LOUISVILLE, Ky. – IUPUI softball saw great pitching in both games on Friday (March 2) but only picked up one win on the day.
 
The Jags split the day falling to Maryland to open things up but bounced back to beat UAB to finish the doubleheader.
 
"We responded really well after that first game," said head coach Elisabeth Beirne. "Our pitching was solid today and against UAB our offense strung together hits at the right time."
 
GAME 1: Maryland 2, IUPUI 0
 
IUPUI (4-9) had its chances but fell Maryland 2-0 on Friday to start the Black & Gold Classic at Louisville.
 
Megan Overton (3-2) picked up the loss but was again solid for Elisabeth Beirne's squad, only allowing two unearned runs on three hits, while striking out seven batters. Overton did struggle with her control issuing six walks but buckled down to get out of multiple jams.
 
Maryland struck first in the top of the fourth. With runners on second and third and two outs, a ground ball to short looked like the Jags might escape the threat but Haley Ginger's throw pulled Delainey Turner off the bag allowing both runs to score.
 
The Jaguars had a chance to match the Terrapins with a big inning of their own after Mandy Dallas reached on an error by the second baseman. Unfortunately IUPUI would not be able to capitalize as Ashley Ousley grounded in to an inning-ending double play.
 
IUPUI threatened again in the bottom of the fifth after Overton reached on Maryland's third error of the day, ending the play at second with Delilah Wright at third. With Maddie Keeley up, Keeley grounded out to second to end the inning.
 
Ginger singled to begin the bottom of the sixth and two batters later, Dallas singled. After a groundout moved the runners to second a third, Sabrina Trevino stepped to the plate looking to get the Jags on the board but Trevino was caught looking and IUPUI remained down 2-0.
 
Overton got out of a first inning jam, getting a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the inning and keep Maryland off the board.
 
The sophomore then stepped to the plate to start the bottom half of the inning with a triple to right field but the Jags stranded Overton at third to end the inning.
 
GAME 2: IUPUI 6, UAB 2
 
IUPUI bounced back in game two, taking advantage of three UAB errors and getting a strong performance from Dezirae Leonard in the circle.
 
Leonard (1-5) picked up her first win of the year with a complete game win. Leonard scattered seven hits and only allowed two runs, while walking one.
 
Megan Overton and Delilah Wright each finished with two hits on the day and Adison Lorsung drove in two runs.
 
UAB got on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-out double to the right field wall.
 
IUPUI's offense finally got on track in the top of the fifth inning, scoring six runs in the frame.
 
The inning began with a walk by Ashley Ousley. A UAB error and a single by Delilah Wright loaded the bases. The Jags would not let this opportunity go to waste as Megan Overton hit a sacrifice fly to center to put the Jags on the board.
 
Another error loaded the bases again and a walk drawn by Haley Ginger tied the game at two. Lorsung delivered the biggest blow of the inning with a two-RBI double to the wall in left-center field to make it 4-2 Jags.
 
Mandy Dallas singled in the next at bat to bring home Ginger and two batters later, Ousley, batting for the second time in the inning, reached on UAB's third error of the inning to score Lorsung.
 
IUPUI's best chance before the fifth, came in the top of the third as Delainey Turner singled on a bunt to start the inning. Overton reached on a single to third and Maddie Keeley loaded the bases after singling back to the pitcher.
 
Things got crazy during the next at bat as a wild pitch looked like it might bring home a run but Turner stopped on the way home. All the runners managed to get safely back to their bases, but Keeley was called out after the play for not having re-touched second base after originally touching it during the play.
 
Later in the at bat, Ginger popped up to the catcher to end the Jags threat.
 
IUPUI will continue their weekend in Louisville with a game against Maryland on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.