Courtesy of the MVC
WICHITA, Kan.—The Indiana State softball team scored nine runs in the first five innings and junior pitcher Taylor Lockwood pitched a complete game, allowing just three hits as the Sycamores won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament 9-2 over Missouri State to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
The Sycamores become the first current women’s team sport at Indiana State to advance to the NCAA tournament in school history.
The Sycamores wasted no time in getting out to a lead as sophomore Rylee Holland led off the game with a single and after a pop out, senior Megan Stone was hit by a pitch before junior Kelsey Montgomery hit an RBI single to score Holland and give the Sycamores a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second inning, freshman Abby Klopp led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice by junior Alexa Cavin. Freshman Kassie Brown then hit a bunt single to put runners on the corners before Holland hit a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 2-0 Sycamores.
Indiana State blew the game wide open in the top of the fourth when they scored four runs with two outs to extend their lead to 6-0. Sophomore Brooke Riemenschneider hit a two RBI double off the wall to give the Sycamores all the momentum they would need.
Cavin kept things going offensively in the top of the fifth inning when she led off with a single before Brown reached on a bunt single and a throwing error put runners on the corners. Brown then stole second before Holland hit a two RBI single to make it 8-0. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Montgomery hit an RBI fielders choice to score Holland make it 9-0, Sycamores.
Lockwood took the game over in the circle, allowing just one hit through the first five innings and three in the game as she three her third complete game of the weekend to earn the title of Tournament MVP.
Lockwood marks the first ever Tournament MVP in school history as Megan Stone, Brooke Riemenschneider and Rylee Holland were all named to the All-Tournament team as well.
The Sycamores will now find out who they play in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday on the selection show at 10 p.m. It will be the first ever NCAA tournament appearance by a current women’s team at Indiana State.
