INDIANAPOLIS – In cold and breezy conditions at the IUPUI Softball Complex on Tuesday, the IUPUI softball team struggled offensively in Game 1 of a doubleheader against UIC before having its bats heat up in Game 2 to salvage a doubleheader split with the Flames.
 
Brooke Boetjer got the start in Game 1 and went 4.0 innings giving up three runs - two of which were earned - but IUPUI's offense managed just two hits in the 3-2 loss. In the first inning of Game 2, the Jags doubled their hit total resulting in three runs, and finished the game with nine hits en route to a 6-4 win.
 
The split kept the Jags nine games above .500 at 17-8, while UIC moved its record to 10-13.
 
In Game 1, UIC scored once in the first and two runs in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead, before IUPUI got its first run on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Roni Patterson reached base on an error with one out, and another error during her stolen base attempt a few pitches later moved her to third base. Two batters later, another error allowed Patterson to score cutting the Jaguars deficit to 3-1.
 
An inning later, a single and two walks loaded the bases for IUPUI with one out. After a fly out, Patterson drew a two-out RBI walk to inch the Jags within a run. Unfortunately, a strike out ended the threat keeping the Jags behind, 3-2.
 
That opportunity in the fifth was IUPUI's last true scoring opportunity as it had just one base runner in the final two innings and UIC finished off the one-run win.
 
Just as they did in Game 1, the Flames took the early lead in Game 2 scoring a run in the first, but the Jags immediately struck back.
 
After posting two hits in the opener, four straight hits with one out in the first gave IUPUI its first lead of the day, 3-1.
 
UIC closed within a run scoring once in the third, before the Jags put another three-spot on the board in the fifth to open a 6-2 lead. Three straight walks to start the inning loaded the bases, but back-to-back strikeouts put the Jags an out away from missing out on an opportunity to expand their lead. Ashley Ousley came through with a RBI single during the next at-bat, and then Sarah Lawrence drew a bases loaded walk to score another run. The final run came on a RBI single from Morgan Schlobohm.
 
Those last two runs proved to be important as UIC scored twice in the seventh, but Emili Escamilla was able to force a fly out to finish off another complete-game performance.
 
The Jaguars return to action on Wednesday, March 25, when it takes on local rival Butler at the IUPUI Softball Complex. Firs pitch is set for 4 p.m.