SUU Softball Falls in Nine to IUPUI, 2-1

CEDAR CITY, Utah - April 22 - Southern Utah and IUPUI teamed up to provide a pitcher's battle on Friday afternoon with the Jaguars capturing a 2-1 victory on a home run in the ninth inning. The loss drops the T-Birds to 20-25 on the year and 10-6 in conference play.

The Jaguars put the first run on the board in the top of the fourth inning, making the most of the setting sun in the West due to a later afternoon start. IUPUI's Jessica Lam drove a two-out hit to right field and Southern Utah's Haylee Hoch lost the ball in the sun as the drive turned into an RBI triple.

Despite only having one hit in the game, coming in the second inning, Southern Utah loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with two outs as the team made the most of three batters being hit by errant IUPUI pitches. The third bruise drawn by Nicole Huntsman scored Darleen Fernandez from third base. Katie Olinger then came to the plate and drilled a ball to center field, but a jumping stab by IUPUI's Lam ended the frame and the SUU scoring threat.

Southern Utah couldn't get its bats going down the stretch, drawing only one walk over the final three innings. IUPUI had a little more success with a hit in the seventh, two walks in the eighth and the game-winning home run in the ninth that was coupled with a pair of singles.

SUU starting pitcher Heather Black pitched her ninth complete game in the defeat, throwing 9.0 innings where she allowed two runs on eight hits and five walks with nine strikeouts. Nicole Natter earned the victory in relief for IUPUI, throwing 3.1 innings where she allowed only one walk with three strikeouts.

The two teams will be back in action tomorrow in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at Noon.

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