CLINTON, S.C. - The IUPUI softball team got a pair of standout pitching performances, but was unable to muster offense as the Jaguars dropped back-to-back games at the Pinnacle PC Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 18). The Jags were dumped by Appalachian State 1-0 in the morning and then fell to host Presbyterian in the nightcap, 3-0.
Sophomore
Madison Bryant fanned 13 batters in game two in the loss.
Game #1 - Appalachian State 1, IUPUI 0
The Jaguars lost in a pitchers duel as Delani Buckner outlasted IUPUI's
Alexa Holman in game one on Saturday. Holman (1-2) tossed a complete game, allowing a run and six hits in the loss.
App State pushed across the game's only run in the fifth inning as Kayt Houston reached on an infield single and scored two batters later when Kaley Coltrain doubled to the gap in left-center.
IUPUI threatened in the fourth when
Kayla Freiberg reaching on a leadoff single and pinch runner
Kelli Riordan moved to second on
Kendal Calvert's sacrifice bunt. Riordan advanced to third on
Victoria Sivert's ground out, but
Maicey Bedrick was retired on a fly out to end the inning. Buckner retired the final seven batters in order to close out the win.
Morgan Gilbert, Freiberg and
Jaida Speth accounted for the team's three hits.
Game #2 - Presbyterian 3, IUPUI 0
In game two, Bryant and Presbyterian's Peyton Duncan traded goose eggs until the hosts broke through in the sixth inning. Kendall Owens brought home a run with an infield single before being lifted for pinch runner Morgan Farthing. Farthing helped Presbyterian (7-0) score a second run as the trail runner on a double steal, allowing Jenna Borkey to score from third on the play.
Ciara Hanson followed with an RBI double to make it 3-0.
IUPUI (1-6) threatened in the top of the seventh as Sivert led off with a walk and moved to third two batters later on Speth's double to left center. However, both were left stranded as Gregory grounded out to end the game.
IUPUI finished with four hits as both Speth and
Kennedy Cowan had doubles in the loss.
IUPUI will close out the tournament on Sunday (Feb. 19) when the Jaguars take on Seton Hall at 10:00 a.m.