INDIANAPOLIS - Freshman Brandi Lawson's walk-off home run led the Jaguars to an incredible 7-5 comeback win in game one of a doubleheader against Oakland. The Jaguars couldn't keep the momentum going in game two falling 12-7.
Game One - Box Score
Lawson capped off the rally in the seventh inning with a walk-off bullet that sailed well past the center-field fence. Zionsville native Amy Raker singled to begin the frame, setting the stage for Lawson.
The walk-off wouldn't have been possible without a tenacious five-run rally that tied the game in the sixth inning.
Raker got the hit parade started with a single. Then after Lawson struck out, pinch hitter Leah Prewitt got the first of four consecutive hits with two outs. Her run scoring single made the score 5-1. Alicia Brewer's infield single put runners on first and second.
Angela Bartucci continued her hot hitting, smoking a triple over the rightfielder's head. With the score now 5-3, Lam crushed a ball down the right-field line and made it all the way to third to get IUPUI within one. Junior Hannah Croucher followed with a walk and immediately took off for second. After the throw, Lam took off for the plate and beat the return throw, tying the game at 5-5.
Jaguars starting pitcher Nikki Thomas navigated through four innings, but couldn't escape the fifth unscathed. After two singles began the inning, the defensive woes began. IUPUI had an error on a bunt attempt which loaded the bases with no one out. After Thomas came back to strike out the next hitter, Brewer fielded the next ground ball and fired home late, giving Oakland its first run.
Thomas fanned the next batter looking before giving up a grand slam to pinch hitter to Leah DiCristofaro. The home run put IUPUI in a 5-0 hole.
Perhaps an unsung hero in the game was freshman Lindsey Richards who came on in relief of Thomas, with runners on second and third and one out in the sixth inning. The freshman walked a batter and proceeded to get the next two batters out on fly balls to keep the game knotted at five.
Sophomore Nicole Natter pitched a scoreless seventh and picked up the win.
Game Two - Box Score
Despite seven runs, the IUPUI bats were not nearly as hot in game two. The team managed just three hits in a 12-7 loss.
After the Golden Grizzlies (5-14, 1-4 Summit) jumped out to a 1-0 lead, IUPUI (8-12, 3-2 Summit League) answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first.
Thomas and Chelsie Hale walked then Raker singled. Lawson chalked up her third RBI of the day, painfully, by getting hit by a pitch. Julie Love walked forcing in a run giving the squad a 2-1 lead.
Oakland scored three in the second and one more in the third to take a 5-2 lead.
Bartucci nailed her second home run of the season to cut the Oakland lead to one, but the Golden Grizzlies answered back with three more in the top half.
Alyssa Shriver's two-run single increased the Oakland lead to four runs.
IUPUI scored a pair of unearned runs in the fifth to make it 8-6. Two more Oakland runs made it 10-6.
The Jaguars added one more run in the sixth. Hannah Croucher singled and stole second base. Thomas reached on an error by the shortstop. Hale drove in IUPUI's final run of the game on a fielder's choice.
Oakland scored two more runs for good measure in the top half of the seventh.
After getting the win in game one, Natter took the loss in game two. The sophomore went two innings giving up three earned runs.
The Jaguars will play Oakland in the rubber match on Saturday at noon at the on-campus IUPUI Softball Complex. Admission is free and open to the public.
