Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

INDIANAPOLIS – After picking up just one hit in a 4-0 loss in the opener of its three-game Summit League series against South Dakota, the IUPUI softball team held on for a 5-4 victory in the second game of its doubleheader Saturday to earn a split and keep the Jags above .500 in conference play.

The split kept the Jags overall record at 11-11, while moving its Summit League record to 3-2. The win in the second game by IUPUI dropped USD to 20-11 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

Game 1 – South Dakota 4, IUPUI 0
The Coyotes jumped out to an early one-run lead in the first using a pair of two-out hits to bring a run across. Following a strike out and a ground out, Yvon Minogue doubled over the head of the left fielder and scored during the next at-bat on a single from Allie Daly to give South Dakota the early advantage.

In the bottom of the first, IUPUI put a runner on immediately with Kelsey Rupert picking up a lead-off single through the left side, but that would be IUPUI’s only hit of the contest. Rupert moved over the second following her single on a sacrifice bunt, but a pop out and a strike out ended the threat.

South Dakota tacked on another run in the third on a Minogue homer, before scoring another pair in the fourth thanks to a pair of RBI doubles that upped the Coyotes lead to 4-0.

Despite only picking up one hit for the game, the Jags drew six walks in the contest and had their best opportunity to score in the fifth with runners on the corners and two outs, but another strike out ended the inning without any damage.

The Jags managed to hold USD without a run in the final three innings, but after the fifth, the Jags could not make a rally and fell 4-0.

Game 2 – IUPUI 5, South Dakota 4
Contrary to the start of Game 1, the Jags took the early lead in Game 2 – however, they did it by picking up just one hit.

Following a pair of spectacular diving catches from the Jags in the top of the first, they came to the plate in the bottom of the frame and put runners on first and second with one out thanks to an Ali Mosier walk and an Alicia Brewer single. A fielder’s choice during the next at-bat put runners on the corners with two outs, but the inning continued on a Jessica Lam walk that loaded the bases. Three more walks ensued to score three runs and place the Jags in front, 3-0.

A scoreless second inning ensued before IUPUI could tack on another run in the third. Dillon started the inning by reaching base on an error from the center fielder, which placed her on second. Dillon quickly moved over to third on a wild pitch before crossing home plate on a single from Jazmine Pedrotti. With runners on the corners and nobody out, IUPUI looked to add to its lead, but a pair of strikeouts and a ground out kept the lead at 4-0.

The Coyotes made a push in the fourth scoring three runs on a pair of home runs to cut their deficit to 4-3, but the Jags came back and added an insurance run in the fifth on a Lindsey Richards solo home run to left field that upped the lead back to two runs, 5-3.

Richards home run in the fifth proved to be important because in the seventh, South Dakota made one final rally scoring one run on a wild pitch before putting the tying run on third with one out and its top two hitters coming to the plate. With the heart of the order coming up, Jocelyn Oppenhuis dug in and proceeded to strike out both Minogue and Daly to end the game and finish off the 5-4 victory.

Oppenhuis gave up just two hits and one run in 3.1 innings of work, while striking out a career-high 10 batters.

Dillon led IUPUI with two hits, while Pedrotti and Richards each drove in a pair of runs.

The Coyotes and Jags will finish their three-game set on Saturday, March 23, at Noon ET.