INDIANAPOLIS—After a six-game homestand, the IUPUI softball team is back on the road March 29-30 to face Summit League opponent North Dakota State.

The three-game series has been moved from NDSU’s field due to weather constraints and will be played at Creighton University.

The Jags (11-12, 3-3 Summit) will play a doubleheader against NDSU (13-13) on Friday, March 29, beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET. The second game will follow immediately after at 8:30 p.m. ET. The three-game series will conclude on Saturday, March 30, at 3:15 p.m. ET.

IUPUI enters the weekend second in Summit League rankings, coming off a series loss to South Dakota. The Jags picked up a win in the second game of the weekend from a stellar performance from Jocelyn Oppenhuis, 5-4, but dropped the other two games 4-0 and 2-0.

The Jags are hitting .276 as a team led by sophomore Eryn Dillon at .367. Dillon also leads in on-base-percentage at .465. Following behind Dillon is Kelsey Rupert hitting at .301. Rupert also held the distinction of owning the Jags’ only hit in its 4-0 loss to South Dakota on March 22.

After picking up the win against South Dakota, Oppenhuis moved back atop the Jags’ pitching staff. Her 3.53 ERA is a staff low, and she struck out a career high 10 batters in her 3.1 innings of work in the USD 5-4 win.

The Bison open Summit League play against the Jags after having its series against Omaha cancelled and Kansas City postponed due to inclement weather.

Leading the NDSU offense is junior Jenina Ortega. Ortega is hitting .350 on the season with two doubles, a triple and a home run. Her 12 RBIs rank third in NDSU’s lineup, preceded by Cheyenne Garcia (16) and Alyssa Reina (15).

Heading the NDSU pitching staff is senior Whitney Johnson. Last week Johnson was named Summit League Pitcher of the Week – her third time receiving the distinction – after picking up a win against No. 20/25 Nebraska. Johnson also picked up a win earlier in the season against another Top-25 opponent, Georgia. 

In her 18 appearances, Johnson is 9-6, including one save, with a 1.66 ERA. She has allowed opposing teams to hit only.166 off of her. Johnson also leads the team’s pitching staff in strikeouts with 110.

Last time IUPUI and NDSU met the Bison was in the 2011-12 season in Indianapolis.  NDSU swept the series (6-0, 11-0 and 4-3). Live stats will be able for all three games on the NDSU website.