RICHMOND, Ky. – The IU Indy softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday at Gertrude Hood Field in Richmond, Kentucky, falling 4-2 to Delaware State before suffering a 9-3, weather-shortened loss to Eastern Kentucky.
The Jaguars and Hornets each tallied seven hits, but Delaware State used a pair of early runs and a late insurance score to secure the 4-2 decision.
Delaware State struck first with two runs in the opening inning. IU Indy answered in the bottom of the second when
Mae Munson singled and stole second before
Adeline Blackwell worked a walk.
Paige McPhearson delivered the big swing, ripping a double down the right field line to drive in both runners and even the score at 2-2.
Munson led the Jaguars at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored, while McPhearson finished with two hits and both RBI.
The game remained tied until the sixth, when the Hornets pushed across the go-ahead run on an RBI single. Delaware State added an unearned run in the seventh to extend the lead to 4-2.
Alexa Holman went the distance in the circle, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out six in the complete-game effort.
In the second game of the day, IU Indy jumped out to an early advantage but could not hold off Eastern Kentucky in a contest that was halted after six innings due to lightning. The Colonels claimed a 9-3 win.
The Jaguars capitalized on an EKU error in the first inning. After Blackwell reached and
Molly Kable singled,
Sonia Ruchala lined a two-run single through the left side to give IU Indy a 2-0 lead.
Eastern Kentucky answered with three runs in the bottom half of the first and added two more in the third to take control. IU Indy pulled even at 3-3 in the third when Munson walked and stole second before coming home on a groundout by
Tori Candler.
Kable recorded two of IU Indy's four hits in the game, while Ruchala drove in a pair of runs.
The Colonels broke the game open with four runs in the fifth inning and outhit the Jaguars 10-4 overall.
Clara Phariss took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) in 2.2 innings, and
Reagan Bauer tossed the final 2.1 innings in relief.
IU Indy will look to snap this pattern of losses on Thursday, March 12, when the Jaguars travel to Bellarmine.