she has so many times in her career. She hit a towering drive that nearly cleared the trees beyond the fence in right-center, and her home run proved the difference as the Crimson Pride finished their regular season with a win over the conference regular season champions 5-3.

Coach Tommi Stowers: "We knew it was crucial to lock in this for these final four games. We practiced and worked hard all week, and our players were ready to rise to the occasion. We made sure everyone knew we don't have many moments left with one another this season. I'm so lucky to have a team that can still flip a switch and get the job done when their backs are against the wall. It was exciting to see them all succeed for one common goal.

Well now we are in the tournament so the switch will remain on. The goal will remain one. No pressure, just purpose. Get the job done and come home to play some more softball."

Next on the schedule:
The Crimson Pride open River States Conferenc Tournament play on Thursday against Rio Grande in Charleston, West Virginia