SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The IU Indy Jaguars scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and shut the door the rest of the way to earn a 3–2 comeback win over Monmouth on Sunday morning at Hope Field.
Monmouth jumped out early, scoring solo runs in the first and second innings to take a 2–0 lead. Dominique Lopez opened the scoring with a leadoff home run in the first, and the Hawks added another run in the second.
IU Indy broke through in the fifth with three runs.
Paige McPhearson sparked the rally with a walk and later scored the Jaguars' first run on an RBI single by
Tori Candler. Moments later, Candler stole second which then allowed
Kalilah Dela Cruz to score on a throwing error to even the score.
Karley Kavanaugh followed with the go-ahead RBI, driving in Candler to give IU Indy its first lead of the game.
The Jaguars' pitching staff made the advantage stand.
Lily Roush was dominant in relief, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out four to earn her first win of the season.
Offensively, IU Indy finished with 10 hits, led by McPhearson and
Mae Munson, who each recorded two hits. Kavanaugh added two hits and the decisive RBI, while Candler and McPhearson also drove in a run.
IU Indy held Monmouth scoreless over the final five innings, stranding the tying run in the seventh to secure the 3–2 victory.
With the win the Jaguars closed out the weekend with a 3-2 mark after a slow start.
Molly Kable dominated the weekend hitting 9-for-16 with seven RBI, seven runs, two homeruns, a triple and a double. As a team, the Jags hit .389 on the weekend.
IU Indy will look to continue their momentum into next weekend when they travel to Troy, Alabama for the Cardinal Clash. The Jags will face Radford, Central Arkansas and host Troy in the five-game weekend.
