INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI softball team fell in back-to-back games to the Northern Kentucky Norse. The Jags dropped the first game, 7-3, then fell in the final game, 6-4, in extra innings.
The Jags and Norse started Wednesday's play with the conclusion of game two in the series. After the game was postponed in the top of the second on Tuesday, they Norse picked up where they left off, taking the victory, 7-3.
In the top of the second, Northern Kentucky scored four runs on four hits. IUPUI added one run in the bottom half of the frame to get on the board.
Kasie Keyes singled to
Kennedy Cowan, 4-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Jags cut the deficit to one, 4-3. Cowan doubled to right center to score
Rachael Gregory and
Morgan Gilbert.
The Norse then added one run in the fourth inning, one run in the fifth and one run in the seventh to secure the victory at 7-3.
Carly Metcalf took the loss giving up four runs on three hits.
Jasmin Speth pitched the majority of the game giving up three runs on six hits in six innings of work.
Gilbert went 3-for-3 at the plate with a run while Keyes added two hits and an RBI and Cowan totaled one hit, one run and two RBI. Gregory and
Kendal Calvert each added a hit.
In the final game of the three-game series, IUPUI came back to tie the game in the seventh inning, but they couldn't hold on to earn the win in extras. Although the Jags outhit the Norse 10-to-9, Northern Kentucky took the victory in nine innings, 6-4.
The Norse took a quick 3-0 lead with one run in the first, one in the second and one in the fourth inning. IUPUI got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. Cowan doubled to left center then
Alexa Holman singled up the middle to score Cowan, 3-1.
Northern Kentucky added one run in the top of the seventh inning. In the bottom half of the inning,
Isabelle Waggner knocked a leadoff double to left center. After
Maicey Bedrick reentered to run from Waggner, Gilbert singled to left field to put runners on first and third. With one out, Calvert doubled to left center to score both Gilbert and Bedrick, cutting the lead to 4-3.
With a runner on second and one out, Cowan singled to the shortstop, allowing Calvert to come around and score to tie the game, 4-4.
After a scoreless eighth inning, the Norse scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning. IUPUI couldn't get anything going in the bottom half of the frame and fell, 6-4.
Holman took the loss in the circle for the Jags giving up six runs (four earned) on nine hits in 9.0 innings of work. Cowan led IUPUI at the plate going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Calvert added a double with two RBI while Holman and Gilbert each added two hits. Waggner and
Victoria Sivert also added a hit each.
The Jaguars are now 9-28 overall and 5-7 in Horizon League play. They will next travel to Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday, April 13.
