Game #1 Box Score I Game # 2 Box Score I Photo Gallery

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI softball team broke out of its offensive slump in a major way, tallying 21 hits and 17 runs as the Jaguars split a doubleheader with visiting Valparaiso on Monday. The Jaguars won the opener 10-1 in five innings before dropping an 8-7 decision in the nightcap.

Junior Mia Ettl continued her hot hitting, going 5-for-7 on the day.

The Jaguars snapped their eight-game losing skid by scoring a season-high 10 runs in game one, rolling to the 10-1 victory. IUPUI took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and added six runs in the bottom of the third to make quick work of the Crusaders.

Ettl and Sarah Oppelt set the table for the middle of the batting order by notching back-to-back singles in the bottom of the first and moving into scoring position on a throwing error. Amy Raker plated Ettl with a ground ball to short and Leah Prewitt laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to make it 2-0.

After Valpo (16-7) got a run back in the top of the second, the Jaguars hung six runs on six hits in the third to take control of the contest. Junior Laura Wilcox launched a grand slam, the first by a Jag this season, over the centerfield fence to plate the first four runs of the inning. Alicia Hayes restarted the rally with a single and raced home on Cayleigh Harvey's second triple of the year. Ettl followed with a run scoring single up the middle to make it 8-1.

IUPUI (3-25) capped the game's scoring in the fourth when Raker led off by lining a double to left and trotted home when Stacy Harte lofted her first homerun of the year over the left field fence.

Harte was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI while both Ettl and Oppelt also had two base hits. Raker (1-8) got the win out of the bullpen, working two scoreless innings in relief of Lauren Popov. Popov tossed three innings, walking seven and striking out three.

Shaleigh Jansen (1-2) took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) in three innings work.

Game two started off slowly as IUPUI trailed 7-1 heading into the bottom of the third. However, the Jaguars bats began chipping away, eventually tying the score at 7-7.

In the third, IUPUI loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a free pass, setting the table for sophomore Chelsie Hale. Hale smashed a ground ball through the left side, but the ball took a bad hop and rolled all the way to the fence, scoring three runs. Hale also came home on the play when the throw in from the outfield squirted into the Jaguars' dugout for an error.

IUPUI added a single run in the fifth inning when Raker scored from third on a wild pitch before tying the game in the sixth. Ettl reached with a one-out single and moved to second on a passed ball before racing home on Raker's solid single to left.

The guests however plated the game-winner in the top of the seventh when Kelsey Phalen scored from second on a ground ball as the Jaguars tried to complete a potential inning ending double play. Cayleigh Harvey's throw from second went wide of the first base bag and off Leah Prewitt's glove, allowing the go-ahead run to score.

IUPUI went down in order in the bottom half of the inning as VU's Stephanie Kelly capped the complete game win. Kelly (5-3) struck out nine while allowing seven runs (four earned) in the victory.

Raker (1-9) was the tough luck loser, yielding just one unearned run in five innings in relief of freshman Samantha Bumbaugh. Raker fanned four and walked one out of the bullpen.

Hale, who came in with just one hit on the season, went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Ettl was also 3-for-4 while Oppelt and Raker had two hits each. Ashley Wolter was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored from the middle of the Valparaiso batting order.

IUPUI returns to action on Wednesday when it heads up I-69 to take on Ball State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.. BSU defeated the Jaguars on Feb. 22 of this season, 15-3 in six innings in Athens, Ga..