OKLAHOMA CITY – Powered by a five-run third and combined shutout effort, No. 24 Shorter defeated No. 10 Indianapolis, 5-0 in the first winner’s bracket game (Game 5) of the 2015 NCAA Division II Championship, Friday evening at a soggy ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
With their 10th straight win, the Hawks (43-15) earn a day off and a trip to the semifinals on Sunday, May 24 at 12:00 p.m. at OGE Energy Field. The Greyhounds (48-14) fall to the elimination bracket and will face the winner of game eight between Central Missouri and California (Pa.), tomorrow, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Senior Maggie Meacham (pictured) and sophomore Ericka Bynum highlighted the decisive fourth inning with two-run singles, respectively. Following a bases loaded walk, Meachum’s slow chopper snuck through the right side to make it 3-0. Two batters later, Bynam hit a screamer back up the middle to cap off the five-run frame.
The Bynum hit forced a pitching change as Morgan Foley, who no-hit North Georgia yesterday, had to exit after just 3.1 innings of work.
Meacham finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to pace the Shorter offense.
Maddie Bray and Amanda Blachard combined on the seven-hit shutout with Blanchard (20-4) earning the win after 4.2 innings of relief work. Bray started and went the first 2.1 innings, allowing four hits and striking out two.
Foley suffered the loss for Indianapolis allowing all five runs on seven hits with four walks and three punchouts. Coryn Tirpak finished out the game for the Greyhounds with 2.2 frames of no-hit, shutout relief (2K, 0BB).
Jenny Thompson and Katie Kelly recorded two hits apiece for Indianapolis.
-- Photo courtesy of Richard T. Clifton
