IUPUI/Wright State Box Score I IUPUI/Belmont Box Score

COLUMBIA, Tenn. - The IUPUI softball team dropped a 2-0 decision against Wright State and fell to Belmont 5-3 on Sunday. The two losses came after two Jaguar wins on the opening day of the Belmont/Hampton Inn Invitational.

Freshman Nikki Thomas (1-1) had her second straight strong outing in the circle and kept the Jaguars (2-2) in the hunt, tossing a complete game scattering seven hits and allowing two earned runs.

The game was scoreless until the seventh inning when Justine Shilt hit a two-run home run which turned out to be the game-winner.

IUPUI managed just two hits in the game, one by Hannah Croucher in the first inning and the other by Brandi Lawson in the fifth.

Belmont's Amanda Byers was a one-person wrecking crew against the Jaguars on Sunday. She blasted two home runs, one of which was the game-winner in the seventh inning. 

Despite being unable to salvage the nightcap against Belmont, the Jaguars took the lead early. Croucher continued her hot hitting, in the first inning , driving in Chelsie Hale with a double to right-center field.

Belmont knotted the game in the top of the fourth inning with a Byers RBI-double.  The Jaguars reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning.

Julie Love knocked in Croucher who was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a passed ball. However, the lead was short-lived. Byers first home run came in the top of the sixth and knotted the game at three.

The Bruins took the lead in the top of the sixth on a RBI-single by Amanda Buntin, but the Jaguars came right back in the bottom half with a run of their own. Lawson singled to lead off the inning and eventually scored after an errant throw.

With the score tied at 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning and after two Bruins reached base, Ashley Byers connected for her second home run of the game to give Belmont a 6-3 lead and the win.

Bumbaugh (1-1) took the loss in relief for the Jaguars. Jocelyn Oppenhuis started the game lasting three innings, giving up  just one earned run. Nicole Natter and Nikki Thomas made appearances for the Jaguars.

IUPUI will return to action against Quinnipiac at the Lancer Lead-off next weekend in Farmville, Va..