CLEVELAND, Ohio – The IU Indy Jaguars battled through a tough first day at the Horizon League Tournament, dropping their opening game to Green Bay 4-2 before bouncing back with a dominant 6-0 win over Northern Kentucky to stay alive in the double-elimination bracket. Freshman
Lily Roush shutout the Norse in game two to help advance the Jags to day two of the tourney.
In game one, IU Indy fell behind early to the Green Bay Phoenix and were unable to make the comeback, falling, 4-2. After the Phoenix took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, the Jags tied the game 1-1 after
Kendal Calvert stole home. Green Bay tallied a run in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, including solo home runs from Sara Ebner and Paige Hanson to extend their lead to 4-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh frame.
Kennedy Cowan gave the Jaguars late hope with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to make it 4-2. With the tying run at the plate and a runner in scoring position, IU Indy came inches from extending the game when Green Bay's left fielder made a diving catch to rob
Paige McPhearson of a potential game-tying hit. The play was reviewed but ultimately stood, ending the game with IU Indy's rally just short.
After the game one loss, the Jags were put in a win-or-go-home scenario. The first elimination game of the tourney saw a complete turnaround, thanks to a dominant performance from freshman pitcher Roush. Roush threw a complete game two-hit shutout, striking out three over seven innings, keeping the Northern Kentucky Norse off the board and securing the Jags another day, 6-0.
The Jaguars' offense provided early run support with
Callie Dickerson driving in two runs in the first inning, 2-0. A four-run fourth frame broke the game open, highlighted by a two-RBI double from
Morgan Gilbert and RBI singles from McPhearson and
Alexa Holman to take the 6-0 lead.
IU Indy tallied 10 hits overall, led by
Kendal Calvert's 3-for-3 performance at the plate with two runs. Horizon League Player of the Year,
Molly Kable extended her hit streak to 14 consecutive games for the Jags with a hit in the sixth inning.
With the win, IU Indy stays alive and advances to play again tomorrow, Thursday, May 8 at 5:00 PM against the lowest-seeded team to lose earlier that day. The two games prior to the Jags' 5:00 PM first pitch are No. 1 Cleveland State vs. No. 4 Purdue Fort Wayne and No. 2 Robert Morris vs. No. 6 Green Bay.