INDIANAPOLIS – On a day where there was no shortage of big plays and timely fielding, the IUPUI softball team (16-31, 4-12) did plenty right, yet couldn't thwart a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Western Illinois (12-31, 6-8) Friday (April 29), dropping a pair of tight games late while not making any head way in their chase for a spot in the Summit League Tournament.
Maggie Good went a combined 3-for-9 with a run batted in (RBI),
Ali Mosier went 2-for-8 with a solo homerun, and
Morgan Schlobohm went 2-for-8 with a run scored.
Senior
Brooke Boetjer threw a combined 11 innings over the pair of games, going for six in the first game and five in the nightcap. She gave up a combined four earned runs and nine hits, while striking out seven with just two walks.
Nickole Finch tossed seven combined innings with just two earned runs, while picked up three strikeouts on nine hits allowed.
The first game proved to be a marathon contest, as the teams would go to extreme lengths to not surrender to the other.
A pair of doubles by Western Illinois in the top of the second inning of game one would score a run for the Leathernecks, giving them the early edge in the contest. IUPUI would have a chance to answer back in the bottom half, as Good and
Roni Patterson were both able to reach on a single and a walk. They'd both move into scoring position with only one out, but would be stranded there on a foul out and strikeout to the next pair of batters.
The Leathernecks would pick up another run in the top of the fourth inning on a solo homerun to grow the Jaguar deficit to two runs. Adding to the list of frustrations for the Jaguars on the day was the fact that Boetjer had actually struck out the batter on a swinging third strike, but the at bat was extended due to a called illegal pitch. A couple pitches later, the homerun was hit.
IUPUI would answer back in the bottom of the sixth, as a pair of singles by Schlobohm and Good combined with a walk by a pinch-hitting
Kristin London would load the bases with two outs.
Ashley Ousley then came in to hit for
Alyssa Matson and snuck a single by the first baseman for WIU, plating a run and once again loading the bases. However, the next batter would go down swinging on three pitches, leaving the bases loaded.
Now trailing by one and needing some late inning heroics, the Jaguars turned to their senior infielder Mosier with one out. Mosier promptly unloaded a ball beyond the center field wall for a solo home run, her team leading 10th of the season, to tie the game at two apiece.
Neither team was able to produce much of anything until the 12th inning, in which the Leathernecks were able to generate base runners on back-to-back first pitch singles to chase Finch from the game.
Kaitlynn Moody came on to try to preserve the lead, but a sacrifice bunt would move both runs over, followed by a sacrifice fly which plated a run. That would mark the difference in the game, as WIU would eventually take it with the final score 3-2.
After giving up a run in the top of the first inning of game two, the Jaguars would answer back on an RBI double by Good to score
Taylor Chitwood. The teams would remain tied until a small meltdown in the top of the sixth inning, as the Leathernecks would hit a single, double and triple in the inning on their way to three runs in the frame. The Jaguars would have no answer in the limited time remaining, dropping the nightcap, 4-1.
The final game of the series is scheduled for Saturday (April 30) at 11 a.m. at the IUPUI softball complex. Due to inclement weather, the coaching staffs for each team are expected to collaborate on an appropriate start time in the morning. Please stay tuned to IUPUIJags.com and our social media sites for updates on the start time and progress throughout the morning.
