FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Following the lengthy southwest trek that brought the Jags to the other side of the Mason Dixon Line, the IUPUI softball team (5-12) opened up day one of the Wooo Pig Classic with a split against a pair of top-100 Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) teams from a season ago, dropping the Nebraska Cornhuskers 9-1 in a six-inning, run-rule game before falling to Lamar 1-11 in five innings.
A brilliant afternoon and undoubtedly strong performance by
Erica Tharp helped key the Jags to victory in the opener, as the sophomore right-hander tossed a complete game while giving up just one earned run on six hits, allowing two walks while striking out four. Tharp was able to change speeds and paint the corners with consistency, keeping the Cornhusker hitters off-balance and out of rhythm throughout.
A grand day for senior
Maggie Good, the cleanup hitter for IUPUI went a combined 2-for-4 across the pair of games, clubbing a grand slam and picking up five RBIs. Celebrating her birthday in stellar fashion,
Roni Patterson swung a 3-for-5 performance with a solo homerun and a run-scoring double, the latter of which ended the first game. The No. 1 and 2 hitters in the Jags lineup,
Alyssa Matson and
Delilah Wright, combined to hit 4-for-8 in the first game, scoring three runs and serving as major catalysts for IUPUI.
Maddy Griffin had a sound afternoon with a 3-for-5 effort, picking up two RBIs on the day.
A magnificent example of clutch pitching and strong composure, Tharp started the day by giving up back-to-back singles in the first inning of game one, as the Cornhuskers had runners at first and second. Both runners were able to advance into scoring position on a double-steal, but Tharp made sure they advanced no further, as she struck out the next three batters in order to blank Nebraska.
Back-to-back singles started the bottom of the first for IUPUI, as with one out, Good singled through the middle to score Matson from second base. Though limited to just one run in the first inning and seeing the Cornhuskers strike for a run in the second, the Jags came out swinging in the third. Griffin singled to start the frame, followed by a single from
Delaney Thompson through the middle that put runners at first and second.
McKenzie Loge came up with a boom shot to left-center that scored Griffin, followed by an error that allowed IUPUI to load the bases. With two outs, Good checked in and promptly deposited a ball into left-center that emptied the bases and gave the Jags a 6-1 lead.
Tharp recorded two 1-2-3 innings on the way to the bottom of the fifth, as a walk to Good and singles by Patterson and
Maggie Armstrong loaded the bases once again, this time with no outs. Staying back on the ball, Griffin pushed a pitch down the right field line, keeping it just fair as IUPUI plated two more runs to build an 8-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning and needing just a run to end the ballgame via the run-rule, Wright singled to reach base, followed by a hit-by-pitch that put Good aboard. With just one out, Patterson doubled to right field, scoring a run and giving the Jags a big victory over a team that finished 34th in RPI last season and advanced to the NCAA Regionals. In addition to the timely offense and the stellar pitching, the Jags enjoyed an error-free ballgame for the first time this season, a notable accomplishment and strong indication the program is moving in a positive direction.
Game two quickly got away from the Jags, as three runs came home for Lamar in both the first and second innings, putting the Jags in a deep hole. Patterson came up with a solo homerun to answer back in the bottom of the second, but the shot was the only offense IUPUI could generate, as the Cardinals went on to score five more runs over three innings, ending the game with a run-rule loss.
IUPUI will be back in action Saturday (March 3) when the team opens with Nebraska at 11 a.m. EST, followed by a 4 p.m. game against host Arkansas. The game with the Razorbacks will air on ESPN3, with a link to the action available here.
For all the latest in news, scores, highlights, stories, and more, follow IUPUIJags.com.
