INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI softball ended up on the wrong end of two close battles against Robert Morris on Friday (April 16). IUPUI lost the first game by two before falling in extras in the second.
Abbey Haas hit her first-career home run for the Jags in the second game of the day.
ROBERT MORRIS 5 – IUPUI 3
In the first game of the day, IUPUI picked up six hits from six different batters, but left nine runners on base in the 5-3 loss to the Colonials.
The Jags jumped on Robert Morris early thanks to miscues by the Colonials.
Lauren Youngblood walked to start the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later,
Jennah Speth pulled back on a bunt while Youngblood broke for third. RMU's catcher threw to third with no defender covering and Youngblood came home to put the Jags on the board.
Robert Morris took advantage of an error by IUPUI with the bases loaded to score its first run and a groundout in the next at bat scored the second run of the inning.
Haas began the bottom of the inning with a double to the wall in left center and moved to third on a sac bunt by
Hailey Pop. With two outs, Gregory doubled to center to score Haas but after Haas scored, Gregory came off the bag and was tagged out to end the inning.
A leadoff double and one out single put Robert Morris back on top in the fourth but IUPUI got the run right back.
Morgan Gilbert doubled and two-straight wild pitches tied the game at three.
With one out and a runner on in the top of the fifth, a two-run home run to right center broke the tie for RMU.
Back-to-back walks to start the fifth chased Robert Morris' starter. After a strikeout, a fielder's choice got the runner at third but an error on the throw to first for the double play moved Pop to third with two outs. After Gregory moved to second, Gilbert flew out to leave the runners stranded.
The Jags got a runner to second in the bottom of the sixth but that was all the damage they could do the rest of the game.
ROBERT MORRIS 3 – IUPUI 2 F/8
Another set of miscues hurt the Jags as IUPUI lost an extra inning matchup to close out day one of the series against Robert Morris.
Haas had the best day at the plate for the Jags going 3-for-4 with a solo home run, the first of her career. Both
Jennah Speth and
Morgan Gilbert each finished with two hits.
After a solo home run in the top of the second, Pop doubled to start the bottom of the inning. A sac bunt and single by Gilbert brought home the tying run.
With one out in the bottom of the third, IUPUI loaded the bases with a fielder's choice, walk and infield single. A ground ball forced the runner out at home and Pop flew out to right to leave the bases loaded and the score tied 1-1.
The game remained tied until the top of the fifth. A lead-off walk and stolen base put the go-ahead run at second. With one out, a ground ball was hit to the Gilbert at short. The ball got by Gilbert and the run came around to score. IUPUI's coaching staff argued that Gilbert was contacted by the runner while fielding the ball. The umpire's upheld the decision that there was no contact that Robert Morris took a 2-1 lead.
To start the bottom of the sixth, Haas took a 3-1 pitch deep to left and tied the game.
After the Jags picked up a double play in the seventh to keep the Colonials off the board, the Jags had a chance to win with a walk off.
Back-to-back infield hits by Gilbert and
Jaida Speth put the winning run on second. A sac bunt put the winning run 60 feet away. A ground ball by
Maicey Bedrick was snagged by RMU's pitcher and Gilbert was caught between third and home before being tagged out in a rundown, ending IUPUI's threat and sending the game to extras.
A lead-off walk was followed by a sac bunt attempt. The throw from
Jennah Speth over to first on the play was over the head of Tori Sivert, who was covering on the play, and the run came all the way around from first to give RMU the 3-2 lead.
The Jags got two-straight walks with one out in the eighth and a ground out moved to the runners to second and third. With Gilbert up and two outs, the freshman shortstop grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
UP NEXT
IUPUI and Robert Morris will play two games on Saturday (April 17) to finish out the four-game series. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. ET.
