Indians Drop Double Header to Stephens College, now 0-6 on the year.

COLUMBIA, Mo. –The Haskell Indian Nations University softball team is still searching for its first victory of the season after losing two straight to Stephens College, Friday afternoon by scores of 15-3, 10-5. The double header defeat brings the Indians' 2012 record to 0-6.

HINU would strike first in game one, as pitcher Samantha Robertson would help her own cause, grounding into a fielder's choice to plate a run and give the Purple and Gold a 1-0 lead. That slim margin would not hold up for long as Robertson surrendered five runs on five hits in the bottom half of the inning and Stephens took a 5-1 lead. The two teams did not score a run in the second, but the Stars would put up another five runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a commanding 15-2 lead after four. The Indians would muster just one more run in their half of the fifth, as Stephens wrapped up an opening game victory by the score of 15-3.

Going the distance for Haskell was junior Samantha Robertson who gave up eight earned runs on 13 hits. Robertson walked four and tossed 97 pitches in the defeat. At the plate Haskell was led by Christen Voice who went 2-3. Sophomore Ashleigh Brown scored two of the Indian runs, while Janelle Cronin and Jahna Yuhn picked up the other two hits.

The second game began much differently than the first as the Stars put up crooked numbers in three of the first five innings of play. Following their early 3-0 lead, Haskell plated four runs up on the board in the top half of the third to take a brief 4-3 lead.  An error, a single and a walk would set the stage for freshman Katie Keller-Manuelito, who tripled down the right field line, scoring Miranda Cobell, Jahna Yuhn and Ashleigh Brown.

Following HINU's three run outburst, Stephens quickly tied the game up in the bottom of the third, and then took the lead for good in fourth with a three spot to make it 7-4, heading into the fifth. A one-run Haskell rally in the fifth would not be enough as the Starts tacked on three more in the bottom half of the inning, and walked off the diamond with a hard earned 10-5 victory.

Sophomore Kendall Calderon pitched all six innings for Joe Bointy's club, surrendering four earned runs on 10 hits, while walking one and striking out three. Christen Voice, Ashleigh Brown and Keller-Manuelito accounted for all of the Haskell hits in the second game, as Brown, Keller-Manuelito, Cobell and Yuhn scored all of the Indian runs.

Haskell will return home from the ‘Show Me State', looking to earn their first victory of the year, as they play a double-header with Benedictine College on Sunday. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.; with the second to start at approximately 4 p.m. Sunday's non-conference matchup are the first two games of a six game, three day home stand for the Indians.