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INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time this season the IUPUI softball team had an opportunity to play in front of its home fans, but the results didn't go as expected as Western Illinois took both games of Saturday's home and Summit League opening doubleheader, 9-1 and 5-3.

The losses dropped IUPUI to 8-12 overall and 0-2 in the conference, while the Leathernecks improved to 15-9 and 2-0 in the league.

In the opener, IUPUI fell behind quickly as Western Illinois scored one run in the first before the Jags could even take their first at-bat.

IUPUI threatened in its half of the first following a Mosier one-out double, but a strike out and a ground out ensued to end the threat. The Leathernecks took advantage of IUPUI's failed opportunity in the second when it added to its lead scoring two runs to move its advantage to 3-0.

The Jags got on the board in the second when Angela Bartucci led off the frame with her first home run of the season, an opposite field solo shot, trimming the deficit to 3-1.

Unfortunately, it went downhill from there for IUPUI when the Leathernecks scored six runs in the top of the fifth to open a 9-1 lead. Needing a run to continue the game, the Jags were retired in order in the bottom of the fifth giving Western Illinois a 9-1, 5-inning win in Game 1.

The second game got off to a similar start with the Leathernecks manufacturing a run thanks to the legs of Sammy Marshall. Following a lead-off double, Marshall stole third before scoring on a wild pitch to give WIU the early cushion.

In the bottom of the second, IUPUI evened the score when Taylor Chitwood blasted a solo shot to center field, the first of her career.

Both teams managed to put a run across in the third and after a scoreless fourth, IUPUI took its first lead of the day in the fifth. Ali Mosier doubled with one out to move into scoring position. Mosier moved up a base on a single from Sarah Lawrence, and then she stole second to put two runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Bartucci during the next at-bat put the Jags in front, 3-2.

However, Western Illinois came back with three runs in the sixth to quickly take back an advantage, 5-3.

The Jaguars put two in scoring position in the sixth but failed to score, and after a scoreless Leathernecks seventh, IUPUI was retired in order in the seventh giving WIU the come-from-behind win.

IUPUI returns to action on Sunday, March 23, when it closes out its three-game set against the Leathernecks at noon.