WESTFIELD, Ind. – The Heather Tarter era began for the IUPUI softball team Sunday (Sep. 18), as the Jags played a pair of fall season games at the Grand Park complex in Westfield, Indiana.  IUPUI dropped the matinee game to the University of Indianapolis, 2-0, before falling behind late in their second game to Valparaiso, 4-2.
 
The pair of contests featured a first peek at a new-look lineup for the Jags this season.  IUPUI returns four seniors for the 2016-17 season, while welcoming six freshman additions as well as a sophomore transfer in Adison Lorsung. 
 
Pitching highlighted the day, as IUPUI saw Erica Tharp and Nickole Finch toss a pair of terrific outings in their first work of the short season.  Tharp pitched seven strong innings against UIndy, giving up just two runs in the final inning of the early contest.  Finch came on and delivered five innings against Valparaiso, before Tharp closed out the game with the final two frames.  All four runs scored against the Jags in the second game were unearned.  Both pitchers will be first time starters this season, as the Jags watched the departure of senior standout Brooke Boetjer last season.    
 
The program was led into action by seniors Roni Patterson, Taylor Chitwood, Maggie Good, and Alyssa Matson.  Patterson is a three-time All-Summit League selection and an All-Region selection, while Chitwood has earned All-Summit League twice in her career.  Good earned Second Team All-Summit League during her sophomore season, while all three players have been selected as Summit League All-Tournament honorees.  Matson has appeared in 112 games during her time at IUPUI, and has been named to the IUPUI Academic Advisor's List twice. 
 
Last season, the Jags finished with a 20-35 record while advancing to their first-ever Summit League Tournament Championship game.  During the run to the title match, IUPUI eliminated three teams from the tournament, including Western Illinois, South Dakota and Omaha.  The Jags would eventually fall to the Summit League Champion Bison of North Dakota State.
 
The softball team will be back in action Saturday (Sep. 24), as the Jags are slated for a doubleheader rematch against the University of Indianapolis starting at 12 p.m. EST. 
 
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