YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Jaguar softball team fell in back-to-back games in the opening day of the Horizon League Tournament to conclude the 2024 season. The Jags dropped game one to Cleveland State, 2-1 then fell in a win or go home game against Northern Kentucky, 3-2.
In game one, the Jags took on Cleveland State. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars, sending them to the loser's bracket, 2-1.
IUPUI took the lead first when
Morgan Gilbert scored on a bunt single and three-base error. Gilbert hit a bunt single then the Vikings' pitcher threw past the first baseman, allowing Gilbert to come around and score on the play in the top of the fifth inning.
Cleveland State wasted no time, tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth frame. Melissa Holzopfel hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Kiera Frascone. The Vikings took the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Emma Gilkerson knocked a home run over the left field wall.
IUPUI could not come back and fell, 2-1.
Carly Metcalf pitched game one for the Jags, taking the loss, giving up two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in 6.0 innings.
The Jags only recorded three hits in the loss with Gilbert,
Kendal Calvert and
Kasie Keyes each collecting a single.
After falling in game one, the Jags dropped to the loser's bracket and faced Northern Kentucky. The Norse defeated IUPUI, 3-2, concluding the Jags' 2024 season.
The Jags once again took the lead first with a run in the first inning, 1-0. Keyes hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Calvert to give IUPUI the early lead. The Jags added another run in the top of the second inning when
Kelli Riordan hit an RBI single to center field, scoring
Paige McPhearson, 2-0.
Northern Kentucky tied the game in the bottom of the third inning with a two run single from Ella LeMonier, 2-2. After a scoreless two innings, the Norse took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on a passed ball.
With the game and season on the line, the Jags had a runner in scoring position with two outs before the Norse recorded the final out to seal the victory at 3-2.
Alexa Holman took the loss in game two after giving up three runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of work. The Jags recorded six hits in the second game with
Kennedy Cowan leading the way, going 2-for-4. Calvert, McPhearson, Holman and Riordan each added a single.
IUPUI concludes their season with an overall record of 13-37.