AMES, Iowa - IUPUI softball fell to Eastern Illinois 6-0 in the first game of the Cyclone Invitational. The Jags only managed three hits on the afternoon thanks to a strong outing from Eastern's Jessica Wireman.
The Panthers (1-0) got the scoring on the board in the second inning. Kylie Bennett opened up the frame with a triple to right center field and two infield singles loaded the bases. An illegal pitch by
Brooke Boetjer brought in the first run and two batters later Mady Poulter had a triple of her own bringing in two runs to increase the lead to 3-0.
That was all Wireman would need as she was dominate in the circle. Wireman held IUPUI (0-2) hitless until Maggie Armstrong roped a double to right center to begin the fifth inning. Maddy Griffin pinch ran for Armstrong and moved to third on a wild pitch but two strikeouts ended the threat for the Jags.
Eastern added to the lead in the fifth inning after Bennett hit a two run triple and Katie Watson brought Bennett home on the next at bat.
The Jags only other threat came in the sixth inning after singles by
Ali Mosier and
Morgan Schlobohm but a strikeout and groundout left the runners stranded.
In the nightcap against Iowa State, Cyclones jumped out to an early lead on a Aly Cappaert single up the middle. Two batters later, Kelsey McFarland knocked home Cappaert with a single of her own to give Iowa State a 2-0 lead after the first.
Iowa State (1-0) added another run in the second off of a Brittany Gomez single and blew the game open in the next inning. After a hit batter, McFarland came through again driving home Katie Dukes. Later in the inning, a wild pitch and passed ball allowed two more runs to score for the Cyclones. After a groundout, a sacrifice fly by Cathlin Bingham increased the Iowa State lead to 7-0.
As the game progressed, IUPUI had chances, including loading the bases in th fifth inning, but Armstrong struck out to end the frame without putting a run on the board.
Against Iowa State's Savannah Sanders, the Jags struggled to make contact striking out eight times and finishing a combined 0-10 with runners in scoring position.
The Jags play two games tomorrow (Feb 13) against Eastern Illinois at 12:15 p.m. and Iowa State at 4:45 p.m.
