CHICAGO -  IUPUI softball fell in to an early hole it could not overcome in a 12-3 loss to UIC in five innings on Thursday (May 9). The loss moves IUPUI in to the loser's bracket of the Horizon League Softball Championship.

The Jaguars offense could not get much going, managing just three hits for the game.

IUPUI fell behind early after UIC scored five runs in the bottom of the first after the Jags gave up four walks. Freshman Jaida Speth allowed a leadoff single and then walked three-straight batters to bring home the first run for the Flames. After Dezirae Leonard replaced Speth, UIC scored two runs on a sacrifice fly after the throw home was off the mark. A double in the next at bat made the score 4-0 and a single with two outs brought in the fifth run.

UIC added two more runs in the third before IUPUI earned its first hit of the game. Delaney Thompson picked up the first hit for IUPUI in the fourth and after a walk by Trevino, the Jags had a runner in scoring position. Speth came to the plate and delivered a big shot with a home run to center field to cut the deficit to four.

The Flames responded with two more runs in the bottom of the inning, increasing the lead to 9-3.

The Jaguars managed to get a runners on first and second with two outs but a ground out ended any chance for IUPUI to cut in to the UIC lead.

After getting the first two outs in the bottom of the fifth, UIC's No. 9 batter tripled to keep the inning going. A single on the next play to left brought home the run and Kayla Wedl, the Horizon League Player of the Year, hit a home run to center to end the game in five innings.

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IUPUI will play in the loser's bracket with its season on the line. The Jags will play Northern Kentucky on Friday (May 10) with first pitch at 1 p.m. ET.