MURRAY, Ky. – The IU Indy softball team battled in a pair of games Saturday in Murray, Kentucky, but ultimately came up short against South Dakota State and North Dakota. Tomorrow's games against Murray State have been canceled.
In the opener, the Jaguars dropped a 7-5 decision to South Dakota State. After the Jackrabbits struck first with a run in the top of the opening inning, IU Indy answered immediately.
Paige McPhearson tripled and later scored on a sacrifice bunt by
Adeline Blackwell to tie the game at 1-1.
South Dakota State regained control in the third on a two-run home run, but the Jaguars responded with a big inning of their own. McPhearson tripled and scored,
Molly Kable doubled, and
Kennedy Cowan launched a two-run homer to center to give IU Indy a 4-3 advantage. McPhearson added a solo home run in the fourth to extend the lead to 5-3.
The Jackrabbits answered in the fifth, tying the game on a home run and an RBI single. In the sixth, the Jackrabbits delivered the decisive blow with a two-run homer to left center, putting South Dakota State in front 7-5. The Jaguars threatened in the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate, but were unable to complete the comeback.
McPhearson led IU Indy offensively, going 3-for-3 with a home run, two triples and three runs scored. Cowan added a homer and two RBIs in the loss.
In game two, IU Indy fell 8-5 to North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks broke the game open early, capitalizing on defensive miscues in the second inning to score three unearned runs. North Dakota added three more in the third, highlighted by back-to-back solo home runs, to build a 6-0 lead.
The Jaguars chipped away in the bottom of the third. Blackwell singled, McPhearson followed with a base hit, and Cowan delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to 6-2. IU Indy added two more in the fourth when Blackwell doubled home a run and later scored on a passed ball, trimming the margin to 6-4.
North Dakota responded with two runs in the fifth on a two-run double to push the lead to 8-4. IU Indy plated a run in the seventh when
Piper Stephens drew a bases-loaded walk, but the rally was halted as the potential tying run was cut down at the plate.
Blackwell and Cowan each had two hits in the nightcap, with Cowan driving in two runs. Despite a strong three-inning relief effort from
Callie Dickerson, who held North Dakota scoreless the rest of the way, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
IU Indy falls to 3-8 on the season and will next travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the Hilltopper Spring Fling next weekend since tomorrow's games were canceled.
