Claxon, Rannells lead Game 1 win over IUS

Cassie Rannells drove in 3 runs, while Sarah Claxon drove in 2 while only allowing 2 runs on the mound as Georgetown took game 1 of a doubleheader against IU Southeast, 6-2, on Tuesday.

The Tigers got the offense going right away. Kaylyn Barnett and Stevie Shepherd reached base to lead off the game. 2 batters later, Claxon singled to left center, scoring Barnett. In the bottom of the 1st, IUS led off with a single but the batter was thrown out at 2nd by Peyton Beger trying to stretch it into a double. Claxon followed on the mound by inducing a ground out and striking out the 3rd batter to end the 1st.

After a scoreless 2nd, Georgetown found offense again. Shepherd led off with a single, followed by a bunt single from Mallory Myers. Shepherd went to 3rd on the play, allowing Myers to go to 2nd. Claxon would help her own cause again with a RBI groundout, scoring Shepherd and giving GC a 2-0 lead. Cassie Rannells followed with her own RBI groundout, scoring Myers and adding to the lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Grenadiers could muster nothing but 3 popups as Claxon continued to deal on the mound.

In the 4th, the Tigers went for the knockout blow. Maria Fratangelo got things going with a single and stolen base. After a wild pitch, she would score on a RBI single from Kaylyn Barnett. Barnett would be thrown out trying to steal 2nd. With the bases empty, Shepherd would reach via an error. Myers and Claxon followed with walks to load the bases for Cassie Rannells. Showing her versatility as a hitter, the left-handed Rannells slapped a single through the left side, scoring Shepherd and Myers, pushing the Tiger lead to 6-0 through 4.

The Grenadiers got a run back in the 5th to get on the board. In the 6th, IUS showed its first significant threat in the game. A leadoff double, followed by a single, amade the score 6-2. Consecutive singles would then load the bases with only 1 out and that would be the end of the day for Claxon on the mound. Emma Cummings came on in relief and would get the Tigers out of the jam. Her first opposition grounded out on a fielder's choice, cutting the runner down at the plate. With 2 out, Cummings got another ground ball that Rannells grabbed and stepped on 2nd to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 7th, the Grenadiers put 2 runners on but came up empty as Cummings finished off the 1.2 inning save, giving the Tigers their 3rd win over IUS on the season.

Sarah Claxon picked up her 9th win of the year, going 5.1 innings and allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs, while driving in 2 runs as the cleanup hitter. Cassie Rannells finished 2-3 with 3 RBI. Stevie Shepherd and Mallory Myers each scored twice. Maria Fratangelo went 2-3 with a run scored.