ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Just 18 hours after finishing up a doubleheader with Lourdes University (Oh.) on Wednesday evening, the Indiana Tech softball team started game one of their road doubleheader against Concordia University (Mich.) on Thursday afternoon. The matchup between two of the WHAC's top three teams did not disappoint as both sides walked away with a victory.
Game one of the doubleheader was a high scoring affair with a five-run first inning. Katie O'Drobinak got things started with a two-run homer for the Warriors in the top of the first inning. Concordia would strike right back with an RBI single and two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning. They would also add five more runs in the next two innings to take a commanding 8-2 lead through three innings. The Warriors would fight back however, scoring two runs in the fourth with Alexis Galloway and Alyssa Fox picking up RBIs. Concordia would add a crucial run in the bottom of the fourth to establish a 9-4 lead, as it would remain that way heading into the top of the seventh inning. The Warriors needed a big inning as they were down to their final three outs and trailed by five. After five batters, Tech was down to their final out, but had the bases loaded. Then Maire Trouba would score on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to four. Jordan Dippel would then reach on an error that allowed Kiersten Delaney to come home. Fox then hit a two-run double to right center field driving in Dippel and Meagan Barton as the Warriors drew within one. However, the orange and black would leave two runners stranded as they fell just short of an unbelievable two out comeback, falling by a final of 9-8. Fox finished the game with three RBIs while O'Drobinak had two and Galloway had one. O'Drobinak also led the Warriors with two hits in the game. Savannah Bravo picked up the loss for Tech, dropping her record to 11-3 on the season.
Game two saw a different kind of thrilling excitement as the Warriors would come from behind again in another tight battle to win in extra innings. The game would remain scoreless through the first four innings of play before the Cardinals would break the tie in the bottom of the fifth on a solo homerun. The score remained 1-0 heading into the final inning of play as the Warriors were again down to their final three outs. However, this time, Tech would tie up the score thanks to an RBI single up the middle by Barton driving in Carlye Walter. Walter, who pitched a complete game, eight-inning masterpiece would shut down the Cardinals in the bottom of the seventh to force extras. In the top of the eight, the Warriors would get the game winning run from Dippel who ran home on a throwing error by the Cardinals catcher, as Tech would hold on to the narrow 1-2 victory. Walter gave up just one run and five hits through eight innings of work. She threw one strikeout and picked up her ninth win of the season. Walter, along with Dippel, also led the Warriors in hits in the game with two.
Indiana Tech moves to 13-3 in WHAC play and 33-7 overall on the season. Up next for the Warriors is Senior Day. They will play Lawrence Tech University (Mich.) in a doubleheader at home on Sunday, April 23rd at 1 and 3 pm.
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