Box Score Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS – In the rubber match of its first Summit League series of the season, the IUPUI softball team had opportunities late to pick up the victory, but Western Illinois struck in the top of the ninth proving to be the difference in a 3-2 victory for the Leathernecks Sunday afternoon at the IUPUI Softball Complex.

The loss dropped the Jaguars to 6-12 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

Following a pair of scoreless innings, the Leathernecks struck first in the third and the damage happened with two outs. A two-out walk put a runner on first for WIU and  a wild pitch ensued moving the runner to second base. A single to right-center field during the next at-bat plated a run and moved Western Illinois in front, 1-0.

The Jags had opportunities in the third and fourth innings that were squandered before IUPUI capitalized in the bottom of the fifth.

 Ashley Seering started the fifth-inning rally with a one-out single up the middle and moved to third base on a single by Aundria Basquez during the next at-bat. With Basquez on second base and Seering on third, Angela Bartucci walked to load the bases with just one out.

Following an infield fly, Kelsey Rupert was hit by a pitch forcing home a run, and that was followed by a fielding error on a ground ball off the bat of Eryn Dillon that allowed Basquez to score placing the Jags in front, 2-1.

WIU knotted the score at two in its next at-bat using an IUPUI error on a throw to first base that allowed the runner to score from second base.

Looking to end the game in the bottom of the seventh, Alicia Brewer came in as a pinch hitter and led things off with a double to right-center putting the winning run in scoring position. However, two pop ups preceded a fly out ending the threat and sending the game into extra innings.

Nikki Thomas set down the Leathernecks in order in the eighth to give her team another chance and Eryn Dillon set the Jags up with a single and stolen base with nobody out. Unfortunately, three straight strike outs ended the inning moving the game to the ninth.

In the ninth, the Leathernecks picked up a two-out RBI to recapture a one-run lead, 3-2, and managed to retire the Jags in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out the 3-2 win.

Seering led IUPUI with two hits on the day, while Rupert drove in the Jaguars lone run.

IUPUI continues its homestand on Wednesday, March 14, when it hosts Morehead State in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. at the IUPUI Softball Complex.