Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time in program history, the IUPUI softball team claimed a win over Purdue winning the opener of its Wednesday doubleheader against the Boilermakers, but Purdue bounced back with a win in Game 2 to earn a split at the IUPUI Softball Complex.

The Jaguars (12-17, 3-6 Summit) won the first game of the day, 3-2, before dropping the second game to the Boilermakers (14-20), 18-2, in five innings.

The 3-2 win over Purdue marked the first time in 20 tries that the Jaguars have downed the Boilermakers.

"I was glad to see our hitters aggressive today, and in the opener, we did all the little things we needed to do to get the win," head coach Amanda Rivera said. "In the second game, they were the aggressors, and we need to learn to play like we did in the opener for the duration of two games."

IUPUI 3, Purdue 2

After two scoreless innings from both IUPUI and Purdue, the Jaguars jumped on the board in the bottom of the third inning to score the only three runs it would need to pull out the win.

With two outs, Ali Mosier started the rally with a single to left field. Alicia Brewer continued the offensive attack with a double to left-center field, advancing Mosier to third base. Eryn Dillon, the Jags lone hitter batting over .300, launched a double to left-center field to bring in both Mosier and Brewer and get the Jags on the board. Jazmine Pedrotti closed out the Jags offense with a single up the middle to score Dillon and provide the winning run.

But the Boilermakers wouldn’t give up without a fight. IUPUI’s starting pitcher Nicole Natter tossed three scoreless innings before allowing Ashley Burkhardt to single up the middle. Burkhardt stole second and was later brought in on a Danielle Fletcher homerun over the right-center field fence that was almost kept in play from an inward blowing wind gust to make it 3-2.

The Jags threatened to score again in the bottom of the fifth inning after three consecutive one-out singles from Angela Bartucci, Emili Escamilla and #Kelsey Rupert, but they were unable to push the runs across.

With only three outs standing between a win for IUPUI, the Jags took the field in the bottom of the seventh. Jocelyn Oppenhuis allowed a lead-off single up the middle from Tori Chiodo. Chiodo advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Ashley Courtney, which was followed by a walk for pinch-hitter Kristin Morgan to make it runners on first and second. Andie Varsho approached the box, already 2-for-3 on the day, and poked a single through the right side. Chiodo rounded third base as Purdue head coach waved around the tying run. Right fielder Lindsey Richards came up throwing and tossed an almost perfect throw to Dillon to catch Chiodo at home plate to force the second out of the inning. With the tying run still on third and two out, Oppenhuis forced a pop out to Pedrotti to secure IUPUI's first win over Purdue.

Oppenhuis scattered only four hits and three walks in her four innings and struck out three to claim the win.

Pedrotti was 2-for-3 on the game while six different Jags scattered singles.

Purdue 18, IUPUI 2

In Game 2, the Boilermakers came out of the gates as the aggressors and never looked back. Purdue quickly jumped in front before IUPUI even had a chance to step in the batter’s box scoring eight runs on seven hits and two Jags errors to take the 8-0 lead.

Following two scoreless half innings, the Jags trimmed their deficit in the second and they did all their damage with two outs. Following a strike out and a fly out, Bartucci walked to start the rally, and moved on to second on a bunt single from Escamilla. Kelsey Rupert followed with a ground ball to the second baseman that looked like it would get Purdue out of the inning, but an errant throw trying to get the runner at second allowed Bartucci to score the Jags first run of the game while keeping a pair of runners on. The rally continued on a Mosier double to left field that scored Escamilla and moved Rupert to third, but a strike out ensued sending the game to the third with the Boilermakers leading, 8-2.

Unfortunately for the Jaguars, the Purdue offense continued to click and it scored 10 more runs in the next two frames – six in the third and four in the fourth – to expand its lead to double figures, 18-2.

The Jags didn’t have an answer offensively as they came away with just one hit down the stretch and Purdue came away with the 18-2 five-inning victory.

The Jags return to Summit League action this weekend when they host Oakland in a three-game set. Friday’s action will feature a doubleheader with the first game beginning at 3 p.m. The second game od the doubleheader is set for approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday’s series finale will start at Noon.

This weekend will also be Alumni Weekend for the softball program and following Saturday’s game, there will be a gathering for the alumni at the field.