CARBONDALE, Ill. – IUPUI softball fell short in a comeback attempt against DePaul, falling to the Blue Demons 5-3 in the first game of the Saluki Invitational at Southern Illinois on Friday (March. 6).

IUPUI (3-13) came in to the top of the seventh, trailing 5-1 and had one out on the board when Jordan Barnes stepped to the plate. Barnes got ahold of one and hit her first-career home run to right center. After the second out for the Jags, Kayana Diederich crushed her first-career home run to left center to make it a two run game.

Jaida Speth singled off DePaul's pitcher to bring the tying run to the plate but after a pitching change, McKenzie Loge grounded to third to end the game.

The Jags outhit DePaul 7-6 with six Jaguars getting a hit and Speth collecting two. The Jags also drew three walks but ultimately could not capitalize on some opportunities in the middle innings.

IUPUI hit in to double plays in both the first and third innings and left a runner on base in both the fifth and sixth inning. The Jags other run in the game came in the second. Rachael Gregory earned a one-out single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases with one out. Delainey Turner hit a fly ball to center to bring home Gregory but a ground out ended the inning.

DePaul started the scoring with two outs in the first, getting a solo home run and a triple after a walk to take a 2-0 lead. The Blue Demons scored two more runs against Diederich in the third, capitalizing on the first of two Jaguar errors. In the fifth, DePaul added their final run with a single after an error allowed the leadoff batter to get to third.

IUPUI will continue play at Southern Illinois with two games on Saturday (March. 7). The Jags will take on Northern Illinois to start the day at 11 a.m. ET and finish up their day at 5:45 p.m. ET against Western Illinois.