MACOMB, Ill. - Although Western Illinois out-hit IUPUI 16-14 and allowed one less error on the day, the Westerwinds fell, 5-4 and 3-2, to the Jaguars, Wednesday.

The Westerwinds (7-24, 5-6 The Summit League) held onto the lead for at least four innings of both games, but a home run with the tying run on base, in both games, ended in a defeat.

"Today's losses were disappointing," Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen said. "We worked hard at the plate to stay ahead and now we need to work on some things in our pitching to keep the lead all the way through."

In game one, Racheal Heagney singled to right center to lead off the second inning for the Westerwinds. A sacrifice bunt moved Heagney to second when Beth Golitko singled and put runners on second and third. Julie DePolo doubled to score both Heagney and Golitko. DePolo stole third and scored on a throwing error from the catcher to the third baseman to give Western a 3-0 lead.

The Jaguars (6-22, 3-12 The Summit League) scored an unearned run on an error and no hits in the third inning to get on the board, down 3-1.

Mason led off the fourth inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Furgala. Golitko tabbed an RBI single up the middle to extend Western's lead to 4-1.

An IUPUI home run in the fourth inning by Cayleigh Harvey brought the Jaguars within two runs in the fourth inning. A pair of walks in the fifth inning brought the leading run, Amy Raker, up to bat. Raker hit a home run to left field for a 5-4 IUPUI win.

Lori Pankratz suffered the loss allowing seven hits and striking out four in six innings. Raker recorded the win, pitching the final three innings of the game, allowing only two hits.

In game two, Heagney singled to drive home Valentine, who doubled earlier in the inning to give the Westerwinds a 1-0 first-inning lead.

A Valentine home run to center field extended Western's lead to 2-0 in the third inning.

The Jaguars' Jenna Crockett hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to lead the Jaguars to a 3-2 victory over the Westerwinds.

Courtney Jacobson suffered the loss, allowing seven hits and striking out four. Raker recorded her second win on the day walking one and allowing two hits in three innings of work.

Western Illinois will return home for a three-game conference series against Southern Utah, April 18-19.