FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – IUPUI softball looks to continue its momentum after winning its last two games as the Jags will head to the University of Arkansas to play in the Razorback Invitational.
The weekend begins with two games on Friday (Feb. 22). The Jags start with a game against Drake at 11 a.m. and will play SIU Edwardsville at 3:30 p.m. to finish the first day. IUPUI will have another two games on Saturday (Feb. 23) beginning with a 1:15 p.m. game against Southeast Missouri State before taking on SIUE again in the nightcap at 8:00 p.m. IUPUI will close out the weekend taking on the host Arkansas Razorbacks at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 24).
The Jags will look to keep the offense rolling after exploding for 11 runs against Morehead State the last time the Jags took the field. IUPUI took advantage of an error by Morehead State with a grand slam by
Kristin London to cap off an eight-run fourth inning. It was London's first-career grand slam and the first grand slam since
Mandy Dallas hit one on April 28 of last season.
The 11 runs are the most the Jaguars have scored since plating 11 runs against South Dakota in the first round of the Summit League tournament on May 11, 2017. IUPUI had not scored eight runs in an inning since scoring nine runs in the fourth inning against Fort Wayne on May 7, 2017.
Head coach
Elisabeth Beirne got two great starts from freshman pitcher
Lexi Lucas over last weekend. For her effort, Lucas was named Pitcher of the Week by the Horizon League. Lucas improved to 2-4 on the season after a 2-1 week with a 3.06 ERA. The freshman showed amazing control, striking out eight batters while only walking one in 17.2 innings pitched.
Against Mount St. Mary's, Lucas took a no-hit bid in to the seventh inning and became the first Jaguar to throw a one-hitter since 2016.
SCOUTING REPORT
DRAKE
2019 Record: 5-4
vs. IUPUI – IUPUI is 2-1 all-time against Drake with the Jags winning the last two matchups. The last meeting was a 4-3 win by the Jags in 2014.
Drake has lost three of its last four games without scoring a run in any of those games, two coming against Texas Tech and one against Auburn. Macee Johnson leads the team with a .480 average and Nicole Newman is tops on the team with three home runs and 11 RBI. Newman also holds a 1.01 ERA in 26.2 innings pitched.
SIUE
2019 Record: 4-1
vs. IUPUI – IUPUI is 1-3 all-time against SIUE but won the last meeting, 7-1, back in 2012.
SIUE is riding a three-game winning streak, winning in close battles in all three games. Alyssa Heren is hitting .583 on the season and three other players are hitting above .400. As a team, the Cougars hit .300 in their first five games. Emily Ingles leads the team with 2-0 record and 2.92 ERA in 12 innings.
SEMO
2019 Record: 7-3
vs. IUPUI – The Jags are 2-6 against SEMO but only one meeting has come since 2013. Last season, IUPUI lost 7-0 to the Redhawks.
SEMO has won its last two games having outscored their opponents 15-0 in those games. Rachel Anderson is hitting .515 to lead the team and Ashley Ellis is hitting .444 with a team-high four home runs and 14 RBI. Haley Thogmartin has logged a team-high 26.1 innings and holds a 4-1 record and 2.66 ERA.
Arkansas
2019 Record: 8-1
vs. IUPUI – IUPUI will be looking for its first win against the Razorbacks, having dropped all-three meetings. IUPUI lost both meetings against Arkansas in 2017.
Arkansas has won two-straight and its only loss is a one-run defeat to Washington. Maggie Hicks is hitting .435 and seven other players are hitting over .300. The Razorbacks have hit seven home runs and driven in 54 RBI. In the circle, Arkansas has been dominant, allowing just 15 runs, holding a team ERA of 0.83. Autumn Storms is 3-0 on the season with an 0.50 ERA and Mary Haff is 5-1 with a 1.12 ERA. Combined, the two have 63 strikeouts to just seven walks.
