Box Score Box Score (.pdf) | Box Score

ATLANTA, Ga. – The bats of Tennessee-Chattanooga proved to be too much to overcome for the IUPUI softball team as the Jags dropped their opener of the Georgia State Tournament, 13-5, in six innings Saturday morning.

The loss dropped the Jags to 3-2 on the young season, while the Mocs improved to 4-2.

Leah Prewitt led IUPUI with two RBI on the day, while Kelsey Rupert managed to go 2-for-3 from the plate with two runs scored.

The Jags managed to get on the scoreboard in the first by manufacturing a run. With one out, Eryn Dillon singled to center field, before eventually landing on third base after stealing second base and advancing to third on an errant throw. Still with one out, Dillon crossed the plate on an illegal pitch placing the Jags on top, 1-0.

UTC came right back in its half of the first scoring three runs, two of which coming off a two-run home run, to claim its first lead of the day, 3-1.

Following a scoreless second inning, the Jags got back to work in the third thanks in part to Chattanooga miscues. Following a fly out to start the inning, Dillon reached base on a fielding error by the pitcher. During the next at-bat of Prewitt, Dillon moved to second on a wild pitch and then advanced to third on an errant throw as Prewitt drew a walk. With Megan Cory pinch-running for Prewitt, Ashley Seering brought home Dillon and moved Cory to third on a double to right-center field, trimming the IUPUI deficit to 3-2.

The Jags picked up another run when Jenny Royse reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, allowing Cory to score evening the score at three. However, with runners on second and third and one out, the Jags could not plate any more runs in the third leaving the score tied at three heading to the bottom half of the frame.

Unfortunately for IUPUI, the Mocs quickly regained that two-run advantage in the bottom of the third on another two-run home run, this time from Jessica Traxler, pushing Tennessee-Chattanooga back in front, 5-3.

The see-saw battle ensued in the fourth as IUPUI got a run back when Prewitt brought in a run on a bases loaded walk, but a fielder’s choice and a strikeout stranded the bases loaded for the Jaguars and they went into the bottom of the fourth trailing 5-4.

Four consecutive two-out singles coupled with a throwing error on a pickoff attempt brought home three additional runs for the Mocs in the fourth widening their lead to 8-4.

Chattanooga tacked on another run in the fifth off a solo home run to expand its lead to 9-4, but the Jags continued to battle back picking up a sacrifice fly from Prewitt in the sixth to bring its deficit back down to four, 9-5.

However, a four-run sixth for the Mocs, which included a two-run double and a two-run home run moved their lead to eight runs, 13-5, ending the game in the sixth.

The Jaguars are back in action at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday when they take on Eastern Illinois.