TIU Softball 2005 News

TIU saw their first action of the spring since returning from Arizona when they traveled to Hammond, IN to face conference foe Calumet College-St. Joseph's on Tuesday.  The team came away with a split, losing the first game 3-5 and winning the nightcap 7-5.  In the opener, the Trojans were ahead 3-0 going into the bottom of the 6th inning led by Tina Sparks and Amanda Adams who both had 2-hits in the contest.  But the Crimson Wave rallied off Duree Purcell to score all 5 of their runs to pull out the victory.  In the second game of the doubleheader, Jenna Sippel pulled double duty as she pitch the Trojans to a win and had 2-hits and a key RBI late in the game.  Tina Sparks continued her clutch hitting with 2 hits and 3 RBI's, including a 2-run homerun in the first inning and Heather Robinson laced 2 doubles in the contest.  The team next will host Benedictine University on Thursday for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 PM, weather permitting.

Softball opened their season with a trip south to Edwardsville, IL to play in the very tough SIU-E Softball tournament.  Despite losing all 3 games, the team proved themselves worthy of playing top-level competition.  About a week later, the squad left for their annual trip to the desert of Arizona.  The team hoped to continue their success and build off last season’s program best 25-30 record.  The Trojan’s faced steep competition and lost their first 2 games, but then finally got in the win column with an 8-3 victory over Jamestown (ND).  The team gathered momentum from that win and pulled out the next two games, but then fell upon rough times.  The Trojans won just 2 more times while in Tucson, AZ and returned with a 5-12 mark.  The squad has not been able to resume play since returning because of the weather and field conditions.