Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

KENNESAW, Ga. - On Saturday, Feb. 16, the IUPUI softball team dropped its first two games at the Kennesaw State Classic after falling to Ball State, 15-5 and tournament host Kennesaw State 1-0. The Jags' record drops to 3-4.

Kennesaw State 15, IUPUI 5

IUPUI dropped the first game of its Saturday double-header to Ball State 15-5 at the Kennesaw State Classic in Kennesaw, Ga. 

Ball State's offense proved too much for the Jags, collecting 15 runs on 13 hits on four different Jags' pitchers. 

Ball State struck first, scoring two runs in the first inning. Briana Evans led off the inning with a walk, followed by two consecutive singles to the right side by Hanne Stuedemann and Jennifer Gilbert. Stuedemann tagged up on an Audrey Bickel fly ball to right-field to score the second run of the inning. 

Ball State would tack on 13 more runs, scoring in all but two innings. 

Down 9-0, IUPUI's offense was able to jump on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Morgan Schlobohm led off the inning with a single up the middle off of Ball State pitcher Kelsey Schifferdeck. After a lineout from Jessica Lam, Lindsey Richards and Alicia Brewer followed with consecutive singles to centerfield to give the Jags bases loaded with one out. Angela Bartucci and Eryn Dillon added two singles to left field to cut the deficit to 9-2, and Ali Mosier doubled to left center to bring in the Jags final three runs of the game. 

Audra Sanders came in to pitch the remainder of the game for the Cardinals. Sanders struck out six, walked two and allowed only one hit in her 3.1 innings of work. 

Nikki Thomas did the majority of the work for the Jags in the circle. She notched six strikeouts, allowed five hits, six runs (four earned) and three walks in her 4.2 innings. 

Kennesaw State 1, IUPUI 0

The Jags fell in a tough pitching duel against tournament host Kennesaw State Saturday afternoon. Errors ended up costing the Jags in the 1-0 loss. 

IUPUI had only five runners on base for the game as Kennesaw State pitcher Amanda Henderson gained the win in the circle. Henderson struck out 10, walked two and allowed only three hits. 

The Jags best chance to break the 0-0 game came in the third inning when Henderson walked Ali Mosier. Mosier stole second and advanced to third on a groundout by Kelsey Rupert but was unable to score. 

IUPUI pitcher Jocelyn Oppenhuis kept the Jags in the game. Oppenhuis struck out seven, walked three and allowed only five hits. 

Kennesaw State scored the only run it would need in the bottom of the seventh after three IUPUI errors. Kara Chambers reached base on an error and advanced to second base after Sara Sikes put down a sacrifice bunt. However, Sikes was safe too on another Jags' error. Carly Van Auken laid down another sacrifice bunt, and loaded the bases up on an IUPUI throwing error. Sharon Swanson singled up the middle to end the game. 

Rupert, Morgan Schlobohm and Eryn Dillon all singled for the Jags. 

IUPUI will take the field tomorrow against Alabama-Birmingham at 10:30 a.m. and Liberty at 1 p.m. to conclude the weekend.