KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In what is essentially a final tune-up before the start of the Summit League Tournament, the IUPUI softball team (17-32, 4-12) split a doubleheader with the University of Missouri-Kansas City (23-24, 10-5) Friday (May 6), dropping game one, 2-3, before nabbing the nightcap, 6-4.
 
The Jaguars were led on the day by Maggie Good, who went 4-for-7 over the pair of games, picking up four runs batted in (RBIs) with a solo homerun.  Ali Mosier went 3-for-8 with three runs scored and an RBI.
 
Senior pitcher Brooke Boetjer was strong in the first game of the doubleheader, throwing nine innings of work while surrendering 10 hits, two earned runs, two walks and recording three strikeouts.  She'd also pick up the save in game two by recording the final two outs, a fielder's choice and a lineout, to escape a bases loaded jam.  Nickole Finch earned the win in game two, throwing six innings of five-hit ball, giving up two earned runs and striking out five. 
 
In game one, Mosier and Good were the hot bats for the Jags, going 2-for-5 and 2-for-3, respectively.  After a scoreless pair of innings to start the game, IUPUI went to work in the top of the third inning.  Delilah Wright led off the frame with an infield single to the shortstop, and advanced to second base on a follow up single by Mosier.  A groundout would advance both runners, and set up a golden opportunity for Good following a strikeout.  She delivered, hammering a ball up the middle and plating both runners in the process.  The Jags would pick up one more hit in the inning from Roni Patterson, but couldn't add to their run total, as they'd head to the bottom half with a lead.
 
A leadoff single by the Roos would suck some of the wind out of the sails of IUPUI, as the runner would later be moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt.  Following a groundout that would push the runner to third base, a single deposited into left field would score the run.  The Jags would make up for it though on a great relay from the outfield, as they'd catch the runner trying to stretch a single into a double, getting the out at second base and ending the inning.
 
A costly throwing error would spell trouble for the Jaguars in the bottom of the fourth inning, as a leadoff single became a two-bagger to give the Roos an immediate runner in scoring position.  A fly out to right field would allow the runner to move up, followed by a single down the right field line to score the runner.  UMKC would eventually load the bases in the inning, but Boetjer would work out of it, inducing a groundout to the left side to end the threat.
 
It was a stalemate between the two teams for the next several innings, as it wasn't until a pitching change in the 10th inning opened up a chance for the Roos' offense.  A single and a walk would put two runners on, and both would advance on a groundout.  The Jags were nearly out of the threat after also getting an infield pop up, but the next batter singled to right field to plate a run, ending the game and earning the win for UMKC.
 
In game two, the Jaguars came flying out of the gate, plating three runs in the first inning that started on a leadoff walk by Mosier.  She'd advance to second on an infield single by Morgan Schlobohm, and eventually come home to score on a single by Good.  Schlobohm would also score on an error by the center fielder on the play, making it 2-0.  Patterson would add an RBI single to make it a three-spot, sending the Jags to the bottom half of the frame with a big lead. 
 
IUPUI had to make an early pitching change, as their starting pitcher was tagged for a pair of runs on two hits while recording only one out.  Finch came into the game in relief, and helped end the threat on a groundout and a strikeout. 
 
In the top of the second, a Sarah Lawrence single would kick start the offense, as she'd come home to score on a double by Mosier.  A double by Taylor Chitwood would eventually score Mosier, adding two runs to the scoreboard for the Jags. 
 
The Roos would add a run in the second inning, but Good stretched out the Jags lead to three on a solo homerun to start the fifth inning.  Things would remain where they were until a tense bottom half of the seventh inning, in which the Roos were able to score a run on a single to make it a two-run ballgame. 
 
The offensive outburst broke up a streak of 13-consecutive batters retired by Finch, as she'd face a tough situation with a pair of runners on base and only one out.  A single would lead to Head Coach Amanda Rivera going to her bullpen, bringing in Boetjer to try and work out of the new bases loaded jam.  Boetjer would induce a groundout to get a force at home plate, leaving the bases loaded.  The next batter would rip a line drive back to Boetjer in the circle, who made a fantastic play to stop the ball from making it up the gap, recording the final out and slamming the door on UMKC.   
 
The Jaguars officially earned a berth in the Summit League Tournament thanks to a loss by IPFW to Western Illinois.  The full schedule of games and matchups will soon follow.  IUPUI will wrap up the series with a single game against UMKC Saturday (May 7) at 1 p.m. (ET).