TEMPE, Ariz. – Nevada junior second baseman Madison Clark is relied upon for a lot of things by Nevada softball. She occupies an important position defensively, and she routinely leads off for the Wolfpack due to her speed.
In a 2-2 ballgame, Clark led off the fifth inning by attempting a bunt, something she’s done numerous times in her softball career. However, it’s a safe bet she hasn’t rounded the bases for a run too many times after bunting.
That at-bat was a microcosm of a tough day defensively by Indiana (7-3), who fell to Nevada (6-4) 4-2 on Sunday, Feb. 15.
In their final game at the Littlewood Invitational, the Hoosiers struggled mightily on both sides of the ball. A usually potent Indiana offense only managed four hits against the Nevada pitching tandem of senior Hailey McLean, senior Tess Bumiller and sophomore Talia Tretton.
Defensively, the Hoosiers were no better, as they committed four errors compared to Nevada’s zero. One costly error occurred in the top of the fifth, when a comedy of errors occurred to bring Clark home for Nevada to take the lead.
Nevada senior first baseman Hannah Di Genova continued her dominance in the Littlewood Invitational when she walloped a solo shot, her fourth of the tournament, to open the scoring in the first inning. Clark tallied an RBI double in the inning afterward to give Nevada a 2-0 lead.
While the Wolfpack held the Hoosiers to four hits on the game, they conceded eight walks to keep Indiana in the ballgame. Those walks, along with an inside-the-park home run from senior outfielder Ellie Goins, allowed Indiana to tie the game up at two.
After Nevada reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth, senior shortstop Haylee Engelbrecht delivered a moonshot in the seventh to extend the lead to 4-2. That was the final run scored in the game when sophomore pitcher Talia Tretton recorded a four-inning save.
Senior right-hander Tess Bumiller was credited with the win to move to 2-0 on the season, while Indiana sophomore pitcher Ella Troutt was credited with the loss to move her record to 2-3.
Nevada escaped the Littlewood Invitational with a 3-2 record, and it will take a road trip south to Tucson to take on Arizona on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Indiana salvaged a 3-2 record in the invitational, and they will move on to the USF Tournament in Tampa next weekend.