Box Score

MACOMB, Ill. - After being down 5-1, IUPUI came back to take the lead on two different occasions. However, Western Illinois showed its ability to come back by scoring three in the seventh to tie and won the game 10-9 on a two-run home run by Nikki Marinec in the eighth inning.

Before the devastating home run, the Jaguars took the lead back in the eighth by executing a double steal to perfection.
 
Senior Chelsie Hale walked and took off for second. Freshman Joy Perry scored on the throw to give IUPUI a 9-8 lead.

It looked like Hale would be the hero in the seventh. With the score tied at five, the senior led off with a home run to give the Jaguars their first lead of the game at 6-5.

Alicia Brewer doubled home two more insurance runs, but the Leathernecks put up three runs against starter Nikki Thomas and reliever Samantha Bumbaugh. Bumbaugh gave up three earned runs in 1.2 innings of work.

A  two-out single by Erin Schlotfeldt capped the three-run inning and sent the game in to extra innings.  

Things started as just as rocky as they finished for IUPUI (9-15, 4-3 Summit)

Thomas had a rough first inning giving up four runs including a two-run bomb by Schlotfeldt.

But, the Jaguars were able to hit themselves out of the 4-0 hole they dug themselves.

IUPUI got on the board in the second inning. Leah Prewitt singled with one out. Brandi Lawson was hit by a pitch. Alicia Brewer singled to load the bases. Freshman Julie Love singled home Prewitt to get IUPUI within three.

Western Illinois escaped without further damage when Thomas grounded in to a fielder's choice which forced Lawson at the plate. Jessica Lam grounded out to end the frame.

The Leathernecks extended their lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the third when Briana Goss scored on a passed ball.

The Jaguars got two back when Brewer blasted a Hailey Bickford delivery over the center field fence.

IUPUI tied the game in the fifth with the help of a couple Western Illinois miscues.

Prewitt got her second hit of the game and moved to second on an error. Lawson reached on an error allowing Prewitt to move to third. Brewer continued her hot hitting with a single to drive in Prewitt.

With runners on first and second, a passed ball allowed the runners to move up to second and third. Love delivered an RBI-single to knot the game at five.

But, the Leathernecks (8-13, 5-2) got out of the jam with the help of a big double play. With runners at first and third, Thomas struck out swinging. On the play, Love took off for second and was caught in a run-down. The shortstop threw to first and the first baseman threw to the plate to nab Brewer. Love advanced to second on the throw to the plate.

With two outs, Perry grounded out to end the frame. 

The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader beginning Saturday at 1 PM EST.