INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI forced extras in the second game but was not able to pick up a win in a doubleheader against UIC on Friday (April 30).

The Jags dropped the second game of the day in eight innings after tying the game in the bottom of the seventh.  To begin the day, despite an impressive game from both Lauren Youngblood and Morgan Gilbert at the plate, IUPUI could not capitalize on base runners, falling 11-2.

UIC 11 – IUPUI 2
Both the Jags and Flames finished with 13 hits but IUPUI wasn't able to come up with the hits that UIC was able to as the Jags lost 11-2 to start the series.

Seven of the 13 hits for IUPUI came from the top two spots in the order as Lauren Youngblood finished 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot and Morgan Gilbert was a perfect 4-for-4. Gilbert is the first Jaguar this year to finish with four hits in a game and Youngblood tallied three hits for the third time this season. Gilbert also finished the game with two RBI with a triple in the game.

While IUPUI's shortstop had a great game, the Jags had no answer for UIC's shortstop and the best player in the league, Kayla Wedl. Wedl finished the game 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI, two walks and four runs scored.

Wedl walked to start the game and stole second before scoring on a single two batters later to give UIC a 1-0 lead.

IUPUI had a chance to respond after singles from Youngblood and Gilbert. Youngblood moved to third in a fly out but in the next at bat, Gilbert was caught stealing second and Youngblood was thrown out in a rundown trying to take home to end the inning.

A bases loaded walk and wild pitch allowed two runs to score for the Flames in the second and the fourth run scored on a two-out single in the third.

Wedl hit her first home run of the game, a solo home run in the fourth before IUPUI finally got on the board in the fifth.

With two outs and Jaida Speth on first, Youngblood singled to center to get two runners on and bring Gilbert to the plate. Gilbert took the second pitch she saw to the wall in right center for a two-run triple to cut the deficit to three.

A two-RBI single in the sixth pushed the lead for UIC back to five and UIC added four runs in the seventh to get to the final score.

UIC 3 – IUPUI 2 F/8
Both offenses were held in better check in game two as the two teams finished with seven hits each. UIC got on the board first with a two-run single in the second but both pitchers were in control, not allowing another run until the Jags picked up their first run in the fifth.

Hailey Pop reached on an error to start the inning. Ryleigh Marsh, pinch running, moved to second on a sac bunt by Rachael Gregory and Jaida Speth, who finished the game with two hits, singled to get two runners on. Another sac bunt, this time by Youngblood, moved the runners up and an infield single by Gilbert brought home Marsh to make the game 2-1.

Entering the bottom of the seventh, the Jags needed a run to keep the game going. Speth took the first pitch she saw up the middle to begin the inning and stole second during the next at bat. Youngblood grounded out to move Speth to third with one out. Gilbert struck out swinging, putting IUPUI one out away from a loss. In a 2-2 count, Jennah Speth singled to right to bring home Jaida and tie the game. A groundout in the next at bat sent the game in to extras.

In the second extra inning game between IUPUI and UIC this season, UIC quickly got the upper hand with a leadoff home run in the eighth. Two of the next three batters reached but Jennah Speth was able to get the next two batters out to keep the score a 3-2.

This time, there would be no comeback in the cards for IUPUI as the Jags went three-up, three-down to end the game.

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IUPUI and UIC will play another doubleheader on Saturday (May 1), beginning at 12 p.m.