SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The IU Indy softball team opened the 2026 season Friday at the Terrier Invite, dropping a pair of contests at Hope Field. The Jaguars fell 11–10 to Kent State in a tightly contested opener before closing the day with a 10–2 loss to Monmouth.
IU Indy produced a strong offensive performance in its season opener against Kent State but came up just short in a seven-inning battle with the Golden Flashes.
The Jaguars struck first in the opening inning, scoring twice on an RBI double from
Kennedy Cowan and an RBI single by
Callie Dickerson. IU Indy continued to apply pressure throughout the game, finishing with 16 hits and scoring in five different innings.
Trailing 9–7 entering the top of the seventh, IU Indy rallied behind a two-run double from
Reese Rosenbaum to tie the game. An RBI single by
Adeline Blackwell later in the inning gave the Jaguars a 10–9 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Kent State answered with two runs in its final at-bat to secure the walk-off victory, handing IU Indy the narrow 11–10 loss.
Cowan led the Jaguars at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three RBI, while
Molly Kable added two hits and scored twice.
Paige McPhearson reached base four times, collecting two hits and two walks. Dickerson added three hits and one RBI while freshman
Mae Munson collected two hits.
Dickerson took the loss for the Jags after coming in to relieve
Lily Roush. Dickerson recorded two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work.
The Jaguars faced Monmouth in the second game of the day, with the Hawks using early offense to build momentum. Monmouth scored three runs in the first inning and added runs in each of the next four frames. IU Indy got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Munson crossed the plate on an RBI single from Blackwell.
Kable continued her strong start to the season, finishing 2-for-3 with a triple and scoring IU Indy's second run in the fifth inning. Dickerson recorded two hits, including a double, whole
Sonia Ruchala also added two hits, as the Jaguars totaled seven hits in the game.
Pitchers
Sidney Parks and
Alexa Holman combined in the circle for IU Indy, with Parks taking the loss.
IU Indy is set for a rematch with Kent State tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10:00 AM. They will then face host Wofford at 3:00 PM.