BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The IU Indy softball team put together a strong performance against Western Michigan, securing a 7-2 victory before falling to Bowling Green 7-2 on day two of the Hoosier Classic at Andy Mohr Field.
The Jaguars jumped out to an early lead, plating two runs in each of the first two innings to establish control against Western Michigan in game one.
Molly Kable singled to right field to score
Kendal Calvert to start the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Then while Kable was caught stealing, Gilbert swiped home to give the Jags a 2-0 lead.
Gilbert then added to the Jags lead with a double up the middle to score
Piper Stephens and
Reese Rosenbaum in the second inning, 4-0.
IU Indy tacked on three more runs in the third inning, capitalizing on timely hitting and Western Michigan's defensive miscues. With the bases loaded,
Karley Kavanaugh walked to score
Tori Candler. Calvert reached on a fielding error by the second baseman to score
Alexa Holman. Gilbert then added another RBI to her strong day at the plate with a single through the left side to sore Rosenbaum, 7-0.
Western Michigan's only runs came in the seventh inning on a two-run homer by Caitlin Tighe, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Jags' early offensive surge.
Holman (W, 2-3) delivered a dominant complete-game performance, allowing just three hits and striking out five over seven innings. Gilbert went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and one run while Kable and Kavanaugh also added an RBI each.
The Jaguars couldn't carry their momentum into the next game, falling to Bowling Green despite an early 1-0 lead. Candler was a bright spot for IU Indy, driving in both of the team's runs with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Bowling Green responded quickly, scoring twice in the first and adding two more in the second. A three-run sixth inning sealed the game for the Falcons, highlighted by Addie Martin's two-run homer.
IU Indy struggled to generate offense against Bowling Green's pitching duo of Alyvia Roth and Scarlet Anderson (W, 2-1), who combined to allow just six hits while striking out five.
Clara Phariss (L, 1-5) took the loss in the circle for the Jags giving up four runs on three hits with one strikeout in 1.1 innings of work.
The Jags are now 2-2 on the weekend and will close out the Hoosier Classic tomorrow afternoon when they face Western Michigan at 2:00 PM.
