FARGO, N.D. – An emotional day with an emphatic finish, the IUPUI softball team (23-27, 11-6) overcame a two-run deficit late in the game to send the Jags to championship Saturday be defeating Western Illinois 9-4 (22-31, 11-7) Friday afternoon (May 12).  The Jags lit up the Leathernecks for eight runs in the final two innings.
 
Once again, several heroes emerged from the lineup for IUPUI, highlighted by the big day for Delaney Thompson.  Making several notable defensive plays, Thompson got it done at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a three-run homerun.  Roni Patterson became the Jags all-time homeruns leader with her 40th long ball, part of a 3-for-4 day with three RBIs.  Summit League Player of the Year Maggie Good went 2-for-4 with a long solo homerun and an RBI double, while four other Jags picked up hits.
 
Nickole Finch returned to the circle for the second-straight day, pitching a complete game seven-inning performance while surrendering four earned runs on five hits.  She struck out three and walked four.
 
Taylor Chitwood started the game in stellar fashion, recording a one-out solo homerun to right center field to give IUPUI an early lead.  The Leathernecks were quick to respond however, getting a solo run on a single through the middle with runners at the corner.  The Jags seemingly had their balloon popped in the third inning, as the Leathernecks connected for a two-run homerun that pushed IUPUI into an early 1-3 deficit. 
 
Both teams went scoreless over the next pair of innings, but the Jags ended that with an explosive top-half to the sixth.  With Patterson on first, Good came up and uncorked a hard double to left field, bringing home the senior backstop.  Maggie Armstrong followed with a single to right field, putting runners at the corners.  After a pinch runner, Thompson came up and rifled a ball well beyond the right center field fence, scoring three for IUPUI to make it a 5-3 game.
 
After the Leathernecks tallied a solo run in the bottom half, the Jags got back to work on offense, looking to break the game open.  A pitching change became blood in the water, as the Jags throttled the new arm for Western Illinois.  Alyssa Matson began the affair with a single to center field, followed by a hit-by-pitch to Chitwood.  With two runners on, Patterson set the IUPUI homerun record with a three-run shot to center field, making it an 8-4 game.  Good followed with her long ball, one that cleared two fences and ended up on the track well behind the softball field at the Ellig Sports Complex.  The shot forced the Leathernecks to return to their original starting pitcher, but the switch was far too late as IUPUI had already built a big enough lead to close it out.
 
With the win, the Jags advance to their second-ever championship Saturday, their first with the winning advantage.  In the double elimination tournament, whoever IUPUI faces will have to win two games on Saturday to take the crown.  The Jags need just a solo win.  Either Western Illinois or North Dakota State will emerge to take on the Jags at 2 p.m. EST on May 13.
 
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