GREENVILLE, S.C. – In day one of the Furman Invitational, the IUPUI softball team dropped its opening matches against Georgetown, 6-0, and Furman, 3-2, Friday (Feb. 16) evening.
IUPUI (1-5) began the day against Georgetown (3-4) in the first of two matchups against the Hoyas this weekend. Georgetown, coming off a 2-1 victory in the opening game of the invitational, got off to a hot start, getting on the board in the second inning with a two-run homer by Samantha Miller. Later in the inning the lead would stretch to three after an Abby Kozo single brought in Gabby Park.
Another Hoya home run extended the lead in the top of the fourth. After two quick outs, Camryn Wincher doubled to left center, bringing in two runs to create a six-run advantage.
Jasmin Speth came in relief of
Carly Metcalf and got the Jags out of the inning.
The senior pitcher closed out the final three and one third innings without allowing a hit and recorded three strikeouts, but IUPUI was unable to generate any offense, registering just two hits in the final four innings.
The team got off to a much better start offensively in game number two against Furman (5-1), with
Morgan Gilbert and
Paige McPhearson hitting back-to-back doubles to put pressure on the hosts in the opening inning. After the bases were loaded following a walk, an error saw Gilbert reach the plate for the games' first run. McPhearson would score on the next at-bat after
Kayla Freiberg's groundout brought her home.
After both teams struggled for the next few innings, the Jags had an opportunity to extend the lead with runners on the corners in the top of the fifth, but a timely strikeout by Sierra Tufts saw the Paladins get out of the inning unscathed.
The hosts' offense came alive in the penultimate inning, tallying three runs to take the lead heading into the final frame. A two-run home run by Poole saw the Paladins take the lead after Lykins reached the plate earlier in the inning. Three quick outs in the top of the seventh saw Furman close out the game, 3-2.
IUPUI resumes play tomorrow morning when they take on Lipscomb at 11:30 a.m. Later in the day the Jags will play the Hoyas for the second time, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
