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KENNESAW, Ga. - Roni Patterson hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to lift IUPUI to a 7-6 win over Southern Illinois to start the day, but No. 5 Kentucky overcame an early scare to hand the Jaguars their first loss of the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament, 9-4.

The split moved the Jags record to 4-3 on the season, and IUPUI finished the tournament with a 2-1 record. 

In the opener, IUPUI overcame a 3-0 deficit early in the game to take a 5-4 lead entering the sixth inning, but a two-run home run for Southern Illinois in the top of the frame catapulted it in front, 6-5. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Sarah Lawrence reached base on an error from the Saluki first baseman and Patterson made them pay blasting a deep two-run shot to place the Jaguars back in front, 7-6. Brooke Boetjer then forced three ground outs to secure the one-run win.

Patterson finished 4-for-4 on the day, but she wasn't the only Jaguar to hit a home run as Ali Mosier hit a solo shot in the fourth to give her back-to-back games with home runs.

Southern Illinois scored two runs in the first inning and one in the second to take a 3-0 lead, but IUPUI put a three-spot on the board in the second to even things at three. Ashley Ousley started the inning with a single and scored during the next at-bat on a Maggie Good double. A single from Megan Cory and a walk to Mosier loaded the bases with one out, and Lawrence got another run across on a fielder's choice bringing Patterson to the dish with two outs and runners on the corners. Patterson then slapped a single to score Cory to cap the three-run second inning.

Both teams scored in a run each in the fourth, with IUPUI's run coming on Mosier's home run, and Patterson's first home run of the day to lead off the fifth gave the Jags their first lead at 5-4.

It looked as if the Salukis had seized the momentum scoring two in the sixth, but Patterson's two-run shot was the dagger sending IUPUI to its third straight win.

In Game 2 against the Wildcats, it was Kentucky that took the early lead jumping in front with a run in the second, but IUPUI put a scare into the nationally-ranked Wildcats scoring four runs in the third to take a 4-1 lead. In the inning, Lawrence brought home the first run on a RBI single to left field to tie things up, and then two batters later Eryn Dillon hit a three-run homer to put IUPUI in front, 4-1.

The Wildcats would score two unearned runs in the third before scoring six more runs in the next three innings to finish off the Jags, 9-4.

Up next for the Jaguars is a trip to Bowling Green, Ky., Feb. 20-22, and IUPUI will square off against Eastern Illinois twice, Ohio, Saint Louis and Western Kentucky.