INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy softball team bounced back from a tough game one loss to earn a split in Friday's home doubleheader against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on senior day. After falling 8-6 in the opener, the Jaguars responded with a dominant 6-0 shutout in game two behind a strong pitching performance from Alexa Holman and a home run from Molly Kable.
 
Despite a 14-hit effort and a seventh-inning rally, the Jaguars dropped the back-and-forth opener, 8-6. The Golden Grizzlies struck first with two runs in the opening frame, but IU Indy quickly responded. Kendal Calvert scored on a bunt single from Paige McPhearson, followed by Morgan Gilbert sliding across home on a stolen base to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Oakland took control in the fifth inning when pitcher Kenna Bommarito helped her own cause with a three-run homer to left, giving the visitors a 5-2 lead. IU Indy got one back on a solo shot from Callie Dickerson in the sixth inning, but Oakland plated three more runs over the final two innings to extend their lead to 8-3.
 
The Jags attempted the comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kable launched a three-run homer to left center to cut the deficit to 8-6, scoring McPhearson and Gilbert. IU Indy brought the tying run to the plate, but the rally ultimately fell short.
 
McPhearson led the Jags at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Gilbert added two hits and two runs, while Dickerson and Kable each drove in runs with home runs.
 
Lily Roush (L, 4-10) took the loss in the circle for the Jags giving up six runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work.
 
IU Indy bounced back in game two with an all-around performance highlighted by a complete-game shutout from Holman, who scattered seven hits and struck out five across seven innings.
 
The Jags' offense got going in the second inning, capitalizing on an error and a wild pitch to put up a four-spot. Kable reached on a miscue and later came around to score on a hit-by-pitch RBI from Kinsey Pfeiffer. A groundout by Reese Rosenbaum made it 2-0 before Gilbert cleared the bases with a two-run double to the gap in right center.
 
Kable continued her big day in the fifth inning, blasting her second home run of the day to extend the Jags lead to 6-0.
 
IU Indy managed just four hits but made them count. McPhearson, Gilbert, and Kable each recorded hits and combined for five of the team's six RBI.
 
With the split, the Jaguars moved to 17-25 overall and 11-9 in conference play. The Jags and Golden Grizzlies are set for a 1:00 PM series finale tomorrow, Saturday, April 19.