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MACON, Ga. – On Saturday, Feb. 9, the IUPUI softball team continued play at the Mercer Invitational and picked up two more wins after defeating Mercer, 10-4, in eight innings, and Alabama State 16-1.

"Yesterday we fought hard. Today we fought hard and got the calls," head coach Amanda Rivera said.  "If we come in tomorrow and play our game, we'll do fine.  How we're hitting the ball is unbelievable.  They're attacking every pitch."
 
Jessica Lam increased her homerun streak to four in four games, and Jazmine Pedrotti hit her first career homerun for a grand slam.  
 

IUPUI 10, Mercer 4

In the opening game against Mercer, IUPUI redeemed itself from yesterday's loss with a 10-4 victory, moving the Jags to 2-1 on the season.   
 
The Jaguars got on the board first in the top of the third when Kelsey Rupert reached base on an error. Ali Mosier laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt, advancing Rupert to second who later advanced to third on a wild pitch. Lam, the star of the Jags offense in yesterday's double-header, continued her streak with a two-out, two-run homerun over the centerfield fence before Mercer retired the final out of the inning. That brings Lamb's homerun count to three in just three games.

Mercer answered the Jags with two runs in the bottom of the third. After Natalie Shiver flew out to left field, Rachel Hugghins and Randi Rea started the inning off with a pair of singles. McKenzie Woody then laid down a surprise bunt and all runners advanced safely. Kaytlin Haney continued Mercer's hot streak with a two-run single down the right field line, prompting Rivera to pull IUPUI starter Emili Escamilla for Nicole Natter. Natter forced batter Sarah Santana to pop out to shortstop Morgan Schlobohm, who was able to double up Haney to end the inning.
 
IUPUI had a chance to take the lead in the fourth after an Alicia Brewer double and a Lindsey Richards single, but was unable to push the runs across after a strikeout, pop out and line out.

The Jags and Bears remained tied through the fifth. IUPUI took a one-run, 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth off an Angela Bartucci single. 
 
Nikki Thomas replaced Natter in the circle and recorded a strikeout for the first out of the sixth inning before giving up a walk to Santana. Mercer took advantage of the free base on a two-run, homerun from Molly Garmany. Once again the Bears answered the Jags' scoring with two more runs, changing the lead in its favor, 4-3.
 
With its last chance to even out the score,  IUPUI headed to the seventh. With two outs and Lam on second, Brewer hit an RBI single to tie the game at 4-4. Senior Jocelyn Oppenhuis came in for relief and struck out Shiver for the first out. Oppenhuis gave up a double down the left field line to Hugghins before tallying two more strikeouts to force extra innings. 

IUPUI batted through its lineup in the eighth, scoring six runs to give it a comfortable 10-4 lead. Pedrotti, Bartucci, Mosier and Lam all singled while Richards hit her first double of season and tallied her fourth hit on the day. The Jags were able to capitalize on two Bears' errors. 
 
Oppenhuis retired the side to bring home the win for IUPUI. 
 
 
IUPUI 15, Alabama State 1

The Jaguars carried its offensive attack from the previous game against Alabama State and took advantage of four Hornets' errors to close out the game in just five innings. 
 
Rupert led off the first inning for IUPUI with a single to third base. Rupert advanced to second after Mosier reached first on an error by Alabama State third baseman Ross. Alabama State pitcher Patt walked Lam, loading up the bases, and walked Brewer to bring in the Jags' first run.
 
The Jags picked up another run in the third to go ahead 2-0 on a Brewer triple down the right field line.  Richards hit a double to the right center gap to bring in the run. 
 
The Jaguars scattered five hits in the fourth, adding five more runs to its repertoire. Lam hit her fourth homerun in four games - bringing in Mosier – to pick up her tenth RBI of the season. Richards also homered, bringing the score to 7-1.
 
IUPUI had an even bigger fifth inning when Schlobohm singled and advanced to second on an error. Rupert grounded out to second base, moving Schlobohm into scoring position. Mosier picked up the RBI when she reached base on another error by the right fielder. Destyni Valencia walked the next two batters to load the bases for Brewer before Melissa Christmann replaced her in the circle. Brewer and Richards both singled to bring in two more runs and left the bases loaded for Bartucci. Christmann walked Bartucci, bringing the Jags eleventh run of the game in and left the bases loading once again. Pedrotti capped the Jags' scoring when she picked up her first career homerun, knocking a grand slam over the left field fence.
 
Vodde pitched three complete innings for the Jags before being replaced bv Thomas. Vodde allowed three hits, including two doubles in the third to allow Alabama State's only run of the game. 
 
Thomas struggled in the fourth, walking the leadoff batter and hitting another Hornet. However, she picked up two strikeouts and forced a fly out to get the Jags out of the inning unhurt. In the fifth, Thomas allowed one hit and no runs to secure the game. 
 
Brehanna Rodrigues and Tamara Williams both collected singles for Alabama State, and Meagan Dixon singled, doubled and earned the Hornets lone RBI.  

The Jaguars are back in action on Sunday, Feb. 10, concluding its weekend at the Mercer Invitational. IUPUI takes on Mercer at 12 p.m.