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ROSEMONT, Ill. – A hard-fought battle until the end, the IUPUI softball team (0-1) dropped their season-opener to Illinois-Chicago (1-0) 0-2 Friday (Feb. 10). The Jags picked up three hits and five walks in the contest but were the victims of missed opportunities as the team left nine runners stranded.
Tasked with taking the circle for the first game,
Erica Tharp had a solid outing for IUPUI, logging a complete-game on six innings of work while giving up just a pair of runs, with only one of them being earned. She allowed seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The right-handed sophomore delivered 18 first pitch strikes to 26 batters faced in the game.
Newcomer
Mckenzie Loge started the game for the Jags with a walk in the lead-off spot in the top of the first inning. A fielder's choice and a pair of pop-ups would leave the runner at first, as IUPUI failed to capitalize on the early opportunity. The second inning featured a similar situation, as three-time All-Summit League selection
Roni Patterson walked on five pitches. She'd advance all the way to third base on an error and a groundout, before being stranded on a strikeout to end the frame.
The Jags broke through with their first hit of the game in the fourth inning, as
Delaney Thompson singled to the pitcher to get aboard. The next three batters fell via the strikeout, part of 10 strikeouts recorded by the Flames. The fifth inning gave the Jags their first runner in scoring position, as a walk by
Ashley Ousley followed by a hit-by-pitch to
Sabrina Trevino placed runners at first and second with no outs. A lineout, strikeout and foul out in order ended the threat, as the Jags were unable to advance the runners.
The Flames tallied in the bottom of the fifth inning as a costly error allowed the deciding run to cross the plate. A two-out triple put a runner at third base for UIC, as the next at-bat allowed the runner to score. However, a silver-lining to the unfortunate play, the Jags defense rallied to get an out on the very same play, as a good throw got the batter trying to advance to second base.
A four-pitch walk to Thompson started the sixth inning for the Jags, as Patterson also reached on a full-count, eight-pitch walk following a groundout. With runners at first and second again, a pair of strikeouts erased the offensive threat. After a leadoff triple and a bunt-single scored a run for the Flames in the bottom half, the Jags continued the trend of faring well in their first at-bats of an inning. Both Trevino and
Alyssa Matson singled to put a pair of runners on in the seventh, but another impressive clutch performance by the pitching of UIC logged two strikeouts and a foul out to end the threat and the game.
With the loss, the Jags will have another opportunity on opening day, as the team faces Loyola-Chicago at 5:30 p.m. EST at the Total Control Sports Invitational.
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