SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Making the trek north on a short break from Summit League play, the IUPUI softball team (10-22, 0-5) fell to the Fighting Irish 3-11 Tuesday (April 5), extending the Jaguars losing streak to six games.
 
Ali Mosier went 1-for-3 on the day with a solo home run, while Kaitlynn Moody did work both in the box and in the circle, launching a solo home run at the plate and working through a perfect pair of outs in relief pitching.
 
The Jaguars would start the game with some instant offense, as following a lineout and a groundout from the first two batters, Mosier rifled an 0-1 pitch to center field and over the wall.  The solo home run would give the Jags' an early advantage, as they'd go up 1-0 to start the game. 
 
In the bottom half of the first, Boetjer showed a combination of good velocity and late movement to start the game, inducing four ground balls to the first five batters, one of which went for an infield single.  She'd secure outs of the 6-3 and 4-3 variety, utilizing her middle infield and stranding runners at the corners to keep Notre Dame off the board.
 
After backstop Roni Patterson was denied an extra base hit on a defensive gem by the Fighting Irish, Moody hit a thunderous homerun that not only cleared the left-center field wall, but also went over the Melissa Cook Stadium sign atop the scoreboard to tack on another run for the Jags.  They'd head to the bottom half of the inning with a 2-0 lead.
 
In the bottom half, Boetjer picked up her first strike out of the game, catching the batter looking at a 2-2 pitch on the low, outside corner for the first out.  After a hard hit liner that ricocheted off the glove of Taylor Chitwood at the hot corner, Boetjer was penalized for her second illegal pitch of the game, allowing the base runner to move up into scoring position.  The next batter would then uncork an RBI double to left center field to put the first blemish on the scoreboard for Boetjer.  Now 2-1 and following a flyout to center field, a bunt single and a steal would put runners at second and third base with two outs.  The next batter hit a chop single to shortstop that got by two charging infielders and brought home both runners.  A great defensive effort on a diving stop by Morgan Schlobohm couldn't deny a hit to the next batter, as with two on, Caitlyn Brooks of Notre Dame hit a low liner bullet to left center field that stayed just high enough to clear the wall.  The three-run homer made it 2-6 in favor of the Irish, as head coach Amanda Rivera would go to the bullpen and bring in Nickole Finch to get the final out in the bottom of the second.
 
After a pitching change to start the top of the third, Alyssa Neff led off the frame with a single to short on a 3-1 pitch.  A wild pitch allowed Neff to move up to scoring position, as she would then move to third on a chop hit single up the middle by Delilah Wright to put runners on the corners with no outs.  Schlobohm would then step up to bat and hit a high arching RBI double on a 1-2 pitch to right field that made it to the fence, plating Neff and putting two runners in scoring position.  Wright would attempt to score on a mad dash to home on a passed ball, but the catcher for the Irish was able to rebound and get the unassisted out on a tag at the dish.  With one away and a three-run deficit, the next two batters would strikeout and fly out to limit the damage to one run.
 
Finch would return to the circle in the bottom of the third and immediately record a fly out against the first batter.  A walk, steal, and sacrifice bunt would move the runner to third base, which would be followed by a free pass issued to the next batter with two outs.  That batter would steal second, putting two runners in scoring position for the Irish with two away.  Finch would get out of the inning however, as the opposing batter tried to bunt on a 2-2 pitch, foul tipping it and stranding the runners as the inning came to an end.
 
Maggie Good laced the first pitch she saw to right center field to start the fourth inning, and would move up to second on a one-out walk issued to Moody.  A fielder's choice on a ground ball to the left side would retire the lead runner, followed by a strikeout to give the Jags their first scoreless inning of the game.
 
A single and two walks would load the bases for the Irish in the bottom of the fourth with no outs, as Notre Dame would add a run on a sacrifice fly to left field.  After a hit by pitch, the next batter would hit a first pitch single to right field to add another run, leaving the bases loaded.  Finch would then administer a walk to the next batter to score one more for the Irish.  A hit by pitch issued would force Coach Rivera to once again make a switch in the circle, as designated player Moody took over pitching duties to try to work out of the bases loaded, one out jam.  With the score at 3-10, Moody induced a ground ball to get an out at first, plating a run from third base and advancing the runners on the RBI groundout.  The next batter would ground out to the pitcher to end the inning.
 
Down eight runs to start the inning and in danger of being run-ruled, Wright worked an eight-pitch, full count walk to put a runner on against a new pitcher for the Irish.  Nothing could be done with the effort however, as the Irish would record three outs against the next three batters to end the game in abbreviated fashion.