URBANA, Ill – IUPUI kept it close but ultimately fell short of an upset over Illinois on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 19), falling to the Illini 9-4.
IUPUI (6-21) finished the game with seven hits, all but one coming from the first five spots in the lineup. Delaney Thompson had the best day at the plate for the Jags, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and hitting one of four doubles IUPUI had on the afternoon.
Illinois looked like it might strike first in the bottom of the second but freshman Jaida Speth made a fantastic diving catch in center field to keep the Illini off the board as Illinois had a runner on second.
The Jags took advantage in the top of the fourth, finally breaking through against Illinois starter Emily Oestreich. Thompson singled up the middle to begin the inning and moved to third on a double off the left field wall by Kristin London. Two batters later the Jags had their first run of the game after McKenzie Loge hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Thompson.
IUPUI starter Lexi Lucas was cruising through three innings, throwing three scoreless frames and only allowing two hits but was on an inning count to do a heavy schedule the rest of the week. Amanda Melzoni relieved Lucas in the fourth and Illinois bats woke up against the right-hander.
A walk and wild pitch put the leadoff batter in the scoring position and Illinois tied the game on a single in the next at bat. Another walk and wild pitch had runners on second and third and another single put the Illini on top. The big blow came with two outs and a bases-clearing double to right center field put Illinois up 5-1.
IUPUI was not ready to roll over, striking back for three runs in the top of the fifth. Emily Berrisford led off the inning with a walk and Ginger singled, moving up Berrisford 60 feet. Speth hit a rope to the wall in right center doubling home Berrisford and Dallas brought home Ginger on a sacrifice fly in the next at bat. Thompson hit a grounder to third but the throw was off the mark, bringing home Speth and pulling the Jags within one.
Illinois loaded the bases in the fifth and with one out a groundout to Berrisford at short got the Illini some breathing room.
After the Jags went three-up, three-down in the sixth, Illinois capitalized on an IUPUI miscue to put the game out of reach. After Dezirae Leonard, who relieved Melzoni in the fifth, picked up two outs, with runners on second and third, an error by London brought home a run and kept the inning alive. Illinois would add two more unearned runs to push the lead to 9-4.
IUPUI will play its 2019 home opener on Wednesday (Mar. 20) against Purdue Fort Wayne. The game at the IUPUI Softball Complex will begin at 3:30 p.m.
