LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Leslie Sims went 3-for-4 from the plate and Lexie Siwek drove in two runs in her first career start but Indiana State fell prey to a big inning in an 8-3 loss to IUPUI at the Cardinal Classic in Louisville Friday afternoon.
 
A bases loaded single followed by a walk gave IUPUI (4-12) a 2-0 lead off the back-to-back RBI in the second inning before tallying six runs on seven hits in the fourth inning, pushing the Jaguar lead out to 8-0.
 
Indiana State (7-5) would respond in the bottom half of the fourth as Lexie Siwek, making her first career start, drove a two-run double to left to put the Trees on the board then moved to third on the throw. She raced the 60 feet to the plate on Becky Malchow's sacrifice fly for the third run for ISU. However, the Sycamores would not put another runner on base after that inning.
 
Abbey Kruzel (0-2) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits while issuing two walks in three innings. Lexi Lucas was credited with the win, going the distance for the Jaguars with three runs allowed on six hits.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
While Leslie Sims was 3-for-4 at the plate (in what is becoming an average day for her), we have to recognize the clutch performance of Lexie Siwek here. The freshman, making her first career start, went 1-for-3 at the plate but in the clutch, she delivered. Siwek laced a one-out double to left to drive in a pair of runs then scored herself as she represented all three of the Sycamore runs in the game.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
The difference came in batting with runners on. Indiana State was just 2-for-11 (.182) at the plate once a runner was aboard while IUPUI hit .474 (9-for-19) in the same scenario.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Lexi Lucas, IUPUI (4-6)
• Loss: Abbey Kruzel (0-2)
• Save: None

 
RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 7-5 (5-2 Neutral)
• IUPUI: 3-12 (4-10 Neutral)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State is now 27-11 all-time against IUPUI. The loss ends a two-game win streak in the series.
• Leslie Sims stole her 10^th base of the year on her 10^th attempt. She has now not been caught stealing in 97 consecutive games.
• Lexie Siwek's two-run double marked her first career hit.
• Leslie Sims was 3-for-4 at the plate, tying a season-high hits.

For the latest information on the Sycamore Softball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.