INDIANAPOLIS – In a day that featured a seven-run comeback, a grand slam and a shutout, IUPUI earned a series sweep over Wright State winning both games of a double header on Saturday (April 6). With the wins, IUPUI improves to 6-1 in conference play, the best start to league play in the school's Division I history (1998).
IUPUI 8 – Wright State 7
Facing a 7-0 deficit after the top of the first inning, IUPUI needed to mount its largest comeback of the year to earn its first win of the day.
The comeback began in the bottom of the first as
McKenzie Loge singled with one out and moved to second on a
Delaney Thompson single two batters later.
Kristin London stepped to the plate and singled up the middle scoring Loge. With London trying to advance to second, the throw was off target and allowed Thompson to score the second run of the inning.
Both offenses went cold until the bottom of the fourth when the Jags picked up another run. After London was hit by a pitch a fielder's choice put
Jaida Speth on first with one out. Speth then moved to third on back-to-back passed balls and
Sabrina Trevino brought home the freshman on a single up the middle.
In the bottom of the fifth, IUPUI completed the comeback thanks to a bases-clearing double by Speth. The inning began with a single by Loge, a walk by
Mandy Dallas and another single by Thompson to load the bases. London was hit by another pitch to bring home the first run, setting up Speth's double to tie the game at seven. After Trevino grounded out to move Speth to third, a wild pitch gave the Jags an 8-7 lead.
The Raiders would not be able to tie the game thanks to a spectacular outing by
Dezirae Leonard. Leonard entered the game in the first inning for Melzoni and got out of a major jam only surrendering two runs. From there the junior finished the game throwing the remaining six innings without giving up a run and only allowing three Raiders to reach base the rest of the game.
Leonard picked up her first win of the season in effort, striking out four batters.
IUPUI 7 – Wright State 0
With the Jags looking to complete the series sweep, both offenses were shutdown to begin the game until IUPUI took advantage of a Wright State error in the third. Loge begin the inning with an infield single and Ginger was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. In the next at bat, Thompson reached on an error by the Wright State shortstop loading the bases for
Mandy Dallas. On the first pitch of the at bat, Dallas hit a no-doubt home run over the center field fence for a grand slam, giving the Jags a 4-0 lead.
After the Jags made the score 5-0 with an RBI single from Ginger, IUPUI almost ended the game in the sixth, scoring two more runs. After a walk and a wild pitch began the inning, another walk put two runners on. Loge then singled to right field to make it 6-0 Jags. Ginger laid down a beautiful bunt in the next at bat and the throw was off target allowing IUPUI seventh run to score with one out. IUPUI was not able to bring across the winning run but that did not matter with the performance
Lexi Lucas gave IUPUI.
The freshman was extremely efficient, finishing the game with less than 80 pitches in her third-complete game shutout of the season. Lucas only gave up three hits and struck out five batters while not walking a single Wright State player. After a lead-off double to start the game, Lucas retired the next 19 batters before giving up a single in the top of the seventh.
UP NEXT
IUPUI will continue Horizon League play with a road trip to Green Bay on Tuesday (April 9) and Wednesday (April 10) before returning home to play Oakland for a three-game series next weekend.
