INDIANAPOLIS – After a lengthy tournament schedule that ended in stellar fashion, the IUPUI softball team (10-17) will makes it home debut of the 2017 season by opening Summit League play as the Jags host South Dakota State (13-18) in a doubleheader Friday (March 24) beginning at 2 p.m. EST, followed by an 11 a.m. single game Saturday (March 25). 
 
Winners of four-straight, the Jags did a near-complete 180 from the manner in which the team started the season, as the Jags went from a 0-7 start to finish 10-10 over their last 20 ball games.  The vastly improving Jags have earned a pair of Summit League Player of the Week nods since getting their first victory, as the team has been extremely competitive in recent bouts.
 
The Jags were the beneficiaries of breakout pitching performances from Erica Tharp and Nickole Finch this past weekend, as Tharp's efforts earned her a career-first Summit League Pitcher of the Week award.  Both student-athletes combined to throw five complete games in five chances, giving up just seven earned runs across 34 innings.  Tharp had a career-high 11 strikeouts against the host team Florida Gulf Coast at the Battle of the Beach Tournament, and followed that with an eight strikeout performance against Drexel. 
 
The offense has been keyed by the efforts of infielder Maggie Good, as the senior has a stellar .367 batting average out of the cleanup spot with eight homeruns and 29 RBIs.  Alyssa Matson is swing to the tune of a .327 average out of the leadoff spot, while Taylor Chitwood has been lethal as the No. 3 hitter, logging a .325 average with a pair of homeruns and 14 RBIs.  Backstop Roni Patterson has rebounded after a slow start to the year, as the three-time All-Summit League selection is just a hair under the coveted .300 mark at .299 for the season. 
 
The Jackrabbits seemed to be rolling after their venture to the sunshine state, as the team went 4-1 at the South Florida Under Armour Invitational.  Since then, SDSU fell to a 1-4 showing at the Iowa Tournament, taking just a 4-3, eight inning victory against Creighton.  The Jacks went 23-34 overall last season while finishing 8-10 in Summit League competition.  This season, the team has combined to hit .255 while the pitching staff has a strong 2.96 ERA.  The Jags are hitting .262 as a team. 
 
The dates of competition were moved to Friday and Saturday from their original Saturday-Sunday placements in anticipation of poor weather conditions.  Admission to the IUPUI softball complex is free, and all family, friends and fans are encouraged to attend.
 
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