HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – They were two very different games, but IUPUI (9-21, 3-0 Horizon) softball got the same outcome, a win, to earn a series sweep over Northern Kentucky (7-18, 0-3 Horizon) on Saturday (Mar. 23). The Jags took game one 13-5 in five innings and then won a pitcher's duel, 1-0 in the second game.

IUPUI has now won three games in a row for the first time since May 7-12 of 2017. The Jags have also won their first three conference games since 2017. 

IUPUI 13 – Northern Kentucky 5 (F/5)
The Jags exploded for a season-high 13 runs in the first game of the day. IUPUI used 12 hits and both Delaney Thompson and Kristin London finished with three hits. Haley Ginger and Mandy Dallas both added two hits.

After two outs in the top of the first, IUPUI broke through after Dallas doubled to center field. Dallas moved to third on a wild pitch and came home on a single by Thompson. In the next at bat, London doubled to center field and Thompson came all the way around from first to double the lead.

IUPUI took full control of the game in the third inning, plating eight runs, matching a season-high for runs in an inning. Ginger started the inning with a single to center and after a popup, Dallas walked, moving Ginger in to scoring position. Thompson came through in the next at bat with a single up the middle to score Ginger and London singled to load the bases. Jaida Speth reached on an RBI infield single and Northern Kentucky made a pitching change.

In the next at bat, a passed ball brought home Thompson and Sabrina Trevino later walked to load the bases again. Emily Berrisford picked up an RBI the hard way getting hit by a pitch in the middle of the back that put the Jags up 6-0.

Maddie Keeley came in to pinch hit and reached on a fielding error by NKU's third baseman, bringing home another run. Ginger then stepped to the plate and doubled to the wall in right center, scoring two more runs and once again Northern Kentucky made a pitching change. After the second change of the inning, Keeley scored on another passed ball and IUPUI ended the third up 10-0.

NKU got a run back in the bottom of the third but the Jags responded in the top of the fourth. Thompson singled to lead off the inning and London dealt the big blow with a no-doubt home run to left center, making the score  12-1.

IUPUI looked like a run-rule win was in place but Northern Kentucky put that in doubt with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to seven.
In the top of the fifth, Dallas delivered a clutch two-out double to score McKenzie Loge and get the Jags back up by eight.

Needing to get three outs to end the game, Amanda Melzoni got two quick outs but then gave up a single. In the next at bat, Melzoni got a fly out to Thompson in left to end the game.

Melzoni picked up her third win of the season (3-5) throwing a complete game, allowing just one earned run and only walked two batters.

The Jags were very efficient on the offensive end, leaving just three runners on base.

IUPUI 1 – Northern Kentucky 0
After treating the fans to plenty of fireworks in the first game, the crowd saw a pitching exhibition in game two.

IUPUI started Lexi Lucas (6-8) threw a gem, allowing just three hits and not walking a runner, while striking out one batter. Northern Kentucky's starter Taylor Ginther (5-9) scattered eight IUPUI hits, allowing just one run and striking out three.

Lucas has now allowed just two runs over her last 18 innings and has not walked a batter in her last three outings. The freshman has only walked one batter in her last six appearances, a total of 34.1 innings.

The Jags had good production from the top of their order with both Ginger and Loge finishing the game 2-for-3. Berrisford also went 2-for-3 on the afternoon.
Through the first three innings, each team only got one runner to second base, both times coming with two outs and both pitchers getting out of the inning without damage being done.

IUPUI looked to break through after Loge tripled to center field to lead off the top of the fourth. After Dallas lined out to Ginther, Thompson struck out for the second out of the inning. London then ended IUPUI's threat with a ground out to third, stranding Loge.

Speth began the fifth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Berrisford singled but Speth was caught in a run down for the second out of the inning and ended IUPUI's chance to finally get on the board.

In the sixth, another baserunning error looked like it might cost the Jags. Ginger singled to lead off the inning and Loge reached on a bunt with both runners moving up 60 feet after a throwing error. With the go-ahead run at third, Dallas hit a grounder to short but the Norse came home and caught Ginger in a rundown but Loge and Dallas managed to get to third and second. Thompson came up with the big hit in the next at bat singling up the middle and scoring Loge.

Looking to add to the lead, pinch runner Taytum Schaney stole second but the Norse threw out Dallas who was coming home on the play to extinguish the threat.
One run proved to be enough as Lucas was in control of the NKU lineup. Lucas did not allow a runner in the last three innings to close out her second complete game shutout of the season.

UP NEXT
IUPUI will play a midweek game at Valparaiso on Wednesday (Mar. 27) before hosting Youngstown State for a weekend series on Friday (Mar. 29) and Saturday (Mar. 30).