INDIANAPOLIS – The Jaguars hosted Eastern Illinois for a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The Panthers defeated IUPUI in run rule fashion in game one, 8-0. The Jags and Panthers went to nine innings in game two with Eastern Illinois earning the 5-3 win.
In game one Eastern Illinois (13-12) took the lead early with four runs in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly by Riley Dittmar and a three-run homer from Maddie Swart. The Panthers extended their lead to 6-0 in the top of the third with back-to-back RBI singles. EIU scored one more run in the fourth inning and another in the fifth inning to push the score to 8-0 and seal the run rule with three outs in the bottom of the fifth frame.
Lauren Youngblood and
Morgan Gilbert each recorded hits for IUPUI (2-22) in the loss while
Carly Metcalf took the loss on the mound for the Jags giving up four runs on one hit and three walks in two innings of work.
Jasmin Speth also threw three innings and gave up four runs (two unearned) on five hits. She struck out two and had no walks.
In game two the Panthers were on the board first with an RBI single in the top of the second inning to give EIU the 1-0 lead. They added two more runs on two hits and one Jaguar error in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 3-0.
IUPUI fought back in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Gilbert led the inning off with a single through the left side.
Rachael Gregory reached base after being hit by pitch and
Hailey Pop singled to right field to load the bases. With the bases loaded and one out,
Ashley Shelton reached on a error by the Panther's left fielder to score Gilbert and Gregory.
Jaylin Calvert then hit a sac fly to center field to score Pop.
The Jags held off the Panthers with a scoreless seventh and eighth inning but in the top of the ninth EIU scored two runs to seal the 5-3 lead and ultimately earn the win.
Kendal Calvert, Gilbert, Gregory, Pop and
Kasie Keyes each recorded a hit in game two.
Isabelle Waggner took the loss on the mound throwing the complete game giving up five runs (two unearned) on seven hits and five walks. Waggner fanned four batters in the loss.
IUPUI will travel to Oakland on Friday to face the conference foes in a single game on Friday at 3:00 PM and a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game starting at 1:00 PM.