Game #1 Box Score I Game #3 Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - The Jaguars softball team gave a valiant effort, but fell just short as it hosted a pair of non-league opponents at the IUPUI Softball Complex on a brisk Wednesday afternoon. The Jags fell to SIU-Edwardsville 5-3 in game one before dropping a 4-3 decision to Morehead State in game three.

Morehead State knocked off SIUE between the two IUPUI games as part of the tripleheader.

Junior Laura Wilcox connected for a solo homerun in each game and freshman Lauren Popov drilled her first career homerun in the finale.

In game one, SIUE (33-7) flexed its offensive muscle in the top of the first, scoring twice off starter Samantha Bumbaugh. The key hit came off the bat of Lauren Zembruski, who lined a double off the fence in center to plate the game's first run.

IUPUI (3-39) answered with a run of its own in the bottom half, thanks to Sarah Oppelt's speed on the bases. The freshman bunted her way aboard and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stacy Harte. After Oppelt stole third, sophomore Amy Raker plated a run with a two-out double to right-center.

Bumbaugh retired seven batters in order until Kasey Schlafke hit a solo shot, pushing SIUE's lead to 3-1.

Wilcox made it 3-2 with a solo blast to lead off the fourth. However, IUPUI was unable to get the big hit in the fifth as the Jaguars left the bases loaded for the second time in the game.

Trailing 4-2, Harte singled home Cayleigh Harvey with two outs in the sixth, making it 4-3. Junior Mia Ettl followed with a towering double to left-center to chase starter Katie Watkinson, putting runners on second and third. SIUE ace Erika Taylor came in from the bullpen to get Amy Raker to fly out to right as the Jaguars ended the game with 10 runners left on base.

Ettl went 3-for-4 including her team-high eighth double and IUPUI outhit the guests 9-8. Bumbaugh (1-12) worked a complete game, striking out two and walking none.

Watkinson (7-2) walked two and struck out one before Taylor retired the final four batters in order to record her second save of the season. Zembruski went 3-for-3 for the Cougars and Lindsay Longfellow drove in two runs from the fifth spot in the batting order.

In the finale, Morehead State scored single runs in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to overcome a 3-2 deficit on way to a 4-3 win. Samantha Sparks came up with the game-winning hit, driving home Courtney Seiler from second with a two-out single to center. Seiler had to slide well right of home plate to avoid Cassie Harvey's tag after Oppelt made a strong peg to the plate.

IUPUI struck first as Oppelt led off the game with a single, stole second and scored on a Raker single up the middle.

Morehead State (26-14) tied the score in the top of the second, scoring an unearned run against Raker. With two outs, Seiler reached on a swinging bunt to start the rally. Sarah Funston followed by hitting a routine grounder to Kristine Grohnke at third, but the freshman threw wildly to first, sending the ball into the outfield. Ettl alertly cut down Funston at second, but Seiler raced around the bases to score before the final out was recorded.

The see-saw affair continued though as Popov drilled a mammoth homerun with two outs in the bottom of the inning, barely keeping the ball inside the left field foul pole to make it 2-1. After MSU tied the game in the third, Wilcox put IUPUI back in front with an opposite field solo homer to start the fourth. Becca Butler singled home a run in the fifth to tie the game before Sparks' game-winner in the sixth.

Oppelt went 2-for-4 with a run scored for IUPUI, extending her hitting streak to four straight games. It was her team-high 12th multi-hit game of the year.

Raker (1-15) was the hard luck loser, allowing four runs (three earned) in the complete game defeat. Funston (7-4) got the win in relief of Ashley Boyd by working three scoreless innings. She struck out three and walked two, including stranding two IUPUI runners in both the fifth and sixth innings.

Boyd yielded three runs and four hits over the first four innings while notching three punchouts.

IUPUI returns to action on Friday when it heads west to take on Southern Utah in Summit League action. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. EST.