INDIANAPOLIS – Two more close games featured a walk-off win for IUPUI as the Jags split the doubleheader with Robert Morris on Saturday (April 17).
IUPUI came back from down 4-1 in the seventh inning to pick up the 5-4 win in the second game of the day. Earlier in the day, the Jags lost a 4-3 game to the Colonials.
IUPUI 5 – ROBERT MORRIS 4
A four-run bottom of the seventh led IUPUI to a win to close out the series with the Colonials.
Morgan Gilbert, celebrating her birthday, capped the game with a bases-loaded walk-off single.
Maicey Bedrick hit a three-run blast earlier in the seventh inning to tie the game for IUPUI.
Down 4-1 with the offense having been stagnant after a first inning run, IUPUI needed to make something happen. An infield single by
Rachael Gregory led off the inning and
Hailey Pop reached on an error by RMU's shortstop. Bedrick stepped to the plate and took the first pitch she saw deep over the wall in right center to tie the game.
"I was mainly looking for outside because that is where she had been throwing," said Bedrick. "The first few at bats I had swung early and I said I was going to wait but it looked good and I just went for it."
After the home run,
Jasmin Speth drew a four-pitch walk and
Jaida Speth doubled on a ball that came close to hitting the right field line to move Jasmin to third. With the winning run at third,
Lauren Youngblood walked to load the bases, bringing up Gilbert and forcing Robert Morris to make a pitching change.
It didn't take long as Gilbert took the first pitch she saw right back up the middle in to center field to bring home Speth and give the Jags the win.
"It feels great to get the win. In the last inning it took every single one of us," said Gilbert. "So many people did so many things. I knew everyone believed in me when I stepped up and I just love this team."
Gilbert also got things going for the Jags in the first, doubling with one out and scoring two batters later on an
Abbey Haas single to give IUPUI a 1-0 lead.
Two errors by IUPUI allowed two runs across for Robert Morris in the fourth and a two-run home run made the score 4-1 in the top of the fifth.
Jennah Speth picked up the win going seven innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits and striking out three.
ROBERT MORRIS 4 – IUPUI 3
In another close game to start the day, IUPUI fell by one while leaving eight runners on base. Gilbert, Youngblood and Gregory all finished with two hits for the Jags.
IUPUI struck first in the third after Youngblood doubled to start the inning and scored on a triple by Gilbert over the right fielder's head. In the next at bat,
Jennah Speth hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring home Gilbert and give IUPUI a 2-0 lead.
Robert Morris responded right away against starter
Lexi Lucas with a two-run shot after an error and a solo home run two batters later to take a 3-2 advantage.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth. Youngblood reached on an infield single and Gilbert singled on a perfect bunt.
Jennah Speth reached on a nine-pitch walk to load the bases with no outs. Back-to-back strikeouts put the Jags in danger of not getting a run on the board with bags full.
Hailey Pop hit a grounder to short but the throw was dropped at first allowing IUPUI to tie the game before a groundout ended the inning.
Back-to-back one-out doubles in the top of the sixth put the Colonials back on top.
Over the next two innings, IUPUI would only pick up one hit as RMU closed out the game.
UP NEXT
IUPUI will hit the road next weekend for games at Northern Kentucky on Friday (April 23) and Saturday (April 24).
