MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Indiana State softball split a pair of games on Friday afternoon at the Tiger Softball Complex to open their weekend at the Blues City Classic in Memphis.
 
Game One
The opening game of the weekend went into extra innings and saw the Sycamores defeat IUPUI 3-2 in walk-off fashion.
 
In a contest where ISU committed four errors and only had three hits, the Trees were able to come from behind and win it in the eighth inning.
 
The Jaguars took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after a leadoff triple and a groundout got a run across.

IUPUI would take a 2-0 lead after a Sycamore throwing error in the top of the fourth. Newbanks would strand a runner on third with a strikeout to get out of the inning.
 
Kennedy Shade singled to left field in the bottom half of the fourth to give ISU their first hit of the game, but the Trees couldn't get a run in.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Bella Peterson blasted her second home run of season over the wall in right center to put the Sycamores on the board.
 
Down 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh, Olivia Patton led off the inning with a double down the left field line. She would come around to score after an IUPUI throwing error to tie the game at two. Indiana State would load the bases with no outs in the inning, but the Jaguars were able to escape and send the game into extra innings.
 
Cassi Newbanks worked a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth to keep the game tied, bringing ISU up to the plate with a chance to win it.
 
With one out in the inning, Danielle Henning hit a ground ball to third base and would come all the way around to score after an IUPUI throw went to the wall in right field, allowing Indiana State to walk it off.
 
Newbanks went the distance, tying her career-high with six strikeouts across eight innings. She improves to 3-3 on the season.
 
Peterson reached base on all four of her plate appearances, drawing three walks to go along with her solo home run. Cassie Thomerson reached base three times, drawing two walks and a hit by pitch.
 
The Sycamores stole six bases in the game, including two each from Peterson and Lexie Siwek.
 
Game Two
Indiana State fell to Iowa 6-1 the second game of the day.
 
The Sycamores jumped out in front 1-0 after a Kennedy Shade double off the wall in right center brought Siwek home to score.
 
Iowa tied the game up at one in the bottom half of the frame after an ISU throwing error. Lexi Benko got a groundball to end the inning and avoid further damage.
 
Indiana State would load the bases in the top of the third but were not able to convert as the Hawkeyes got two straight groundouts to escape the jam.
 
The Hawkeyes took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI groundout.
 
Leading off the fourth inning, Randi Jo Pryor picked up the first hit of her collegiate career with a line drive to right field. The Sycamores would threaten but not score as Iowa got a strikeout to end the inning.
 
Iowa extended their lead to 3-1 on another error by the Sycamore defense. ISU threw out a runner at home to keep another run from scoring and get out of the inning.
 
Still leading 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Hawkeyes tagged Lyndsi Adamson for three runs to take a 6-1 lead heading into the final frame where they set the Sycamores down 1-2-3 to secure the win.
 
The Sycamores finished the game with four hits while leaving nine runners on base.
 
On the rubber for Indiana State, Benko allowed one earned run on seven hits over five innings while Adamson gave up three runs on three hits in her one inning of work. The loss drops Benko to 4-3 on the season.
 
Around The Horn
-Freshmen Livi Colip and Randi Jo Pryor both made their first collegiate appearances.
 
-The Sycamores drew a season-high eight walks against IUPUI. The six stolen bases against the Jaguars were also a season high as a team.
 
-Cassie Thomerson was hit by a pitch for a conference leading seventh time against IUPUI.
 
-Bella Peterson's home run against IUPUI was the 13^th of her career which is sixth most in ISU history.
 
-Indiana State is now 2-0 on the season against in-state schools.
 
Up Next
Indiana State will open Saturday against Butler at 10 a.m. ET and then close the day against UT Martin at 5:30 p.m. ET.

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