Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The IUPUI softball team met Eastern Illinois back in February and fell by a 3-0 score, but the Jaguars used clutch two-out hitting and great pitching to earn a doubleheader sweep over the Panthers and win the season series against EIU Wednesday evening in Charleston, Ill.

The wins improved the Jaguars overall record to 17-30, while EIU dipped to 24-22.

Game 1 – IUPUI 3, Eastern Illinois 2 (10 innings)

After a pair of scoreless innings to start, IUPUI was the first to get on the board in the third. It all began with an Aundria Basquez walk, and Basquez then moved to second on a fielding error on a ball off the bat of Kelsey Rupert. A fielder’s choice eliminated Basquez and kept runners on first and second, but another fielder’s choice loaded the bases with one out.

The Jags lost a runner on a pick off, but Ashley Seering came through with a two-out, two-run single that scored Nicole Checkie and Rupert as the Jags took a 2-0 lead.

EIU got one of those runs back in the fourth on a RBI double, before using a solo homer in the sixth to knot things at 2-2.

Neither team could score in their final at-bats in regulation, sending the game into extra innings, and both sides failed to manufacture a run due to the quality pitching of Jocelyn Oppenhuis and Stephanie Maday until IUPUI struck in the 10th inning.

With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Megan Cory started the inning on second base with nobody out and two batters later she moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. With Cory on third and two outs, Checkie picked up an infield single that allowed
Cory to score placing the Jags back on top, 3-2.

Needing three outs for the win, the Panthers put their runner on second to start the inning, but Oppenhuis picked up outs on batter’s interference, a fly out and a strike out to give IUPUI the one-run win.

Oppenhuis went all 10.0 innings giving up five hits and two earned runs, while striking out six.

Offensively, Seering picked up two hits and drove in a pair of runs, while Checkie, Eryn Dillon, Cory and Rupert also recorded hits with Checkie driving in the game winner.

Game 2 – IUPUI 1, Eastern Illinois 0

The stellar pitching continued for IUPUI as Nikki Thomas yielded just five hits through five innings giving the Jags a chance to strike.

In the fourth, the Jags took advantage of an opportunity when Leah Prewitt drilled a two-out solo home run down the left field line placing the Jaguars in front by a run.

The Jags carried that one-run lead into the seventh, and in the seventh, Thomas set down the Panthers in order to earn the complete-game victory.

Thomas finished the game with five strikeouts and gave up six hits without relinquishing a walk.
Seering led IUPUI offensively with another multi-hit game going 2-for-3.

The Jaguars host the final home games of the season this weekend when it welcomes Summit League and in-state rival IPFW to the IUPUI Softball Complex. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 28, before concluding the series on Sunday, April 29.