Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 I Photo Gallery

NASHVILLE - IUPUI won its first game of the Tennessee State Tiger Invitational on Feb. 23 against Butler, 1-0, after Jessica Lam hit a two-out, solo homerun in the bottom of the seventh.

In the second game, the Jags jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning before falling 9-5 to Bradley.  The loss brings IUPUI to 4-7 overall.

IUPUI 1, Butler, 0

It was a pitcher's duel Saturday morning as IUPUI pitcher Nikki Thomas and Butler pitcher Leah Bry battled to secure the win for their team. Thomas allowed only one hit, two walks and struck out seven in her seven innings, picking up the win to move her to 1-1 on the season.

Thomas had a no-hitter going, but it ended in the fifth when Butler threatened to score. Maria Leichty reached base on a dropped third strike, and Devin Brierly came in to pinch run. Kristen Boros followed with a one-out single to left center. Left fielder Angela Bartucci laid out to make the catch, but the ball went off the end of her glove. Lam was there to back up the play and threw a perfect one-hop throw to Jazmine Pedrotti to catch Brierly at third base. Thomas recorded her fifth strike out of the game in Audrey East to end the inning.

Bry was solid in her 6.2 innings of work, allowing only one hit, one walk, one hit batter and collected eight strike outs. She had a perfect game until the fourth when Ali Mosier walked. Mosier also notched a stolen base, bringing her to 2-2 on the season in that category.

Lam tallied the only hit on the game for the Jags to end Butler pitcher Bry's no-hitter. With two-outs in the seventh, it seemed the game was fated for extra innings, but Lam was not going down without a fight. After fouling off 13 pitches, Lam caught her pitch, sending a line shot over the left-center field fence for her fifth homerun of the season.

"I knew she was going to get a hold of one," head coach Amanda Rivera said. "She was just locked in. When she's locked in like that, there's nothing stopping her.

"I want to keep building from this last game," Rivera said. "Nikki did an unbelievable job on the mound. Defense really played well. If we keep getting better every game, it's going to be fun to watch."


Bradley 9, IUPUI 5

While the Jags were able to generate a successful offensive attack, the Braves scattered 11 hits, including a three-run homerun from Marina Groenewegen and another three-run homerun from Alyson Clemente Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field.

Alicia Brewer headed the Jaguar offense going 2-for-4 with a triple, one run scored and two RBIs. Kelsey Rupert was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and added two runs, while Jessica Lam went 2-for-3 with an RBI. 

Eight of 10 different Jags recorded at least one hit.

The Jags struck first, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Rupert led off the inning with a double and advanced to second after Ali Mosier laid down a sacrifice bunt. Mosier reached base on an error, and Rupert moved all the way home. With two outs, Lam singled up the middle, moving Mosier to second. Angela Bartucci singled to right field, bringing in Mosier for the Jags second run of the inning. 

Jocelyn Oppenhuis completed two quick innings before allowing a run in the third. She was replaced by Cassie Vodde after recording one out, walking Alex Chandler and giving up a double to Kendall Duffy. Duffy was thrown out at second on the relay in to second base by Morgan Schlobohm, but Chandler scored on the play. 

Bradley had an explosive fifth inning, scoring five runs and inducing two more pitching changes from IUPUI. Emili Escamilla replaced Vodde, and was later replaced by Nicole Natter after facing only four batters. Escamilla recorded no outs, allowed two hits, a walk and a run. Natter ended the fifth, but allowed two more runs, including a homerun from Clemente in the sixth, before Oppenhuis returned to the circle to finish the duration of the game.        

The Jags added one run in the fifth and two in the sixth to conclude its offense. Brewer led off the fifth with a  triple to right field and Lam singled to bring her in. In the sixth, Rupert drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a Mosier double to right centerfield. Brewer added another single, scoring both Mosier and Rupert. 

Vodde took the loss, bringing her to 1-1 on the season.

The TSU Invitational concludes tomorrow as IUPUI takes on Morgan State at 12:30 ET and tournament host Tennessee State at 4:30 ET.