CHICAGO – IUPUI softball's season came to an end with losses to the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the Horizon League Softball Championship on Friday (May 11).
After finding ways to come back from early deficits in their first two wins of the tournament, the Jags could not overcome early holes they found themselves in in either of Friday's contests.
The losses mark the end of the college careers of seniors
Delilah Wright and
Ashley Ousley.
UIC 7, IUPUI 4
The Jags were right in it with top-seeded UIC until a five-run fourth inning gave the Flames an advantage they would not lose.
UIC got on the board first with a single to left field and gave the Flames a 1-0 lead.
Things got out of hand for starter
Megan Overton in the fifth inning. With one out, UIC put two runners on with a walk and a single. After a strikeout, a hit batter loaded the bases. Two-straight walks brought in the second and third runs of the game and Tiana Mack-Miller brought in two more with a double to left.
UIC added another run on another bases-loaded walk after a 14-pitch at bat to take a 7-0 lead in to the final frame.
The Jags tried to make a comeback, loading the bases with only one out after
Kristin London,
Adison Lorsung and Ashley Ousley all reached base. After a groundout, the Jags were down to their final out. Overton grounded back to the pitcher but the throw to first was over the head of the first baseman and two runs scored. Delilah Wright hit back to the pitcher in the very next at-bat and again, the throw to first was wide and two more runs crossed the plate to put the Jags within three.
IUPUI's comeback bid fell short as
Haley Ginger grounded out to shortstop to force the Jags in to an elimination game.
OAKLAND 8, IUPUI 3
IUPUI fell behind early for the fourth-straight game as Oakland scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out double off of starter
Dezirae Leonard. The Golden Grizzlies would add their third run of the game in the bottom of the second on a single to left field, again with two outs.
The Jags got on the board in the top of the third after
Delainey Turner reached on an error to lead off the inning. With two outs, Haley Ginger ripped a double down the right field line that scored Turner to cut the lead to 3-1.
Oakland responded in a big way in the bottom of the third. After a walk and a single put the first two runners of the inning on base, a triple down the left field line plated both runners. In the next at bat, Oakland got a single to run the lead to five.
The offense for the Golden Grizzlies wasn't done as back-to-back doubles, both coming with two outs, produced two more runs and put Oakland up 8-1.
IUPUI was not ready for its season to end in the top of the seventh.
Maddy Griffin began the inning with a single up the middle, and Sabrina Trevino singled to put two runners on. After a strikeout, Turner hit an infield single to load the bases. Megan Overton hit a sacrifice fly to score the Jags first run of the inning and Delilah Wright singled to bring home another run. Ginger stepped to the plate but popped up to third base to end the game.
