ROSEMONT, Ill. – IUPUI softball picked up a comeback win thanks to clutch hitting and strong defense against Western Illinois, beating the Leathernecks 9-7. The Jags split the first day of the Rambler Rumble, falling to Omaha to start the day.
Jaida Speth had one of the best days at the plate for IUPUI, going 4-for-6 from the plate, including a 3-for-4 day with three RBI against Western Illinois. Rachel Gregory also started her career out strong as the freshman reached base in every at bat going 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBI against Omaha, then going 1-for-1 with three walks against the Leathernecks.
IUPUI 9, Western Illinois 7
The Jags found themselves down 3-0 heading in to the bottom of the fourth. Two walks and a single by Rachel Gregory loaded the bases for IUPUI and Delainey Turner brought home the first run on a single to third, scoring Hailey Pop. Jaida Speth then hit an infield single to the pitcher and IUPUI pulled within one at 3-2.
Things looked bleak for the Jaguars after Western Illinois scored three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth but it could have been worse if not for the defense of left fielder McKenzie Loge. Three different times, Loge crashed in to the wall in left field to rob a Leatherneck home run, keeping another five runs off of the scoreboard.
After Loge's third home run robbery, the Jags offense woke up. The inning began with a fly out but singles by Speth and Loge put two runners on. Delaney Thompson opened the flood gates with a double to score Speth and Mandy Dallas doubled to left to bring home both Loge and Thompson.
A strikeout put two outs on the board but Pop singled to score Dallas in the next at bat to cut the lead to one. Gregory walked and Maicey Bedrick doubled to left center to bring home Pop and tie the game. Delainey Turner walked to load the bases and Speth, batting for the second time in the inning, delivered a shot to left center to score both Gregory and Bedrick, putting IUPUI up 9-7.
From there, Lexi Lucas was able to shut down the Western bats, notching a three-up, three-down inning in the seventh to secure her first win of the year.
OMAHA 7, IUPUI 6
The first game of the day had a wild start with the teams scoring all but one run in the game during the opening frame. IUPUI jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning thanks to some poor defense from Omaha.
Loge scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch after a walk and a single by Pop that moved her to third. After a walk and two groundouts, Gregory delivered with her first-career hit and RBI, scoring both Dallas and Pop on a single to left. In the next at bat, a misplayed ball by the left fielder allowed Bedrick to race around the bases for two more runs for the Jags.
Omaha was not bothered by the deficit as the Mavericks batters got to IUPUI starter Dezirae Leonard with two singles and two doubles in the first four at bats, scoring three runs. After two outs, a walk and a single kept the inning alive. A fielding error at second base scored a run and a triple in the next at bat brought home two more. Kayana Diederich then took to the circle and was met with a single that brought home Omaha's seventh run of the inning before striking out the next batter.
No offense would score again until the fifth inning. After double play in the top of the inning after a Dallas walk, Thompson kept the inning alive with a triple before Gregory brought her home with a single to center field but that was all IUPUI would muster in the inning.
Over the last two innings, IUPUI would only get one more runner on base and would not get that runner past first as Omaha held on for the win.
Diederich, making her first-career appearance shined for the Jags in relief, scattering four hits with one walk and one strikeout in 5.1 innings.
UP NEXT
IUPUI will have two more games at the Rambler Rumble on Saturday (Feb. 8) with contests against Evansville and Miami (Ohio).
