TROY, Ala. – The IU Indy softball team dropped a pair of games Friday to open the Cardinal Clash in Troy, Alabama. The Jags fell to Radford to open play, 5-1, then dropped the late night game to host Troy, 11-3 in six innings.
 
In the opener, the Jaguars (3-4) matched Radford early, tying the game at 1-1 in the first inning. Kennedy Cowan drove in IU Indy's lone run on a sacrifice fly, while Adeline Blackwell scored and later added one of the team's two hits. Molly Kable accounted for the other hit as Radford limited the Jaguars to just two on the afternoon.
 
The Highlanders gradually pulled away, scoring once in the fifth, twice in the sixth and adding an insurance run in the seventh. A two-run home run from Malli Groves highlighted Radford's 11-hit performance.
 
Lily Roush (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) over 5.1 innings, while Callie Dickerson worked 1.2 innings in relief.
 
In the nightcap, Troy used an early surge and a late five-run sixth inning to secure an 11-3 run-rule victory. The Trojans scored two in the first and one in the second before IU Indy answered with a three-run third to even the score at 3-3. Paige McPhearson delivered an RBI single in the inning and Molly Kable added a sacrifice fly as the Jaguars capitalized on their scoring opportunity.
 
Troy responded with two runs in the third and one in the fourth before breaking the game open in the sixth. The Trojans finished with 12 hits and drew eight walks in the contest.
 
Blackwell, McPhearson, Dickerson and Ana Powell each recorded hits in game two. Alexa Holman (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing five runs in 2.2 innings, while Clara Phariss and Sidney Parks combined for the final three innings in the circle.
 
IU Indy will look to bounce back as tournament play continues in Troy tomorrow. The Jags will face Central Arkansas at 10:00 AM then face Troy for a rematch at 3:00 PM.