HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The IU Indy softball team split Wednesday's doubleheader on the road at Northern Kentucky, falling in the opener 5-3 then dominating game two 12-4.
The Jags opened the doubleheader with a 5-3 loss to the Norse.
Game one was scoreless through the first two innings, before Northern Kentucky tallied four runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-0 lead.
The Jags remained silent offensively before they scratched their first run across off a double from Molly Kable that scored Morgan Gilbert in the top of the fifth frame. Northern Kentucky was unphased as they tacked on another run in the bottom half of the fifth to keep the lead at 5-1.
IU Indy attempted the comeback in the top of the sixth with two runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Paige McPhearson watched ball four to push a run across the plate. On the same play, Kennedy Cowan stole home to cut the lead to two. Northern Kentucky was able to hold onto the 5-3 lead to take game one.
Holman (L, 5-7) pitched all six innings giving up five runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
McPhearson and Kable led the Jags offensively in game one, both collecting two hits and knocking in one RBI.
IU Indy rallied in game two as they came out hot at the plate. McPhearson got things going with a single to right center that pushed Kendal Calvert and Gilbert across the board. Holman followed her up with a double to left field, scoring McPhearson. Reese Rosebaum reached first base on a fielding error by the shortstop that scored Holman, giving the Jags a 4-0 lead.
The Norse were held to a scoreless first inning but took a run back in the second inning, 4-1. IU Indy's Clara Phariss worked herself out of the inning reducing any further damage.
IU Indy returned to the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Cowan was able to hit a double to center field, scoring Rosebaum, 5-1.
Northern Kentucky started to find their rhythm in the bottom of the fourth inning, knocking a solo shot to left field. They continued to cut down the lead with a triple to left center that scored another run. IU Indy reacted to this with a pitching change that brought in Callie Dickerson. Dickerson gave up a single in her first at bat that scored one but was able to exit the inning on a ground out to third, maintaining the Jaguars' lead at 5-4.
The Jags got things going again in the sixth inning off a Cowan homer that scored her and Rosenbaum. IU Indy stretched their lead to 7-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Dickerson made quick work of Northern Kentucky and the Jags were back up to bat. She transitioned her success on the mound to the plate as she hit a solo shot to right field extending
the Jags lead to four. Gilbert followed that up with a triple down the left field line that scored three. Kable topped it off with a single to left field, scoring Gilbert.
Dickerson shut out the Norse in the seventh giving the Jags a 12-4 win.
On the offensive side Cowan led IU Indy with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored for the Jags.
Clara Phariss (W, 4-6) earned her fourth win on the year in 3.2 innings pitched. Reliever Callie Dickerson's performance cannot go unnoticed as she threw 3.1 innings, giving up zero runs on two hits.
With the split, IU Indy moves to 13-23 overall with a 7-8 mark in Horizon League play. The Jags will return home this weekend as they host Youngstown State for a three-game series beginning on Saturday, April 12.
