NEW ALBANY, Ind. - The Indiana University Southeast softball program picked up two non-conference wins today over St. Catharine College. The Grenadiers defeated the visiting Patriots of St. Catharine 10-2 in five innings during the first game of the Sunday doubleheader.

In the second game of the day, the Grenadiers pulled out a 5-1 victory over St. Catharine as the rain began to fall over the Koetter Sports Softball Complex.

IU Southeast sophomore Kayla Duke (4-3) earned her third and fourth wins of the season to lead the Grenadiers to victory in both games.

Duke came into game one in relief and pitched five innings in game two of the doubleheader to earn today's wins. Duke is currently holding opponents to a .161 batting average so far this season, which is 27^th best in the NAIA.

Fourth year Grenadier Head Coach Todd Buckingham has been impressed with his pitching staff this season, "I had a few concerns about how are pitching would be at the beginning of the season because we have a young staff. They really showed me that I had nothing to be concerned with. Their hard work and training have made them on of the best pitching staffs in the area. They just stop teams from scoring."

Grenadier freshman left fielder Layne Hammer had a great offensive day with a home run and a double in the first game of the doubleheader.

Coming into today's games, the Grenadier softball program is currently ranked 10^th in the NAIA for triples per game (.438) and ranked 12^th for most stolen bases per game (2.625). Shana Andres is ranked 4^th in the NAIA for total triples this season with four. The Grenadiers are combining for a .274 batting average and have outscored opponents 79-46 in 18 games.

"We have a motto for our team this season," said Buckingham. "The motto is simply: ‘Do You' - If our ladies come out and just play the game the way they know how then it's simple. We win."

The softball Grenadiers are now 11-7 overall on the season and an undefeated 2-0 in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC). IU Southeast has earned an 8-2 record at home this season and have won six out of its last seven games.

The Grenadiers will begin a 14 game road swing on Tuesday (3/23) when the team travels to Oakland City University for a non-conference road doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Buckingham knows his team can't get too concerned with the long road trips in the next few weeks, "We just need to take one game at a time. We will not overlook any game. Each game is important to helping us achieve our ultimate goal which is winning a KIAC title and competing in the NAIA National Softball Tournament."

The Grenadiers are set to return home on April 5 when they will host Midway College for a conference doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

Check back to IUSAthletics.com later this evening for more information and complete game statistics from today's softball sweep over St. Catharine.