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OMAHA, Neb. – After having some success in conference doubleheaders the first two weeks of Summit League play, the IUPUI softball team suffered a pair of losses to North Dakota State Friday evening at the Creighton Softball Complex in Omaha, Neb.

The loss dropped IUPUI’s overall record to 11-14 and its Summit League mark to 3-5.

North Dakota State 8, IUPUI 0 (Game 1)
In the opener against the Bison, the Jags had an opportunity to jump in front in the first. With one out, Ali Mosier walked before managing to end up on third following a stolen base and a passed ball. Unfortunately, a strike out and a ground out left Mosier on third and ended the threat.

The Bison took advantage in their half of the first scoring three runs on a pair of homers to go in front, 3-0.

Following a 1-2-3 IUPUI second inning, two more North Dakota State solo shots pushed its lead to 5-0, prompting head coach Amanda Rivera to make her second pitching change in as many innings.

Both teams went scoreless in the third before NDSU went on to score three more runs on four hits in the fourth to pad its lead to 8-0.

Looking to avoid the five-inning, run-rule loss, the Jags put two runners on with two outs in the fifth, but the Jags ninth strikeout of the game finished off an eight-run win for the Bison.

North Dakota State 3, IUPUI 2 (Game 2)
Game 2 got off to a much better start for IUPUI as it quickly put two runners on via a lead-off walk and a bunt single. Following a pop out, Alicia Brewer delivered a double to right-center field to bring home Kelsey Rupert, while leaving two runners in scoring position. Despite having a pair of strike outs strand the runners, the Jags still took a one-run lead into the bottom of the first.

Similar to the first game, however, the Bison were able to score multiple runs in their half of the first thanks to a RBI fielder’s choice and a RBI walk to take a 2-1 lead.

The Jaguars left five runners on base in the next two innings before Rupert smashed a solo home run to left-center field in the fourth the knot the score at 2-2.

But again, just as the Jags pulled even, NDSU responded with a run of its own. This time, in the bottom of the fourth, a RBI single by the Bison re-established a one-run lead, 3-2.

Unfortunately, in the final three innings, the Jaguars failed to score as it put just one runner on base and ultimately fell by that 3-2 score.

Mosier finished the game with a team-leading two hits, while Rupert and Brewer each drove home a run.

IUPUI and NDSU close out their three-game set on Saturday, March 30, at 3:15 p.m. ET.