IU Softball

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No. 16 Indiana Heads Down to Baton Rouge

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - No. 16 Indiana Softball travels to Baton Rouge, La. this weekend for the Purple and Gold Challenge, hosted by LSU. There, Indiana will play Stephen F. Austin, No. 10 LSU, USC-Upstate and a pair of games against Illinois State.
 
The Hoosiers are off to the best start in program history at 14-0 and are one of just four undefeated teams remaining in the country (UCLA, Florida State and Alabama). In addition, it is the longest winning streak for the program since a 15-game streak towards the end of the 2011 season.
 
Live stats and a radio broadcast for all games will be available on IUHoosiers.com. Sam Neidermann will be providing play-by-play on the radio broadcast. In addition, Friday's game against LSU will be streamed on SECN+.
 
IU IN THE RANKINGS
• The Hoosiers' No. 16 ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll is the best for the program since the poll began in 1995. In 1996, Indiana earned a No. 17 ranking in back-to-back weeks on March 6 and 13.
 
• Indiana received a No. 15 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today poll and were ranked No. 13 by College Sports Madness, No. 12 by Fastpitch News and cracked the top-10 at No. 10 by Softball America.
 
CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION
Stephen F. Austin: The Ladyjacks are 11-5 on the season, including a pair of ranked wins against then-No. 24 Mississippi State on Feb. 10 and No. 25 Illinois on Feb. 23. Stephen F. Austin is batting .310 as a team, led by Cassidy Tucker (.400, 12 hits, 7 RBI) and Bryana Novegil (.320, 16 hits, 10 runs). In the circle, Kassidy Wilbur (1.73 ERA, 6-4, 52.2 IP) and Ashley Kriesel (1.87 ERA, 3-1, 33.2 IP) have split the majority of the innings. Last season, the Ladyjacks went 31-24 and participated in the National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC). IU holds a 4-0 series lead against Stephen F. Austin with the team's last playing in 1982.
 
LSU: The Tigers are Indiana's second top-10 opponent this season as the Hoosiers defeated No. 6 Georgia on Feb. 10. LSU is 14-3 on the year with the only losses coming against No. 19 Oregon, No. 1 Florida State and Stanford. The Tigers are batting .350 as a team, highlighted by Amanda Sanchez (.513, 20 hits, 14 runs, 12 walks) and Aliyah Andrews (.429, 24 runs, 21 hits, 15 stolen bases). The Tigers' pitching staff has a team ERA of 1.73 with Maribeth Gorsuch (1.19 ERA, 4-0, 29.1 IP), Shelby Wickersham (1.31 ERA, 4-1, 26.2 IP) and Shelbi Sunseri (1.85 ERA, 4-2, 34.0 IP) leading the way. Last season, the Tigers went 45-17 with an appearance in NCAA Super Regionals. LSU leads the all-time series with IU, 2-0, with the last meeting coming in 2007.
 
USC Upstate: The Spartans on 11-1 on the year and winners of eight straight games after picking up a 3-1 win against Duke on Wednesday. USC Upstate is batting .314 as a team, led by Alyssa Oakes (.419, 13 hits, 10 runs, 17 RBI) and Makenna Helton (.414, 12 hits, 8 runs). The Spartans have also been impressive in the circle with a 0.89 ERA, which is second in the country. Christina Biggerstaff (0.72, 6-0, 38.2 IP) and Erin Hill (0.78, 4-1, 27.0 IP) have thrown most of the innings. USC Upstate went 35-19 last year and advanced to the ASUN Tournament Championship. Indiana and USC Upstate met twice last season, with the Spartans taking both games.
 
Illinois State: The Redbirds are 3-12 on the season with two wins against Florida A&M and a victory against San Diego. Illinois State is batting .237, led by Shannon Felde (.349, 15 hits, 10 runs). Most of the innings in the circle have been split by Ali Domkuski (2.18 ERA, 2-1, 25.2 IP), Morgan Day (5.47 ERA, 0-4, 24.1 IP) and Felde (7.00 ERA, 1-5, 22.0 IP). In 2018, Illinois State went 21-33 and split a pair of games against Indiana in Norman, Okla. The Redbirds lead the all-time series, 22-18.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Indiana went 5-0 in the Black and Orange Challenge, hosted by Mercer. The Hoosiers earned a pair of wins against previously unbeaten Loyola Chicago, while also beating Akron, North Carolina A&T and Mercer. The win against the host Bears came in dramatic fashion as IU erased a 5-0 deficit to win in 11 innings.
 
TRAINER EARNS SECOND STRAIGHT BIG TEN PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONOR
• For the second-straight week, senior Tara Trainer was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week. The Lebanon, Ohio native collected a 4-0 record in the circle, striking out 37 batters in 25.0 innings of work. Trainer tossed a pair of complete games and posted an ERA of 0.28 while holding opposing batters to a .125 average.
 
• It is the fourth Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honor for Trainer, who earned it twice last year. Trainer also earned an accolade from the NFCA as she was tabbed as a Selected Top Performance for the second week in a row. Additionally, she was named a College Sports Madness National Player of the Week.
 
• In the opener against Akron on Friday, Trainer and fellow pitcher Josie Wood combined to toss a no-hitter with Trainer going 4.0 innings and striking out six. Trainer returned to the circle in the next game, tossing a complete game shutout versus previously unbeaten Loyola Chicago. Against Mercer on Saturday, Trainer stepped in at the beginning of the fifth inning and went the final 7.0 frames as the Hoosiers earned an 8-7 win in 11 innings. Trainer tied her career high with 16 strikeouts, which she set last season against Samford. The final win of the weekend came in another complete game outing against Loyola Chicago on Sunday, fanning eight Ramblers and giving up no earned runs.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
• IU's 14-game winning streak is the longest for the program since the 2011 squad put together a 15-game streak from April 9 to May 7. That streak ties as the third-longest as the 1994 won 16-straight and the 1983 team won 18-straight.
 
• The Indiana bats were on fire in Macon as the Hoosiers collected 10 home runs, including posting three three-homer games. Junior Katie Lacefieldknocked four homers, sophomores Camryn Woodall and Annika Baez had two and sophomore Grayson Radcliffe and junior Bella Norton each had one home run.
 
• Lacefield is currently riding a nine-game reached base streak while Radcliffe has a team-best six-game hitting streak going.

• IU stole 16 more bases over the weekend to bring the season total to 42, compared to just 15 from opponents. Indiana's average of 3.00 stolen bases per game is sixth in the nation. Sophomore Taylor Lambert is a perfect 11-for-11 on the basepaths and her 0.79 stolen bases per game average is 22nd in the country.
 
• The Hoosier offense has been balanced through the first three weeks of the season as six have 10 or more hits while eight have at least nine. Lambert (.349, 15 hits, 11 runs) and Radcliffe (.333, 13 hits, 8 runs) are leading the way for Indiana.
 
• The Indiana pitching staff has been impressive as a group this season as the team's 1.07 ERA is sixth-best in the nation and first in the Big Ten. In addition, the team's 4.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio is good for 10th best in the country. Junior Emily Goodin has been stellar in relief, posting an ERA of 0.00 with 17 strikeouts in 12.0 innings pitched.
 
• Trainer's nine wins is tied for the most in the nation, while her 65 strikeouts on the season are good for 10th.
 
• During the first weekend of the season, Trainer surpassed Megan Roark (2003-06) for all-time career strikeouts and is quickly climbing higher in the record book:
1. Amy Unterbrink (1983-86)  1089
2. Gina Ugo (1993-96)             664
3. Tara Trainer (2016-pr.)     629

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SFA strikes first, 0-1 in 4th

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IU loses its first game of the season, 0-1


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IU up 4-2 over LSU in 4th


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[ccgeneral 38,084]

Lambert robs a 2 run shot!

 

[ccgeneral 38,084]

Down goes #10 LSU! Atta girls!

IU 7-3

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

IU with another win  2 - 0 over South Carolina Upstate.  Trainer with a complete game allowed 4 hits and struck out 6.  Pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the 6th when SCU got a runner to 3rd because of 2 IU errors.  Hoosiers with 6 hits in the game and rbi from Radcliffe and Woodall.

We're scheduled to play again at 2:30 against Illinois St., but it's already after that so not sure when the game will start.

[Red1 171]

I really miss coaching sometimes. There’s a young lady named Leslie Sims at ISU I used to help coach having another great year as well. Go Hoosiers, hope the great season continues. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

The best we could do today was a split as we lost 3-0 to Illinois St.  Wood started and only lasted 2/3 of an inning and gave up all 3 of ISU's runs - all earned.  Goodin relieved in the first and pitched the rest of the game only giving up 2 hits.  We could only muster 3 hits of our own and that was the ball game.  

[ccgeneral 38,084]

20 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

The best we could do today was a split as we lost 3-0 to Illinois St.  Wood started and only lasted 2/3 of an inning and gave up all 3 of ISU's runs - all earned.  Goodin relieved in the first and pitched the rest of the game only giving up 2 hits.  We could only muster 3 hits of our own and that was the ball game.  

We'll get'em back tomorrow @ 10 am.

 

[OliviaPope40 6,294]

20 hours ago, ccgeneral said:

Down goes #10 LSU! Atta girls!

IU 7-3

LSU in the past has been very good.

[ccgeneral 38,084]

Redemption. 17-2 on the season now. Home opener on Tuesday vs Butler @ 5 pm.

 

 

[ccgeneral 38,084]

We dropped a spot this week. 

@IndianaSB: #IUSoftball comes in at No. 17 in this week's USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll. #GoIU

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Hoosiers up 3-0 in the 1st vs Seton Hall.

@IndianaSB: Notes: No. 17 Indiana is headed to Florida for Spring Break and a seven-game swing. First up, the Hoosiers play five games in Clearwater. #GoIU http://bit.ly/2IYdwUL

[ccgeneral 38,084]

Hoosiers improve to 18-2 with a 6-2 win over Seton Hall. Saint Joseph's up next.

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@IndianaSB: Final: No. 17 Indiana 2, Saint Joseph's 1

Gabbi Jenkins' RBI single brings home the winning run in the seventh as IU improves to 19-2 on the season.

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@IndianaSB: Hoosiers win! With the victory against USC Upstate, this team is the fastest in Indiana program history to reach 20 wins on the season as No. 17 Indiana improves to 20-2.
 

[ccgeneral 38,084]

4 down, 1 to go. We wrap up this weekend tomorrow @ 9 am vs Furman.

@IndianaSB: That's the game! No. 17 Indiana uses a sixth-inning rally to defeat South Florida 3-2 and improve to 21-2 on the year. #GoIU

[ccgeneral 38,084]

@IndianaSB: She leads the nation in victories and strikeouts and now Tara Trainer has been named one of 30 candidates in the country for the @SnrCLASSAward. https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2019/3/14/softball-trainer-named-candidate-for-senior-class-award.aspx

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

Hoosier Classic this weekend at Andy Mohr field.

Friday at 3:00 - Indiana vs. Toledo

Friday at 5:30 - Indiana vs. Ohio

Saturday at 3:00 - Indiana vs. Northwestern

Sunday at 11:00 a.m. - Indiana vs. Saint Francis

Sunday at 1:00 - Indiana vs. Ohio

Game Notes

Live Stats

No. 19 Indiana Softball (22-4) opens up play at Andy Mohr Field this weekend by hosting the annual Hoosier Classic. Indiana will play a pair of games against Ohio, as well as single meetings with Toledo, Northwestern and Saint Francis. Four of this weekend's games come against opponents who made the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Admission to all regular season home games is free of charge. All Indiana games will be broadcast on BTN Plus.

IU IN THE RANKINGS
• For the fifth-straight week, the Hoosiers, who continue to be on the best start in Indiana program history, find themselves ranked in the weekly polls.

• The Hoosiers dropped two spots in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll to No. 19.

• Indiana received a No. 15 ranking in the ESPN/USA Softball poll, up one spot from last week, and were ranked No. 12 by Fastpitch News, No. 19 by Softball America and No. 21 by College Sports Madness.

HOME SWEET HOME
• The Hoosiers are 61-50 all-time at Andy Mohr Field, which had its inaugural season in 2013.

• Last season, Indiana went 12-8 at home.

• Indiana is 26-5 all-time in the annual Hoosier Classic, which began in 2011.

• Last season, IU went 3-2 in the Hoosier Classic as it marked the beginning of a dramatic turnaround in the 2018 campaign. IU began the year 4-19 and then, starting with the Hoosier Classic, finished the season on a 22-11 stretch. Dating back to last year's Hoosier Classic, Indiana has posted a record of 44-15.

CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION
Toledo: The Rockets, who are 7-12 on the year, also spent last weekend in Clearwater in the USF Tournament. There, Toledo went 1-4 including games against two common opponents with IU in Saint John's (won, 9-8), Saint Joseph's (lost, 8-5) and Penn State (lost, 8-2). Toledo is batting .236 as a team, led by Kylie Norwood (.387, 24 hits, 14 RBI). The team ERA stands at 5.88 with Erin Hunt (3.91 ERA, 4-4, 50.2 IP) taking most of the innings. Indiana holds a 5-0 series advantage with the last meeting coming in 2014 with a 5-2 Indiana win. Indiana's 9-1 defeat of Toledo in 2013 was the first-ever game played at Andy Mohr Field.

Ohio: The Bobcats are off to a 15-8 start and coming off a 2018 campaign that saw them go 40-17 on the way to a MAC Title and spot in NCAA Regionals. Ohio faced mutual IU opponent Duke on March 3, falling 2-1. Ohio is hitting at a .296 team clip, with four everyday players batting above .300. Katie Yun currently leads the bats with a .386 average, 32 hits, 14 runs and 11 RBI). Ohio's team ERA stands at 3.01 led by Madi McCrady (2.91 ERA, 8-5, 79.1 IP) and Mackensie Kohl (2.32 ERA, 7-2, 66.1 IP). The series between the two teams is split, 3-3, with Ohio earning a 6-0 win in 2016.

Northwestern: The Hoosiers will host fellow Big Ten member Northwestern on Saturday, although the game will not count as a conference contest. The Wildcats, who are 17-6, received 20 votes in the Coaches Poll, putting them just outside the top 25. Last season, Northwestern went 38-19 and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Northwestern is batting .267 as a unit, led by Nikki Cuchran (.353, 24 hits) and Jordyn Rudd (.333, 23 hits, 25 RBI). The battery's 1.83 ERA is good for 25th in the nation as Danielle Williams (1.34 ERA, 12-3, 83.1 IP) leads the way. Northwestern leads the all-time series, 66-38. The two teams met twice last season, including a 9-2 Wildcat win in the Hoosier Classic.

Saint Francis: The final IU opponent also advanced to NCAA Regionals last season as the Red Flash won the NEC and went 39-19. This season, Saint Francis is 8-15 and on an eight-game skid after starting the year 8-7. The Red Flash is batting .276 as a team with Hayley Norton (.446, 33 hits, 18 runs and 24 RBI) leading the way. In the circle, Saint Francis has a 4.94 ERA with Christina Clark (4.47 ERA, 3-6, 56.1 IP) and Mikayla Bower (5.72 ERA, 3-6, 52.2) splitting the most innings. IU leads the all-time series, 2-1, with the last meeting coming in 1983.

LAST TIME OUT
Indiana went 5-2 during its seven-game swing in Florida. The Hoosiers earned wins against Seton Hall, Saint Joseph's, USC Upstate and South Florida while falling to Furman in the USF-Clearwater Parks and Recreation Tournament. Indiana then split a Tuesday doubleheader with Florida Gulf Coast.

TRAINER NAMED CANDIDATE FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD
• On Thursday, senior Tara Trainer was named one of 30 candidates nationwide for the Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
 
• Trainer is a two-time All-Big Ten pick and has twice been named NFCA All-Region. The Lebanon, Ohio native is second all-time in program history in career strikeouts with 695. This season, Trainer leads the nation in victories (16) and strikeouts (123) while her 0.83 ERA is good for 15th in the country.
 
• Off the field, Trainer has twice named been Academic All-Big Ten and will graduate in May with a degree in Interior Design. She's been involved in numerous organizations in the community, including the Little Sis Program, Hoosier Heroes and a clinician for youth camps.
 
• The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.

NEWS AND NOTES
• Indiana remains off to its best start in program history at 22-4. In addition, IU's win against Saint Joseph on Saturday marked the quickest path to 20 wins for a team in Indiana Softball history.

• IU's 14-game winning streak earlier this season was the longest for the program since the 2011 squad put together a 15-game streak from April 9 to May 7 and stands as the fifth-longest winning streak in school history. 

• Junior Katie Lacefield is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak, the longest for a Hoosier since Rebecca Blitz strung together a 23-game streak in 2018.

• Indiana has relied heavily on timely two-out hitting this season as the Hoosiers are batting .275 with 28 RBI when there are two outs. Lacefield leads the way as she is batting .433 with eight RBI when in that position. Additionally, she's batting an impressive .414 with runners in scoring position.

• Junior Bella Norton has been on a hot streak lately, hitting .375 in the last 11 games dating back to LSU. In that time, she has 12 hits, including four doubles and a home run.

• IU has 70 stolen bases on the season, compared to just 28 from opponents. Indiana's 2.69 stolen bases per game average is the 7th-best in the nation. Sophomore Taylor Lambert leads the way as she has 27 stolen bags on the year.

• The Indiana pitching staff has been impressive as a group this season as the team's 1.36 ERA is seventh-best in the nation and first in the Big Ten. In addition, the team's 4.68 strikeout-to-walk ratio is good for 6th best in the country.

• Junior Emily Goodin has also shined in the circle this season, as her 0.99 ERA is 22nd in the country. Goodin earned a complete game shutout victory in Indiana's 2-0 defeat of FGCU, her first shutout since 2017.

• For the first time in Indiana history, the Hoosiers have defeated two top-10 teams this season. IU bested then-No. 6 Georgia, 6-4, on Feb. 10 before defeating then-No. 10 LSU on March 1, 7-3.