INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI had chances but could not get the winning run across the plate in a 7-6 loss in 10 innings to Butler on Wednesday (April 3). The Jags stranded a total of 14 runners on the bases in the defeat.

Entering the seventh down by two runs, IUPUI began the inning with Delaney Thompson hitting a line drive to left that went between the left fielder's legs and all the way to the wall. Thompson ended up at third due to the error. After a foul out, Jaida Speth singled home Thompson to pull the Jags within one.

Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Jags and Delainey Turner came up with the big hit, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field that brought home Speth. In the next at-bat, Haley Ginger drew a walk and loaded the bases again. With the winning run standing just 60 feet away, McKenzie Loge got ahead 3-0 but Butler's pitcher Kaitlin Dowd battled back and got Loge to groundout on a comebacker to force extra innings.

IUPUI came in to the game 2-2 in extra innings having won their last extra inning affair against Northern Kentucky in the Horizon League opener (Mar. 22).
Butler got the lead-off batter on to start the eighth and after a fly out, a ground out moved the runner to second. A foul out down the right field line to Loge ended Butler's chances in the inning.

The Jags looked to take advantage of another Bulldog error as Mandy Dallas reached to begin the bottom half on a fielding error at short stop. Thompson's groundout moved Dallas to second but a pop up and ground out sent the game to the ninth.

The Bulldogs put the pressure on IUPUI in the ninth, loading the bases on three-straight singles. A sacrifice fly in the next at bat scored the go-ahead run but after the throw came home, catcher Taytum Schaney threw out the runner tagging up from first for the second out of the inning. The Jags escaped more damage as Dezirae Leonard got a groundout to Emily Berrisford at short to end the inning.

Needing a run, Berrisford grounded out but Schaney drew a one-out walk. After Schaney stole second, Turner hit a routine ground ball to short but the throw was wide of the first baseman, allowing Schaney to score the tying run and moving Turner to second. With the go-ahead run standing at second, IUPUI had the top of the order up but Ginger struck out swinging and Loge fouled out to the shortstop to push the game to a tenth inning.

The game was now the longest game IUPUI has played since going 10 innings against UMKC back in 2016. Butler again quickly put the pressure on the Jags as Karli Ricketts hit her second home run of the game to lead off the inning. After two walks, the Bulldogs looked poised to put the game out of reach but Berrisford threw out the runner at third on the next ground ball and went to first for the second out on a ground ball in the next at bat. With runners on second a third, Leonard got a ground out to Dallas at second to keep the Jags just down one.

Again having their backs against the wall, the Jags began the inning with Dallas at the plate. The junior got ahold of one but it carried just to the warning track for the first out. Thompson then stepped to the plate and put a charge in to one that again got to the warning track but was caught up against the wall. Down to their final out, Kristin London stepped up but struck out to end the game.

Butler jumped out in front early with a three run home run after a double and single in the top of the second.

In the bottom of the third, Ginger got on base with a single and a double to the wall by Loge put the Jags on the board. Dallas tied the game up in the next at bat with a two-run shot to left center, her fourth home run of the season.

The long ball did the Jags in again in the sixth with Ricketts' first home run of the game to lead off the inning, which chased starter Lexi Lucas. Leonard was rudely met with the very next batter homering to right field to push the lead to 5-3.

Thompson finished with the most hits for the Jags, going 3-for-6 on the day. IUPUI only finished with eight hits, Ginger being the only other Jag with multiple hits (2-for-4), but the Jags did draw a season-high eight walks. Ginger and Sabrina Trevino both finished with two free passes on the night.

IUPUI has now played in five extra-inning games this season, already more than the last two seasons combined.

UP NEXT
IUPUI will go back to Horizon League play as the Jags host Wright State for a three game set over the weekend. The Jags and Raiders will play one game on Friday (April 5) at 3 p.m. and finish up the series with a double header on Saturday (April 6) at 1 p.m.