INDIANAPOLIS – A big game from
Jennah Speth on Senior Day led IUPUI to a 9-6 win the last game of the series against UIC on Saturday (May 1). IUPUI fell 1-0 in the first game of the day against the Flames as the Jags closed out the home portion of its schedule.
Speth had a two-run home run in the second game that broke open the game. She also earned her sixth win of the season with a complete game and six strikeouts.
UIC 1 – IUPUI 0
In a game that featured nine hits and one run, it was a solo shot from UIC in the fifth inning that earned the Flames the win in the first game of the day.
UIC singled in the second at bat of the game but did not collect another hit until Kayla Wedl homered with one out in the top of the sixth. The only other threat before the home run that the Flames presented IUPUI starter
Lexi Lucas was in the fourth. A walk was followed by a stolen base and the runner advanced to third on an error on the throw but Lucas got a foul out to end the inning.
The Jags got a single in the first by
Lauren Youngblood but Youngblood was picked off at first in the next at bat. IUPUI didn't have another base runner until Speth doubled to left in the fourth with two outs but Jordan Barned popped up to first to end the frame.
In the bottom of the sixth,
Jaida Speth singled up the middle with one out and moved to second on a single by
Morgan Gilbert with two outs.
Jennah Speth singled to short but Jaida was caught in a rundown between home and third and was thrown out at the plate to end the inning and IUPUI's threat as the Jags went down in order in the seventh.
Lucas ended up with the loss despite allowing just one run on four hits, while striking out three batters.
IUPUI 9 – UIC 6
To close out the final home series of the year, IUPUI's offense exploded for a 9-6 win. UIC scored two in the top of the first but IUPUI quickly responded. The Jags loaded the bases as Gilbert led off the inning with a single, Tori Sivert reached on an infield single with Gilbert safe at second and Speth walked.
Jordan Barnes delivered a line drive to the wall in left center to score Giblert and Sivert.
After a strikeout,
Kasie Keyes singled to center and Speth and
Ryleigh Marsh, who ran for Barnes, scored. Keyes was thrown out on the play trying to stretch to second but the Jags ended the inning up 4-2.
Jaida Speth led off the second with a single and after a sac bunt and foul out,
Jennah Speth took an 0-1 pitch deep to right center for a two-run home run, putting IUPUI up 6-2 and knocking UIC's starter out of the game.
Over the next four innings,
Jennah Speth was in control in the circle, allowing just one run for UIC to cross the plate.
Keyes doubled to start the sixth on the first pitch and moved to third on a sac bunt from
Hailey Pop. A bloop single down the right field line by
Amber Pagan scored Keyes.
Jaida Speth singled in the next at bat and moved to second as the ball got past UIC's left fielder to put runners at second and third. Gilbert knocked both runners in on a double to left to make the score 9-3.
Three outs away from a win, IUPUI allowed a single before a throwing error put runners on first and third. A double to left scored two runs to make it 9-5. After a pop up for the first out, a stolen base and single brought in the third run of the inning. The second out came on a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball put the runner on third. On a 2-2 count, Speth got a ground ball to first for the final out to clinch the win.
Gilbert, Keyes and
Jaida Speth each tallied two hits with Gilbert, Barnes and
Jennah Speth each driving in two for the Jags.
UP NEXT
IUPUI will play its final series of the season next weekend with four games at Green Bay. The Jags and Phoenix will play doubleheaders on both Friday (May 7) and Saturday (May 8).
