EL PASO, Texas – After a week off, IUPUI softball is back in action with a five-game tournament at UTEP. The Jaguars will play two teams they have never faced before during the event.
IUPUI will start the weekend off on Friday (Feb. 21) with games against New Mexico State (12:30 p.m. ET) and host UTEP (5:30 p.m. ET). On Saturday (Feb. 22), IUPUI takes on Omaha (4 p.m. ET) and again face off against UTEP to end the day (6:30 p.m. ET). IUPUI will take on New Mexico State again to close out the tournament on Sunday (Feb. 23) at 12 pm. ET.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb.21
- vs New Mexico State // 12:30 pm ET
- at UTEP // 5:30 pm ET
Saturday, Feb. 22
- vs Omaha // 4 pm ET
- at UTEP // 6:30 pm ET
Sunday, Feb. 23
- vs New Mexico State // 12 pm ET
ABOUT IUPUI
The Jags are 2-3 on the season after their first tournament of the season in Rosemont, Ill., over the first weekend of the season. Freshman Rachael Gregory was on fire for IUPUI during the tourney, hitting a team-best .615 (8-for-13). Gregory also led the team win RBI (5) and on base percentage (.706), while tying McKenzie Loge for the team lead with four walks.
Sophomore Jaida Speth also had a strong opening tournament with a .462 average, including two doubles and a triple, while driving in four. Hailey Pop hit .313and hit the Jaguars only home run of the weekend.
In the circle, freshman Kayana Diederich led the team with a 1.29 EAR and picked up a win in her first-career start, throwing a complete game against Evansville. Diederich threw a team-high 14 innings in three games, allowing just two strikeouts and striking out four batters.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (First Meeting)
New Mexico State is 5-3 on the season and won their last game in what was a split of a four-game series against Omaha. The Aggies' offense has been hot in the early season with four players hitting at least .478, and three of those players hitting at least .500. Matalasi Faapito leads NMSU with a .542 average and 13 hits. Faapito is tied with Ramsay Lopez for the team lead with five home runs. As a team the Aggies have hit 20 home runs through eight games and are hitting .338.
Faapito also leads the team in the circle with 23.2 innings pitched and holds a 3.69 ERA. Analise De La Roca leads the team with three wins.
ABOUT UTEP (First Meeting)
UTEP is 2-8 on the season with losses in its last two games. The Miners are led at the plate by Kasey Flores, who leads the team win average (.370), hits (10) and home runs (3). As a team, UTEP is hitting just .256 on the early season.
UTEP is struggling in the circle with the pitching staff holding a team ERA of 8.05, having allowed 68 runs in 51.1 innings. Control has been an issue, issuing 41 walks on the year to just 18 strikeouts. Zaylie Calderon holds a 1-1 record and a team-best 4.67 ERA.
ABOUT OMAHA (Omaha leads 9-4)
Omaha is 5-4 on the season, already passing their win total from last year. The Mavericks split a four-game series against UTEP and have already beating the Jags in the first game of the season (7-6).
Allison Helton leads the Mavericks with a .429 average and Emma Dargy has been scorching opposing pitchers with a .393 average, five home runs and 17 RBI.
In the circle, Sydney Hampton holds a perfect 5-0 record with a 2.72 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched. Hampton has struck out 17 batters to just eight walks.
