Game #1 Box Score I Game #2 Box Score

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Host Southern Utah staved off a late IUPUI rally to hang on for a 5-4 win in the softball series opener on Friday before thumping the Jaguars, 13-3 in game two. The Jags got three RBI each from Mia Ettl and Amy Raker on the day.

The losses extended IUPUI's losing skid to 17 straight.

Game one saw SUU (17-26, 8-9 Summit) jump out to a 2-0 lead against IUPUI starter Lauren Popov in the bottom of the first inning as Aly Daniels clubbed her first of two homeruns in the game. IUPUI (3-41, 1-16) finally scratched in the top of the third when sophomore Stacy Harte belted her fourth homer of the season, touching up SUU starter Kristina Brooks. 

The Jags couldn't handle prosperity though, giving back two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Brittany Henderson led off the SUU third with a double and scored on Daniels' second long ball, which chased Popov (0-9).

The T-Birds added an insurance run in the fourth, but IUPUI refused to go away.

Junior Laura Wilcox started the fifth inning rally be getting drilled by a pitch, but was erased on a fielder's choice. Senior Cayleigh Harvey put two aboard with a single and Sarah Oppelt's single loaded the bases with one out. Brooks nearly wiggled off the hook by getting Harte to strike out, but Ettl followed with a two-out bases clearing double to make it 5-4. Raker lined back to the pitcher to end the inning.

IUPUI put runners on in both the sixth and seventh innings, but both were erased on double plays.

Daniels went 3-for-4 with four RBI for SUU as the victors banged out 11 hits. IUPUI mustered just five hits against Brooks (15-21). The SUU righty fanned eight and walked two in the complete game victory. 

Popov allowed four runs (three earned) in two innings work before Raker gave four strong frames in relief. The sophomore righty whiffed four and walked two while scattering seven hits. 

In game two, Southern Utah struck early and often on its way to an easy 13-3 five-inning win. The T-Birds scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first against freshman Samantha Bumbaugh and added five more in the second. Darleen Fernandez smacked a three-run tater during the five-run second as part of her 3-for-3 game. 

IUPUI finally tallied in the top of the third as Raker drilled a bases clearing double. Oppelt reached on a bunt hit and Harte followed with a solid single to left. Ettl filled the bases by getting hit by a pitch for the first of two times in the contest. Raker then made it hurt, connecting off Brooks to make it 7-3. 

SUU ended any doubt though, sending 11 batters to the plate in a six-run fourth.

Oppelt and Cayleigh Harvey had two hits each for IUPUI. 

Brooks (16-21) won her second game of the day, working three innings before handing the ball over to Meghan Wilson in the fourth. Bumbaugh (1-13) struck out four and walked three in defeat. 

The same two teams will wrap up the series with a noon start on Saturday.