CARROLLTON, Ga. - After a frigid start in February, the IUPUI softball team heads south in hopes of defrosting the bats at the 2009 University of West Georgia Wolves Invitational. The Jaguars are scheduled to play five games in two days, beginning with North Alabama at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. 

IUPUI (1-10) comes in sporting just a .220 team batting average, but showed signs of life against Miami (Ohio) and No. 21 Louisville at last weekend's Red & Black Tournament. Junior Mia Ettl cracked her first career homerun and sophomore Amy Raker had three hits in five at-bats to push her batting average to .310. Raker has been IUPUI's top extra-base threat, belting three doubles in just 29 at-bats so far this year.

Speedy centerfielder Sarah Oppelt leads IUPUI with a .391 batting average and four runs scored in her nine appearances. Fellow freshman Jessica Huey has a team-high five RBI through the season's first 11 games. 

In the circle, Lauren Popov had a strong start against Miami, yielding just one run before being lifted. Raker has battled control issues in the early going, but has tossed a team-high 20.1 innings while freshman Samantha Bumbaugh is second on the staff with seven appearances.