DAYTON, Ohio - The IUPUI softball team split two games against Dayton, winning the first game 3-0 behind a complete game shutout from Nikki Thomas and a 3-for-3 performance by Brandi Lawson. They dropped a 6-3 decision in the night cap on Wednesday.

Game One - (Box Score)

Summit League Pitcher of the Week Thomas continued stifling hitters in game one of the Jaguars' doubleheader at Dayton on Wednesday. The freshman was in control all game long, throwing a complete game shutout while fanning 11 hitters in a 3-0 IUPUI win.

After squandering several scoring opportunities, the Jaguars broke through with a run in the fifth inning. Angela Bartucci singled with one out after last week's Summit League Player of the Week, Hannah Croucher grounded out to the pitcher.

Thomas did it with both in the circle and with the bat. Continuing the Jaguars fifth-inning rally, she laid down an excellent bunt and then got caught in a rundown between first and second. When the pitcher threw to the plate, Bartucci raced home and beat the return throw for the game's first run.

Freshman Brandi Lawson added a little insurance in the sixth, hitting an opposite-field rocket over the fence.
 
The Jaguars squandered several opportunities early. Croucher, led off the third with a single, but was caught stealing. Thomas followed that with a single. She was safe at second when the second baseman couldn't handle the throw from shortstop Emily Stegeman. But, Dayton got out of the inning when Amy Raker hit a ground ball back to the pitcher who fired to third for the force and over to first to complete the double play.

IUPUI missed an even better opportunity in the fourth inning. After a Lawson single, Julie Love smoked a ball in to the right-center field gap. Lawson charged toward the plate but the Flyers defense executed the relay perfectly to cut her down trying to score. It turned in to a double play when Love was caught too far off of second base and catcher Courtney Kutsulis fired to Stegeman who tagged out Love.

Thomas and Bartucci each finished with two hits while Lawson went 3-for-3.

Game Two - (Box Score)

A three-run fifth inning lifted Dayton to a 6-3 win against IUPUI (7-11). IUPUI led 3-2 in the fifth inning before the Flyers finally got to reliever Nicole Natter, who held Dayton's offense in check previously.

Pinch hitter Jenna Lopes singled with one out to start the rally. Archer walked to put runners at first and second. At that point, coach Maggie Calcaterra went with Samantha Bumbaugh who fanned Stegeman for the second out.

Kathleen Maloof's single tied the game at three. Lauren Nacke's two-run double gave the Flyers the lead for good.

Natter, the losing pitcher, did a nice job in relief of starting pitcher Jocelyn Oppenhuis. She gave up two earned runs in four innings of work while striking out four.

After being shut out in game one, Dayton's (8-8) jumpstarted its offense against Oppenhuis, who lasted just one-third on an inning inning after a two-run home run by Maloof.

The Jaguars crawled back from their early two-run deficit with one run in the second, fourth and fifth innings.

In the second inning, Love got caught in a rundown between first and second allowing Lauren Cooper to score on the throw.

Alicia Brewer doubled home Lawson to knot the game at two in the fourth.

The team finally captured the lead in the fifth. Thomas started the inning with a single and Hale followed that with a double. Raker's single drove in Thomas to give the Jaguars the lead.

Thomas was the only Jaguar with two hits in game two.

IUPUI is slated to return to Summit League action on Friday with a 4 pm doubleheader against Oakland.