Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – After failing to score in the opener of its doubleheader Tuesday at Indiana State, the IUPUI softball team exploded for 17 runs in Game 2 to earn a split with the Sycamores.

The split pushed IUPUI’s record to 15-19, while Indiana State moved to 14-24.

“The thing we can take away from today is that when we turn the switch on, we have the potential to be a very dangerous team,” head coach Amanda Rivera said. “With that said, we can’t just continue to wait to turn that switch on – we need to come out with that intensity and maintain it over a longer period of time.”

Game 1 – Indiana State 7, IUPUI 0
Both starting pitchers got off to strong starts keeping the opposition off balance for two innings, but the Sycamores were the first to strike in the third.

Two singles and a stolen base to start the inning put runners on second and third with nobody out, and a two-RBI double to center field ensued scoring both runs and placing ISU in front, 2-0. Following the double, Cassie Vodde entered for starting pitcher Nikki Thomas, but Indiana State managed to score two more runs off Vodde to up its lead to 4-0.

The Jags had their best opportunity to score in the sixth by putting runners on first and second thanks to singles from Ali Mosier and Emili Escamilla, but a strike out and two fly outs ended the threat.

Meanwhile, the Sycamores tacked on two runs in the fifth on a two-run homer and another in the sixth on a RBI-infield single to extend their lead to 7-0 through six innings.

In the seventh, ISU set down the Jags to preserve the 7-0 victory.

Game 2- IUPUI 17, Indiana State 6
After recording just four hits in the opening game, IUPUI came out in Game 2 with a much more aggressive mentality in the batter’s box beginning with three base knocks in the opening half inning.

With two outs in the first, Lindsey Richards singled to right field to start a two-out rally, before being brought home on a two-out, two-run home run from Eryn Dillon that gave the Jags an early cushion.

Indiana State got a run back in the bottom of the second via a lead-off homer, but the Jags responded in the top of the third. Back-to-back singles from Mosier and Alyssa Neff placed runners on the corners with nobody out, and following a fly out, Neff stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position with just one out. The heart of the order came through for the Jaguars again as Dillon delivered another two-RBI base hit, this time a double to center field, that upped the lead to 4-1. Dillon then scored on an error following an Alicia Brewer ground out to widen the lead to 5-1.

The Sycamores rallied to tie the score at five with a pair of runs in their half of the third and fourth innings, but IUPUI remained resilient and took advantage of an Indiana State error in the fifth to push a run across the plate and recapture a 6-5 advantage.

After getting out of the fifth without giving up a run, IUPUI brought 16 batters to the plate in the sixth and scored 11 runs on six hits and one ISU error to open a double-digit lead, 17-5.

During the frame, Richards, Dillon, Brewer, Angela Bartucci, Morgan Schlobohm and Mosier contributed RBIs, while Neff picked up RBIs in a pair of plate appearances.

Despite giving up a run in the bottom of the sixth, the Jags were able to finish off the run-rule victory in the sixth inning by a 17-6 margin.

Dillon led the Jags with a career-high five RBI while going 3-for-4 at the dish, and Neff added a career-best four hits and drove in a pair of runs.

Nicole Natter earned the win in relief going 4.0 innings and giving up five hits and two earned runs, while striking out two batters.

IUPUI returns to action on Saturday, April 13, when it travels to Omaha, Neb., for a three-game series against Summit League newcomer Omaha. The Jags and Mavericks are set to begin their three-game series at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.