Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI softball team manufactured four runs in the bottom of the sixth to pick up a 4-1 win in the opener of its Wednesday doubleheader, but a sixth-inning solo home run sunk the Jags in Game 2 as they split their doubleheader with Morehead State at the IUPUI Softball Complex.

The split moved IUPUI’s record to 7-13 on the season.

Jenny Royse and Jessica Lam combined to drive in seven of IUPUI’s 12 combined runs on the day, all of which came in Game 2, while Jocelyn Oppenhuis went the distance in Game 1 giving up just two hits and one earned run while striking out seven.

Game 1 – Box Score (.pdf) | Box Score

Through five innings, both teams managed to register just one hit as Oppenhuis and Morehead State’s Katie Pfost were both dominant. The only difference was that the lone Eagles’ hit was a solo home run off the bat of Amber Riddle placing MSU on top 1-0.

However, the Jags finally broke through in the sixth and it all got started with a Nicole Checkie single through the left side. The Jags were conceding an out when Aundria Basquez put down a sacrifice bunt, but an error by Pfost on the throw to first base allowed Checkie to move to third and Basquez to move to second base setting up a big inning.

Three batters later with the bases loaded and one out, Leah Prewitt delivered a RBI single evening the score at 1-1. During the next at-bat, the Eagles got the force out at home on a ground ball bringing them within one out of escaping the inning, but Ashley Seering was hit by a pitch with the bases still loaded placing IUPUI on top, 2-1.

With the bases still full, IUPUI picked up two key insurance runs when Angela Bartucci delivered a two-out, two-run pinch-hit single to center field widening the Jaguars advantage to 4-1.

Those runs would be all that Oppenhuis would need as she forced two pop ups following a one-out double to close out the 4-1 victory.

Game 2 – Box Score (.pdf) | Box Score

The Jags struggled from the start committing three errors in the opening inning leading to two Eagles runs as Morehead State jumped in front by a pair of runs.

Lam drove home IUPUI’s first run of the game with a double to right center that scored Julie Love from second base, who doubled to left-center to start the inning.

The hot bats continued for the Jags in the third when Royse crushed a pitch deep over the center field wall bringing home Eryn Dillon to catapult IUPUI on top, 3-2. Two batters later, Seering got in on the action and drilled a pitch over the fence down the left field line as IUPUI doubled up Morehead State, 4-2. The home run was Seering’s first of her career.

After trimming their deficit to one with a run in the fourth, the Eagles exploded for five runs on five hits in the top of the fifth to take an 8-4 advantage.

However, the Jags continued to fight back using a pair of two-run doubles from Lam and Royse in their half of the fifth to knot the score at 8-8 heading into the sixth.

Unfortunately, MSU quickly recaptured the lead behind an Elizabeth Wagner solo shot with one out in the sixth, which ultimately proved to be the game-winning hit.

IUPUI had an opportunity in its half of the sixth to strike with Kelsey Rupert standing on second base following a walk and a steal, but a ground out ended that threat before the Jaguars were retired in order in the final frame securing the 9-8 win for Morehead State.

IUPUI closes out its seven-game homestand this weekend when it hosts a three-game Summit League series against North Dakota State. The series begins with a doubleheader on Friday, March 16, beginning at 4 p.m., before the series finale takes place at Noon on Saturday, March 17.