Box Score
INDIANAPOLIS – Playing in front of friends, family and the home crowd for the last time in an IUPUI uniform, seniors
Leah Prewitt and
Samantha Bumbaugh couldn’t have written a better script on how their final home game would go as they led the IUPUI softball team to a 3-2 win in extra innings over in-state rival IPFW Sunday afternoon at the IUPUI Softball Complex.
Bumbaugh got the start and went all 8.0 innings en route to her first win of the season, while Prewitt picked up a crucial two-out, two-run double in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
“Today was great for me because I haven’t had that many chances to start this season, so it was really great to get out there and start and have a great game,” Bumbaugh said. “I just tried to not let my nerves get the best of me and I just kind of settled in like the old days and throw my game.”
However, things looked grim for IUPUI as IPFW starter Miranda Kramer set down the first 18 batters she faced and held a perfect game heading into the seventh.
Bumbaugh did her best to keep IUPUI in the game giving up just one run on three hits through six innings, but with the Jags failing to record a hit and IPFW tacking on an insurance run in the top of the seventh, it appeared Bumbaugh’s fine effort would result in a loss.
With Kramer needing three outs for a perfect game, she forced
Nicole Checkie to pop up the first pitch of IUPUI’s half of the seventh, inching an out closer to the perfect game. Unfortunately for Kramer,
Kelsey Rupert fouled off multiple pitches during the next at bat before hitting a soft liner that got through the left side for a single to break up the perfect game bid.
Ashley Seering followed Rupert’s hit with a walk, and both Seering and Rupert moved into scoring position when
Eryn Dillon was eliminated on a ground out, bringing Prewitt to the plate for the final time.
Prewitt, an Indianapolis native, found herself in a hitter’s count watching the first three pitches go for balls, but Kramer came back and picked up two swinging strikes to make the count full.
“I had a 3-0 count, so I thought the next pitch was going to be right down the middle and I just wanted to get a hit – I didn’t want to get walked,” Prewitt said. “When it got to a 3-2 count, I just calmed down and relaxed and the next pitch was a pretty good pitch.”
Prewitt drilled the pitch to left field and off the bat it appeared the ball was going to carry over the fence. However, with the ball in the air, IPFW left fielder Larissa Franklin looked to have a play on the ball.
Franklin reached over the fence and appeared to catch the ball, but as she hit the fence, the ball came loose allowing both Rupert and Seering to cross home plate evening the score at 2-2, while Prewitt ended up at second base.
“When it hit it, I thought [the ball] was gone and then I saw [the left fielder under the ball] and said ‘Oh my gosh - she’s about to catch this’. Luckily the ball came out,” Prewitt added.
Lauren Cooper came in to replace Prewitt on second becoming the winning run, but a foul out ended the threat and sent the game into extra innings.
Bumbaugh came back in the eighth to retire the side in order, giving her teammates a chance to rally again.
Lindsey Richards led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk, but she was eliminated and replaced at first by
Emili Escamilla on a fielder’s choice. Escamilla moved into scoring position by stealing second, but a pop out kept her there and brought Checkie to the plate with two outs.
Checkie came through in the clutch delivering a RBI single down the left line that scored Escamilla and gave the Jags the 3-2 walk-off victory.
While only giving up five hits, Bumbaugh managed to strike out a pair as she picked up the win helping the Jags avoid the three-game sweep.
IUPUI has nearly a week off before ending its season next weekend in Brookings, S.D., against South Dakota State. The Jags and Jackrabbits will play a doubleheader on Friday, May 4, beginning at 3 p.m. ET, before ending their season on Saturday, May 5, at 3 p.m. ET.
