IUW Softball - March 11-14 in Leesburg, FL on BTN+

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Saturday post-game story.

https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2021/3/13/softball-hoosiers-bounce-back-and-take-two-games-against-rutgers.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3WTzEiqupVdM8h3uKY2jNrjR4zhhT4G1vGKoTiFsZL5TYDpr7M8yUs0Kw

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Underway in the final game of the weekend and Hoosiers get 2 in the first inning and midway thru the 4th lead 2-0.

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Rutgers takes a 3-2 lead in the top of the 5th and we were fortunate they didn't score more as they left the bases loaded.  Goodin lost her control and was pulled after walking in the 3rd Rutgers' run and replaced by freshman Amber Linton who got us out of the inning with no further damage.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Hoosiers tie it up at 3 in the bottom of the 5th on a great bunt from Bella Norton that scored Taylor Lambert from 3rd base.  Then a wild pitch made it 4-3 after 5 complete innings.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Rutgers' final at bat coming up trailing 4-3.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Rutgers with a 2-out double and then scores the runner on a bad throw to first from our shortstop on what should have been the game ending out.  A Rutgers single put runners on 1st and 2nd and with a ball hit up the middle a great throw from center field to Bella Norton at the plate nailed the Rutgers runner trying to score from 2nd.  4-4 going to the bottom of the 7th.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Here's the run saving play at the plate.

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Free softball as we move to the 8th inning tied at 4.  

Per International Tie Breaker rules a Rutgers runner is placed on 2nd base at the start of the inning.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Bottom of the 8th and IU immediately sacrifice bunts the runner at 2nd to 3rd.  Brooke Benson then executes another bunt and races all the way to 2nd as our runner at 3rd stays on the bag but we can't capitlize and still tied 4-4 after 8 innings.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Some sparkling defense by our shortstop Brooke Benson in the top of the 9th.  In the bottom of the inning, we sacrifice the runner on 2nd base to 3rd but leave her there.  On to the 10th.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

Goodin returns to the mound to start the 10th and immediately wild pitches the runner on 2nd to 3rd with no outs. A base hit and Rutgers takes a 5-4 lead.  Hoosiers need a rally and they get a huge one.  Gabbi Jenkins steals home to tie it up at 5-5 and we go to the 11th.

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,957]

IU WINS 6-5 and sweeps Rutgers and moves to 7-5 on the season.  Brooke Benson drives one down the left field line scoring the runner on second for the win.  

Women are off until Friday, March 26, when they'll host Michigan for a 4-game weekend series.