INDIANAPOLIS – Potentially the most crucial series of the season, the IUPUI softball team (16-29, 4-10) will play host to Western Illinois (11-31, 4-8) this weekend (April 29-30) as the teams battle to secure their spot in the Summit League Tournament.  The series marks the final home stand for the Jaguars this season, starting with a doubleheader Friday (3 p.m.) followed by a single game Saturday (11 a.m.).
 
The Jaguars are led on the year by Ali Mosier, who leads the team in batting average (.327), hits (48), doubles (12), triples (2), homeruns (9), walks (21), total bases (91), on base percentage (.421), and slugging percentage (.619).  Catcher Roni Patterson has come on swinging as of late, going 7-for-12 (.583) over her last four games with three doubles. 
 
In the circle, the Jags are led by senior Brooke Boetjer, who has a team-best 3.02 earned run average (ERA) over 28 games played and 24 starts, throwing 139 innings with 99 strikeouts to just 40 walks.  Opponents average just .239 against her as she's thrown 13 complete games this season.  Over her last eight appearances, she's surrendered two or fewer earned runs, throwing back-to-back complete games most recently against South Dakota State (April 24) and Northern Kentucky (April 26).
 
Western Illinois is coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of North Dakota State, and have lost seven of their last eight games.  It took a 14-run outburst against Omaha to secure their only win during the stretch, their highest run total on the season.  The Leathernecks took two out of three against South Dakota State (March 25-26), while also securing a victory against South Dakota (April 3) for their only Summit League wins this season.
 
On Friday, IUPUI will recognize the six seniors on the roster for the softball program competing in their final home games.  The senior day festivities will take place in between the doubleheader games Friday, as opposed to the initial Saturday schedule.  The change is due to potential bad weather expected early Saturday. 
 
Among the honorees will be Mosier, Boetjer, Sarah Lawrence, Alyssa Neff, Morgan Schlobohm, and Lauren Hruskovich.