ROCHESTER, Mich. – IUPUI had two close losses on Saturday (April 21) to Oakland to lose the series 2-1 to the Golden Grizzlies.
The Jags got two home runs from
Mandy Dallas in game two but fell 6-5, after dropping the first game of the day 2-0.
The losses move IUPUI to 13-26 overall and are now 9-11 in conference play with three games remaining in the regular season as the Jags look to make the Horizon League tournament.
GAME 1: OAKLAND 2, IUPUI 0
IUPUI struggled to get anything going at the plate, falling to Oakland 2-0 in the first game of the double header with the Golden Grizzlies.
The Jags finished the game with six hits from six different players but were never able to get a run across the plate against Oakland starter Haley Zemmer.
Megan Overton picked up the loss (12-13), allowing two runs over six innings of work, giving up five hits and walking three batters while striking out four.
Oakland scored its first run in the bottom of the second after a one-out triple and a single two batters later. The Golden Grizzlies put their second run on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the third.
IUPUI did not get its first hit of the game until the fifth inning on a single by
Adison Lorsung.
Kristin London followed with a single but a strikeout and fly out ended the threat.
The Jaguars best chance came in the top of the sixth. Overton reached on an infield single and
Delilah Wright reached on a bunt to get two on with no outs.
Haley Ginger cracked a single up the middle but Overton was thrown out at home by the center fielder. To compound the problem, Ginger was thrown out by the catcher trying to advance to second for a double play.
Mandy Dallas then grounded out to end the inning as the Jags remained scoreless.
GAME 2: OAKLAND 6, IUPUI 5
Mandy Dallas came feet short of tying the game with her third home run of the day, but a catch at the wall ended the game, giving Oakland a 6-5 lead.
Dallas drove in all five runs for the Jags and went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Jags. Megan Overton also went 2-for-4 and Adison Lorsung finished 2-for-3.
Oakland struck first in the bottom of the third. After the second batter of the game reached on a fielding error, a double brought home the Golden Grizzlies first run.
Mandy Dallas quickly tied things up, leading off the fourth with a solo home run to left center field. It was Dallas' team-leading eighth home run of the season.
Oakland opened up the lead in the bottom of the fourth, getting to starter Kristin London, who was making her first career start. After a leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second. With the runner trying to take third, the throw from Dallas was high and allowed the run to come across.
The inning continued with double and a walk and another double scored two more runs to push the Oakland lead to 4-1.
IUPUI responded in the top of the fifth, beginning the inning with two singles from
Delainey Turner and Overton. After Haley Ginger reached on an error, Dallas struck again, crushing a grand slam to straight away center field to put IUPUI up 5-4.
The grand slam was Dallas' first of the year and her ninth home run of the 2018 campaign. It was also the second time this season that Dallas has hit two home runs in a game.
With the lead, IUPUI brought in Overton but Oakland tied the game on a double after a walk and hit batter. In the bottom of the sixth, a two-out double and a single up the middle brought home the go-ahead run for Oakland.
IUPUI will play two games on the road next week, taking on Illinois on Tuesday (April 24) and Butler on Wednesday (April 25).
