ROSEMONT, Ill. – IUPUI softball kicks off its season with five games at the Rambler Rumble in the Dome at Rosemont over the weekend. The Jags will begin play against Omaha on Friday (Feb. 7) at 11 a.m. ET.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday // Feb. 7
Omaha – 11 a.m.
Western Illinois – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday // Feb. 8
Evansville – 4:00 p.m.
Miami (Ohio) – 6:30 p.m.
Sunday // Feb. 9
Loyola Chicago – 1:30 p.m.
IUPUIABOUT
The Jaguars will open the season facing off against two former Summit League opponents in Omaha and Western Illinois. IUPUI is coming off of a season where they finished 18-38 overall and 11-11 in the Horizon League, good for a sixth-place finish.
The majority of the Jags lineup returns from a season ago with the top five bats coming back. Sophomore Jaida Speth led the Jags a season ago with a .314 batting average and struck out just seven times in 153 at bats. The power of the lineup is also back as 22 of IUPUI's 29 home runs from a season ago are back, including Mandy Dallas, who led the team with eight and Sabrina Trevino, who finished with seven.
In the circle, IUPUI brings back every player who pitched an inning last season. Sophomore Lexi Lucas is back after a freshman campaign that featured a 5.63 ERA in 30 starts. Lucas finished the season with 15 complete games and three shutouts.
ABOUT OMAHA
IUPUI is 4-8 all-time against the Mavericks with a 14-13 win in the last meeting back in 2016. Omaha had won three-straight before that game.
Last season, Omaha went 4-43 and 2-16 in conference play, ending the season with nine-straight losses. Sophomore Jaime White led the Mavericks with a 2.63 average and five home runs last season. In the circle, all three pitchers are back for Omaha with Sydney Hampton returning as the top pitcher, having posted a 5.55 ERA a season ago.
ABOUT WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Leathernecks hold a 53-17 overall advantage over IUPUI in the series, including beating the Jaguars in both meetings last year at this same tournament.
Western Illinois went 20-20 last season and was 12-6 in conference play. Western's top batter, Jasmine Lara is back after hitting .308 as a junior. The Leathernecks only hit 16 home runs and gave up 35.
ABOUT EVANSVILLE
IUPUI is 2-4 against the Aces with a 5-0 win two seasons ago in the last meeting. The Jags and Evansville have only met twice since 2001.
Evansville was 19-30 last year, 9-16 in conference play, losing their last four games. The Aces return their top two bats the finished the season over .300 in Eryn Gould and Katie McLean. Gould also finished the year with a team-high 10 home runs.
ABOUT MIAMI (OHIO)
Miami holds a slim 3-2 lead in the all-time series over the Jaguars, winning the last two matchups, including a 6-3 win back in 2018.
Miami was picked to win the MAC in the preseason poll after a 35-16 record last season, including a 16-4 mark in conference play. Only one of Miami's .300+ hitters returns as Morgan Lott is back for her junior year after hitting .333 with 11 doubles, six triples and five home runs as a sophomore.
ABOUT LOYOLA
IUPUI is 2-3 all-time against the Ramblers, dropping the last three meetings, each one coming at the opening weekend tournament the last three years.
Last season, Loyola finished 25-25 on the season with a 9-16 mark in the Missouri Valley. Allyson Ivey is back for her junior year after scorching her sophomore year, leading Loyola in batting average (.460), runs (29), hits (63), doubles (11) home runs (9) and RBI (54).
