Game #1 Box Score I Game #2 Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The IUPUI softball team opened its spring trip with a pair of losses at SEMO on Tuesday afternoon. In the opener, the hosts outslugged the Jaguars 15-7 before surviving a nail biter in the finale. In game two, SEMO's Shelby Stein connected for a game-winning walkoff single in the bottom of the eighth inning after the Jags had claimed a 4-3 lead in the top half.

Freshman Kelsey Rupert paced the IUPUI offense on Tuesday, going 3-for-8 with three RBI and two runs scored in the doubleheader.

IUPUI (3-10) struggled with prosperity in the opener after building a 6-2 lead after its first two at-bats. Senior Mia Ettl led off the game by pulling her second homer of the season to right and Rupert drilled a bases clearing double in the second to help build the advantage. However, SEMO's response came in the bottom of the second when they batted around and scored seven times against two IUPUI pitchers, thanks largely to three Jaguar errors. 

Nicole Troncoso struck the key blow with a two-run triple and later scored on an error.
 
The Jags got one back in the top of the third when Sydney Miller drew a bases loaded walk, but SEMO (8-11) scored twice in the bottom half to make it 11-7. Both teams pitching settled down in the middle innings until the Redbirds Renee Kertz blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to enforce the mercy rule. 

Sophomore Joy Perry was 3-for-3 with two runs scored for the Jags and Ettl finished with two RBI. Kertz was 2-for-4 with six RBI for the victors. 

Freshman Jocelyn Oppenhuis (1-2) took the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) in 1.1 innings work. 

Similar to the opener, IUPUI started strong in game two, scoring twice in the top half of the first inning. Rupert reached on a one-out error and rookie Alicia Garrison followed with a double, putting both runners in scoring position. After a ground out, Miller plated the first run with an opposite field single to left. Garrison later scored on a wild pitch, making it 2-0. 

The lead stood until the bottom of the third when Carmen Fowler belted a two-run homer off freshman starter Nicole Natter to tie the game. 

The Jags retook the lead in the sixth when Miller and Laura Wilcox reached on back-to-back one-out singles. After Natter struck out swinging, sophomore Leah Prewitt came off the bench with a pinch-hit RBI single, making it 3-2. But in the bottom half, SEMO designated player Elise Sperakos connected for a one-out jack, tying the game at three all. 

The game went to international tiebreaker rules in extra innings and the Jaguars took advantage in the top of the eighth. Pinch runner Chelsie Hale moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Wilcox's single up the middle to give the Jaguars the lead. However, SEMO also capitalized in its half, getting the game tying score on an error and the game-winner on Stein's solid single to center. Rupert, Wilcox and Miller had two hits apiece for the Jags as both teams collected nine knocks. 

Natter (0-3) was hung with the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) and striking out four in 7.2 innings work.

IUPUI's spring trip continues on Wednesday when the Jaguars head to Springfield to take on Missouri State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. EST from Killian Softball Stadium.