BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The IUPUI softball team closed out the Indiana Invite on Sunday, March 10 with back-to-back games. The Jags' offense totaled 22 hits for 13 runs on the day but fell in both contests. IUPUI dropped game one to host Indiana in five innings, 11-2 then fell to Dayton, 14-11.
In game one on Sunday, the Jags faced the Indiana Hoosiers. IU took the win in five innings, 11-2. IUPUI jumped on the board first, scoring the first two runs of the game in the top of the first inning.
Rachael Gregory started the game with a lead-off single to centerfield and would eventually come around to score on a single by freshman
Paige McPhearson to give the Jags the early 1-0 lead. McPhearson later stole home to extend the Jags' lead to 2-0.
The Hoosiers quickly responded with eight runs on three hits and one IUPUI error in the bottom of the first inning to take an 8-2 lead. They added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with three runs on three hits and one Jaguar error, 11-2. IUPUI couldn't score in the top of the fifth to keep the game alive as IU took the run rule win.
Jasmin Speth took the loss on the mound for the Jags giving up eight runs (four unearned) on three hits and three walks. Gregory,
Kendal Calvert, McPhearson,
Kennedy Cowan and
Kelli Riordan all recorded hits in game one.
The Jags had a rematch with Dayton for game two on the day. Despite the Jags outhitting the Flyers, Dayton took the win, 14-11.
IUPUI once again took the lead early with five runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Calvert tripled to right field to get the Jags' started. McPhearson then singled up the middle to score Calvert. With runners on first and third,
Kasie Keyes singles to center field to score one extended the Jags lead to 2-0.
Kennedy Cowan walked to load the bases for
Isabelle Waggner. Waggner knocked a single to score
Emma Wheatley while Keyes scored on an error by the Flyers' right fielder. The Jags scored one more run in the first inning when
Kayla Freiberg singled to third base to score Cowan, 5-0.
Dayton answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the Jags' lead to 5-3. The Flyers then took the lead in the bottom of the third inning with seven runs on four hits and one IUPUI error, 10-5.
The Jags added on run in the fourth with a solo home run from
Kinsey Pfeiffer cutting Dayton's lead to 10-6. The Flyers quickly added insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning with three runs on three hits, 13-6.
IUPUI made things close in the fifth inning with five runs. McPhearson collected two more RBI on the day with a single to score Riordan and Gregory. Calvert scored on a wild pitch while
Victoria Sivert collected her first RBI of the day on a single up the middle, scoring McPhearson. Frieberg hit a sacrifice fly to score Sivert to the Jags' final run of the game, 13-11.
The Flyers added one more insurance run in the sixth inning to secure the victory at 14-11.
Carly Metcalf took the loss on the mound giving up 12 runs (seven unearned) on seven hits and seven walks in three innings of work. The Jags combined for a total 17 hits in the loss with Calvert leading the way with one double and two singles. Gregory, McPhearson, Pfeiffer, Keyes and Waggner each added two hits. Sivert, Cowan, Freiberg and Riordan all added one hit each.
The Jaguars will now return to Indy to start Horizon League play when they host Cleveland State this next weekend. Due to weather the schedule could change, follow iupuijags.com to stay up-to-date.
