Game #1 Box Score I Game #2 Box Score I Game #3 Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI softball team dropped a trio of decisions on Monday afternoon as it completed Saturday's Summit League opener with Western Illinois before the two teams then took part in a doubleheader. The Jaguars lost the opener 7-0 before falling in both ends of the doubleheader, 5-0 and 8-2. 

In the opener, Western (12-5, 3-0 Summit) broke open a 3-0 game with four runs in the top of the sixth inning against freshman Jocelyn Oppenhuis. Lori Pankratz launched a three-run homer to cap the scoring after Beth Golitko had drilled an RBI double earlier in the inning. 

WIU starter Kamren Ferguson (5-3) was dominant, striking out nine and allowing just three singles in the complete game shutout. IUPUI's (3-8, 0-3 Summit) best scoring chance of the game came in the bottom of the fifth when freshman Alicia Garrison drew a two-out walk and wheeled around to third on Chelsie Hale's bloop single to left. However, both were stranded when Ferguson got Kelsey Rupert out on strikes on a two strike bunt attempt. 

In game two, Ferguson and IUPUI freshman Nicole Natter traded goose eggs until the Leathernecks finally plated a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth. After a one out error allowed Lauren Furgala to reach, WIU's Erin Schlotfeldt made it hurt with a towering two-run homer to the opposite field to break the tie. In the fifth, WIU's Jamie Goss provided some insurance with a two-run double and Furgala followed with an RBI double to make it 5-0. 

Ferguson (6-3) earned her second shutout of the day by striking out six and allowing just five hits. Natter (0-2) allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings before handing the ball to sophomore Samantha Bumbaugh with no outs and the bases loaded in the sixth. Bumbaugh escaped the jam by sandwiching infield pop outs around a fielder's choice groundout to Amy Raker at third. 

Western Illinois made quick work of the Jags in the series finale, scoring six times in the first three innings on its way to an easy 8-2 win. Pankratz had a key two-run single in the first inning and Julie DePolo opened the second with a solo homer, making it 5-0. Trailing 6-0, IUPUI loaded the bases in the fourth inning but sophomore Joy Perry bounced out to third to end the threat. 

The Jaguars finally broke through in the fifth when both Mia Ettl and Sydney Miller reached on defensive errors, setting the table for sophomore Leah Prewitt. The right-handed hitting infielder drilled her first double of the season to straightaway center, plating both Ettl and Miller for the Jags' only two runs of the day. 

Prewitt was 2-for-3 in the finale while Ettl, Hale and Raker all had two hits apiece on Monday. 

Furgala went 5-for-11 in the three games with two doubles and three runs scored and both DePolo and Golitko scored four runs each. Pankratz (4-2) led WIU with five RBI and also got the win in the circle in Monday's finale, striking out five in the complete game effort. Bumbaugh (0-4) was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs (three earned) in just one-third of an inning. 

IUPUI will return to action on Tuesday when it heads to Southeast Missouri State for a 5:00 p.m. doubleheader.