LOUISVILLE, Ky. – IUPUI softball again split its second day of games at the Cardinal Classic and did so with a dramatic nine-inning win over Missouri to begin the day.

IUPUI 9 – Missouri 8 (9 inn.)
After falling to Missouri in five innings the night before, IUPUI earned a comeback win over the Tigers, twice coming back in their last at-bats. It was the first win in program history over an SEC team.

The Jaguars finished the game with 14 hits including a 3-for-4 day from catcher Sabrina Trevino. Trevino began the day with a two-out single in the bottom of the first, scoring Emily Berrisford to give the Jags a one-run lead.

Trevino singled for the second time in the game to start the bottom of the fourth and was pinch ran for by Taytum Schaney. After a groundout moved Schaney to second, the freshman moved to third on a single by McKenzie Loge. The Jags second run of the day came on a single by Delaney Thompson to right field. With two outs, Berrisford delivered with a single to center field that scored Thompson and put IUPUI up 3-0.

Missouri scored its first run on a home run in the top of the fifth but other than that, starter Lexi Lucas had the Tigers on their heels. Lucas only gave up the one run over six innings, allowing just six hits and had stranded seven Missouri runners until the final inning. Lucas struck out the first batter of the inning and the Jags were two outs away from the win when things went south.

A single and a walk put runners on second and an RBI double cut the lead in half. In the next at-bat, Missouri hit a three-run home run to take a 5-3 lead and another double forced Lucas from the game. Amanda Melzoni came in for Lucas and was able to get out of the inning with no more damage done.

Needing two runs to keep the game going, IUPUI started the inning with Berrisford getting on base with an infield single. With a 2-1 count Haley Ginger delivered the big hit, connecting on her first home run of the season with a drive to right field that tied the game. IUPUI would get a runner on with a Trevino walk but could not get the winning run across the plate and the Jags headed to extras for the first time this season.

With the game happening in tournament play, the international tie-break rule was used and extra innings began with a runner being put on second. Missouri began the inning moving their runner to third on a sacrifice bunt but the Jags forced two groundouts to keep Missouri off the board.

All IUPUI needed to do was get a runner home from second for the win and moved Loge to third on a sacrifice bunt but groundouts by Jaida Speth and Maddie Keeley meant the game headed to the ninth.

Missouri's half of the inning saw IUPUI walk the first runner to put runners on first and second with no outs. A fly out moved the go-ahead run to third and the Tigers took the lead in the next at-bat with a double to right center that scored two. Two batters later, another double brought home Missouri's third run of the inning.

IUPUI was facing an uphill battle in the final inning and after a fly out, Ginger drew a walk to get two runners on base. Mandy Dallas stepped to the plate and doubled to right center on the first pitch of the at-bat to score both Ginger and Keeley and pull the Jags within one. Two pitches later, Trevino tallied her third hit of the game with a double to right center that scored Dallas and tied the game. Kristin London walked on four-straight pitches and Loge singled to left field to load the bases with only one out. Delaney Thompson stepped up to the plate and on the first pitch the sophomore saw, Thompson singled to center field to score Trevino and give the Jags the win.

Trevino, Dallas, Ginger and Thompson all finished with two RBI and Berrisford, Ginger, Loge and Thompson each collected two hits. The Jags also drew six walks and only struck out four times.

LOUISVILLE 3 – IUPUI 0
In the second game of the day, IUPUI only tallied three hits, all singles, one each by Berrisford, Ginger and Speth.

Louisville got their first two runs in the second inning with the first coming on a sacrifice fly and the second was scored on an infield single that came with two outs after an error kept the inning going.

The Jags biggest threat came in the third inning after Speth singled and Keeley walked but a groundout and a fly out put an end to any scoring opportunity.

In the sixth inning, Louisville added to their lead with another two-out run that came after a double and a single to left field.

Despite the loss, Melzoni pitched well for the Jags allowing two earned runs on five hits and finishing with a strikeout.

UP NEXT
IUPUI's next tournament will be in Memphis next Friday (Mar. 8) through Sunday (Mar. 10) with five games.