MEMPHIS, Tenn. – IUPUI had the bats going in the first game of the day against DePaul but could not stop the Blue Demon offense in an 11-8 loss. The Jags then finished play for the day with a 10-1 loss in five innings to Belmont.
DePaul 11 – IUPUI 8
The Jags got home runs from both
Haley Ginger and
Mandy Dallas and held a late lead but could not finish in a three-run loss to DePaul.
IUPUI got things going in the first inning when
Sabrina Trevino brought home
Emily Berrisford on a sacrifice fly to put the Jags up 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, DePaul answered with a two-run shot to jump ahead but that lead did not last long.
Ginger hit her second home run of the season, a solo shot to right center field on a 2-2 pitch with one out.
The Jags took their second lead of the game in the top of the fifth, beginning with a leadoff single by Berrisford. After two outs,
Delaney Thompson stepped to the plate and singled but a fielding error by DePaul's centerfielder allowed Berrisford to come all the way around from first and put the Jags up 3-2.
DePaul quickly tied the game in the next half inning with the second batter homering to centerfield. That chased starter
Lexi Lucas from the game and head coach
Elisabeth Beirne brought in
Amanda Melzoni in relief. The first batter Melzoni faced singles and after an out, a passed ball and single gave DePaul the lead. Two batters later, the Blue Demons extended the lead on a three-run home run to left.
With the Jags now facing a four-run deficit, IUPUI began the sixth with singles by
Kristin London and
McKenzie Loge. After two outs, Berrisford drew a walk and Ginger then unloaded the bases on a double down the right field line, giving her four RBI for the day. Dallas stepped to the plate next and drove a full-count pitch over the center field wall to give IUPUI the 8-7 lead.
Looking to hold on a late lead, Melzoni walked the first batter of DePaul's half. After a fielder's choice for the first out, another walk put two runners on. Back-to-back singles for DePaul tied the game at eight and another single made the score 9-8. A fielder's choice and single in the next two at bats pushed two more runs across making the deficit three.
London singled in the top of the seventh but nothing else worked for the Jags, ending the game in DePaul's favor.
Five Jags finished the game with at least two hits and Ginger finished 3-for-4 with the four RBI. Berrisford had a strong game in the lead-off spot going 2-for-3 with a walk and scoring three runs. The first four spots in the lineup for the Jags went a combined 9-for-15 with seven RBI.
BELMONT 10 – IUPUI 1
IUPUI's second game of the day was not as close as the first as Belmont finished off the Jags in five innings by a score of 10-1.
The Bruins scored two runs in the bottom of the first but IUPUI cut the lead in half in the top of the third. Berrisford got on base with a one-out single and moved to second on a single by Ginger. After Dallas struck out, Thompson brought home Berrisford with a single to right field.
Belmont added two runs in the fourth inning, both on singles and then exploded in the fifth. After Lucas came in in relief of
Jaida Speth who started the game, Belmont immediately put two runners on with singles. Lucas got the next two batters out but could not get the third out of the inning. A single brought in the first run and two more singles made the score 7-1. Two pitches later a three run home run by Belmont gave the Bruins the 10-1 lead in the fifth, ending the game.
IUPUI managed just four hits, one each from the top four spots in the lineup. The Jags struck out nine times against the Bruins and left five runners on base.
UP NEXT
IUPUI will finish the U of M Softball Tournament, making up their rained out game from Saturday against Memphis. The Jags will play the Tigers at 1 p.m. ET on Monday.
