IU Softball

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

 Indiana Softball dropped both games of Sunday's Judi Garman Classic. The Hoosiers fell to Long Beach State, 5-4, before dropping a 6-3 decision to No. 23 California in the finale.
 
Long Beach State 5, Indiana 4
The first game of the day was a back-and-forth affair with the teams trading the lead in the game's final innings.
 
IU put up nine hits in the game, but Long Beach registered 15, including two homers. The Hoosiers saw multi-hit performances from freshmen Gabbi Jenkins and Katie Lacefield, as well as junior Rebecca Blitz and senior CaraMis Tsirigos.
 
A lead-off double, single and walk loaded the bags for Long Beach in the opening frame, but Trainer and the Hoosier defense worked out of the jam with three quick outs.
 
Indiana put two runners on the home half of the first on a single by freshman Gabbi Jenkins and a walk to senior CaraMia Tsirgos, but both were stranded.
 
The Hoosiers broke the stalemate in the third frame to make it 1-0. Lacefield, Jenkins and junior Rebecca Blitz knocked three straight singles to lead off the inning before senior Erin Lehman plated Lacefield on a fielder's choice.
 
Indiana's lead would last until the fifth when Tierra Falo hit a three-run homer to left center, bringing in Sammi Gyerman and Nichole Fry.
 
In the bottom of the inning, IU took back the advantage on an RBI single by Tsirigos to score Jenkins, and a two-run single from junior Taylor Uden to bring in Blitz and Lehman.
 
A solo homer by Fry in the sixth would tie the game back up at 4-4 before an RBI single by Mattie Scheele gave the 49ers the lead for good in the final frame.
 
IU sophomore Tara Trainer took the loss, going all 7.0 innings and striking out four.
 
No. 23 California 6, Indiana 3
The Judi Garman finale was cut short by rain as the Golden Bears came away with a 6-3 victory in six innings. The teams played the top of the seventh, but the frame did not count due to the game being halted.
 
Junior Aimilia McDonough went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored a pair of runs, including her second homer of the season.
 
Freshman Emily Goodin got the start for the Hoosiers, retiring the first three batters she saw.

For the second straight game, the Hoosiers took an early lead. After Blitz drew a full-count walk, Lehman followed with a double to center to put two on with one out. Uden then put the Hoosiers on the board as she singled to center, bringing in Blitz.
 
However, Cal would take the lead for good in the second off a grand slam by Danielle Browers to left field.
 
The Golden Bears extended the lead 5-1 on a sacrifice fly by Lindsay Rood in the following inning.
 
McDonough quickly got that run back for Indiana as she knocked a two-out solo homer to right field.
 
After Cal tagged on a sixth run, the Hoosiers threatened to cut the deficit as they loaded the bases with two outs, however a groundout left them loaded.
 
McDonough picked up her 3^rd hit of the game in the sixth, leading off with a single back to the pitcher. A wild pitch and groundout moved her to third, allowing her to score on a second wild pitch to cut the Cal lead to 6-3.
 
The Hoosiers will travel to Memphis, Tenn. next week for a tournament hosted by the Tigers.  The event will close out a streak of five straight road tournaments for Indiana.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/3/5/softball-iu-drops-final-games-of-judi-garman-classic.aspx

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

Indiana Softball picked up a pair of extra innings victories on Friday, defeating Western Illinois, 1-0, and Lipscomb, 3-2.
 
Freshman pitcher Emily Goodin earned both wins for the Hoosiers, combining for 11.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks in the appearances.
 
Indiana 1, Western Illinois 0
The first win of the day was led by a one-hitter from Goodin and a 2-for-3 outing by freshman Bella Norton, who brought in the game-winning run in the eighth.
 
Goodin retired 23 of the 24 batters she faced while picking up a career-high eight strikeouts in her second complete game shutout of the season. The only hit surrendered came on a third-inning single by Kelsey Marlow.
 
Junior Aimilia McDonough led off the second frame with a two-out single, but was left stranded. The Hoosiers put another baserunner on in the following inning on a walk by freshman Katie Lacefield before she was caught stealing.
 
Indiana wouldn't get another Hoosier on the base paths until the sixth on a single by Norton past a diving Western Illinois first baseman. However, she was taken off the bases on a fielder's choice.
 
Playing with international tiebreak rule in effect, the Hoosiers began the eighth with a runner on second base in sophomore Sarah Galovich. Norton's second base knock of the day scored Galovich on a one-out single up the middle to give Indiana the 1-0 win.
 
Indiana 3, Lipscomb 2
For the second time on Friday, Galovich scored the game-winning run in the eighth, this time on a single from freshman Gabbi Jenkins.
 
The Hoosiers went up early in the game after senior CaraMia Tsirigos reached and advanced to second on a dropped fly ball in the second, setting up junior Taylor Uden's first home run of the season. The shot down the left field line stayed just fair to give Indiana an early 2-0 lead.
 
Lipscomb cut the Indiana advantage in half in the following inning. After Destinee Brewer singled to lead off the inning, she stole second and advanced to third on a Hoosier throwing error. She then scored on a bloop single to left by Abby Fenichel.
 
The Bisons threatened again in the fourth as a single, Hoosier fielding error and two walks put runners on second and third with two outs, but sophomore Tara Trainer's sixth strikeout of the day left them stranded. Trainer finished the day with six strikeouts and three walks in 5.0 innings pitched.
 
Singles from McDonough and freshman Shayna Gamm put two on for Indiana in the fifth, but Indiana couldn't add onto the lead.
 
Lipscomb tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth as a sacrifice fly from Khayla Green plated Sarah Higgins, who reached on a leadoff walk. However, Goodin picked up one of her three strikeouts against the Bisons to keep the game tied.
 
Once again using international tiebreak, Lipscomb start the eighth with a runner on second. She was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, but a strikeout and foul out to first base kept the game at 2-2.
 
Galovich started the home half of the eighth on second and was moved to third on a single by Norton before scoring the game-winning run off the bat of Jenkins, who snaked the ball down the left field line.
 
The Hoosiers return to action on Saturday as they face Oakland and tournament host Memphis.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/3/10/softball-hoosiers-sweep-day-one-in-memphis.aspx

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

The Indiana bats came alive at the U of M Softball Tournament on Saturday as the Hoosiers defeated Oakland, 16-4, and Memphis, 8-0, in a pair of run-rule victories.
 
Indiana 16, Oakland 4
In the day's first game, the Hoosiers used two seven-run innings to run past Oakland in six innings, 16-4. The 16 runs for Indiana was a season high, as was the 16 hits.
 
Indiana saw three-hit performances from freshman Gabbi Jenkinsand junior Rebecca Blitz, while seniors Erin Lehman and CaraMia Tsirigos and juniors Taylor Uden and Rachel O'Malley each picked up a pair of hits.
 
Oakland took an early lead in the first on a trio of two-out singles, capped by Kelsie Swanson's knock to right field to plate Mikayela Marciniak and make it 1-0.
 
The Hoosiers quickly responded in the following inning to take a 2-1 lead. After junior Aimilia McDonough reached on an Oakland fielding error, junior Rachel O'Malley singled through the left side. Jenkins' second base knock of the day brought both runners home as she popped the ball over the head of the second baseman.
 
The lead wouldn't last long as Oakland plated three runs in the bottom of the second on three two-out base knocks. After the Golden Grizzlies took a 4-2 advantage, freshman Emily Goodin stepped in to relieve Emily Kirk and picked up the final out.
 
Goodin earned the win for Indiana, picking up her third in as many games. The righty tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and walking three. The day after setting her career high in strikeouts with eight against Western Illinois, she surpassed that total with 10 versus Oakland.
 
A seven-run frame on seven hits and an Oakland error gave Indiana the advantage for good in the third inning. Blitz and Lehman led off the inning with back-to-back singles by Blitz and Lehman before Tsirigos sent a double off the wall to bring them both home. After freshman Bella Norton reached on a throwing error, RBI singles by McDonough and junior Taylor Uden made it 6-4. The first Indiana triple of the season brought in two more runs off the bat of O'Malley. It was the first triple of O'Malley's Hoosier career. Sophomore Sarah Galovich put the cap on the inning as her sacrifice fly brought in O'Malley.
 
Indiana blew the game open in the sixth, scoring seven more runs on six hits. Jenkins' picked up IU's second triple of the day with one out and was brought in on a single from Blitz. After Lehman's double to center plated Blitz, Tsirigos knocked an RBI single through the right side. The fourth Indiana run of the inning on a single by Uden before a wild pitch and a rundown resulted in two more scores. The final run of the game came off the bat of Galovich, who doubled to plate McDonough.
 
Indiana 9, Memphis 1
The Hoosiers saw another three-hit performance from Blitz in the second game, as she also collected three RBI and scored a run in the win. Indiana saw two-hit games from Jenkins, Tsirigos and Norton, who knocked her first career homer against the Tigers.
 
Sophomore Tara Trainer earned the victory for Indiana in the circle, tossing a complete game and striking out six.
 
The Hoosiers loaded the bases in the first on a wild pitch on a third strike to Jenkins and singles by Blitz and Tsirigos, but Norton grounded into a double play ball to end the threat.
 
Jenkins again reached base in the third as she led off the inning with a single then stole second base. Two batters later, she crossed home plate as Tsirigos singled up the middle to give Indiana the lead. Tsirigos was then brought in on Norton's two-run homer to left center to make it 3-0.
 
A pair of Memphis singles and a walk loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, but Trainer's third strikeout of the game left them stranded.
 
A five-run fourth inning by Indiana put the game out of reach.  The Hoosiers loaded the bags on a trio of walks with one away. Blitz brought in two on a double to left center, plating freshman Katie Lacefield and McDonough. After Jenkins scored on an illegal pitch, Blitz safely crossed home on a fielder's choice off the bat of Lehman. Norton picked up her third RBI against the Tigers on a double to right center to score Lehman.
 
The Tigers got on the board in the home half of fourth on an RBI double by Lindsey Stickrod.
 
However, Indiana quickly got that run back in the fifth. After back-to-back singles by Lacefield and Jenkins, Blitz picked up her second RBI on a single through the right side, plating Lacefield and pushing the lead to 9-1.
 
Memphis led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk, but three straight outs by Trainer ended the game in five frames.
 
The Hoosiers close out play in Memphis on Sunday as they face Buffalo at 12:15 p.m. ET.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/3/11/softball-indiana-earns-two-run-rule-victories-in-memphis.aspx

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,776]

Thanks for good updates.

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

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

Thanks for good updates.

The fact that I am able to update without being tired is amazing. 

[ccgeneral 38,084]

BTN schedule out.

http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/031517aaa.html

Friday, March 24  vs Rutgers 6:00 pm ET

Sunday, April 09  @ Minnesota 1:00 pm ET

Saturday, April 29  @ Michigan 3:00 pm ET

 

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

4 hours ago, ccgeneral said:

BTN schedule out.

http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/031517aaa.html

Friday, March 24  vs Rutgers 6:00 pm ET

Sunday, April 09  @ Minnesota 1:00 pm ET

Saturday, April 29  @ Michigan 3:00 pm ET

 

Thanks CCG.

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For the second time in three weeks, Indiana pitcher Emily Goodin has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
 
The Evansville, Ind. native went 3-0 on the weekend, tossing 15.1 scoreless innings. The righty surrendered just two total hits and five walks while striking out 21 batters. As a team, the Hoosiers posted a perfect 5-0 weekend, the first five-win weekend for Indiana since 2013.
 
Against Western Illinois on Friday, Goodin picked up her third complete game of her career and her second shutout as the Hoosiers defeated the Fighting Leathernecks in eight innings, 1-0. Goodin was near perfect in the outing, surrendering just one hit while walking no batters and striking out eight.
 
In Friday's second game, she pitched 3.0 hitless innings in relief to earn the victory against Lipscomb. Her second relief appearance came on Saturday against Oakland. Goodin went 4.1 innings, allowing just one hit and three walks while picking up a career-high 10 strikeouts.
 
For the season, Goodin leads the team with a 3.16 ERA and a 7-4 record in 17 appearances. She was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Feb. 27.
 
The Hoosiers open up play at Andy Mohr Field this weekend in the Hoosier Classic.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/3/13/softball-goodin-earns-second-big-ten-freshman-of-the-week-honor.aspx

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – This season, every home Indiana baseball and softball game will be broadcasted live by either BTN Plus or the Big Ten Network.
 
BTN Plus is a web subscription service available for a small monthly fee allowing users to stream games on BTN2Go.com.
 
Indiana Baseball is slated to play 24 games at Bart Kaufman Field, with the opener coming this Friday at 6:05 p.m. ET against Middle Tennessee State.
 
IU Softball will have 16 games at Andy Mohr Field, starting with next weekend's Hoosier Classic.
 
The Big Ten Network will announce its selections for the broadcast schedule at a later date.
 http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/3/8/all-baseball-and-softball-home-games-to-be-broadcast-live.aspx

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana Softball is riding a five-game winning streak as the team opens up play at Andy Mohr Field this weekend in the annual Hoosier Classic. This year's tournament features Indiana, Bowling Green and UIC with each team playing each other twice. Indiana's games will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Admission to all homes games is free of charge.



WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
Saturday, March 18
Indiana vs. Bowling Green - 1:15 p.m. ET
Indiana vs. UIC - 3:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 19
Indiana vs. UIC - 1:15 p.m. ET
Indiana vs. Bowling Green - 3:30 p.m. ET

ANDY MOHR FIELD
Andy Mohr Field is entering its fifth season and the Hoosiers enter the weekend with a 39-36 record at the stadium. This weekend's tournament begins a streak of seven straight games in Bloomington for the Hoosiers.

This year marks the seventh consecutive Hoosier Classic. Since the inaugural tournament in 2011, Indiana is 20-2 in the Hoosier Classic.

CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION
Bowling Green: The Falcons are 14-12 on the season after winning the final four games of last weekend's Ole Miss Tournament. Bowling Green was due to face Michigan on Wendnesday, but the game was postponed due to weather. As a team, Bowling Green is hitting .283 with an ERA of 3.44.  At the plate, the Falcons are paced by Chelsea Raker, who is batting .390 with 30 hits, including 10 doubles and 4 homers, 26 RBI and 7 runs, Raker's 10 doubles is currently tied for eighth in the country. Aspen Searle is close behind with a .372 average and 32 hits, 20 RBI and 17 runs. This past week, Searle was named the MAC Player of the Week after hitting .480 last week. In the circle, the Falcons have used four pitchers in 2017. Meredith Miller (7-1, 2.57 ERA, 60.0 IP), Brooke Parker (3-5, 3.64 ERA, 57.2 IP) have seen the most innings thus far.

The Hoosiers have won all eight previous meetings against Bowling Green including two victories in the 2015 Hoosier Classic.

UIC: The Flames are 10-12 on the year after dropping three of four games at last weekend's University of Oklahoma Tournament. UIC is led by head coach Lynn Curylo, who took over for Indiana softball alumna Michelle Venturella after she took the opening at Wash U. in Saint Louis. Prior to coming to UIC, Curylo served as head coach for Wright State for six seasons. UIC is batting .258 with an impressive ERA of 2.59. The bats are led by Lexi Watts, who is hitting .397 with 27 base knocks, 10 runs and 8 RBI. Kayla Wedl is also batting above .300 for the Flames with a .308 average, 20 hits, 12 runs and 11 RBI. Karissa Frazier (3-6, 1.91 ERA, 47.2 IP) and Elaine Heflin (5-4, 2.30 ERA, 61.0 IP) have carried most of the pitching load for UIC.

Indiana leads the all-time series, 14-7, including a 3-2 victory in last year's Hoosier Classic.

LAST TIME OUT
Indiana traveled to Memphis, Tenn. last weekend, going a perfect 5-0 in the UofM Softball Tournament. After a pair of extra inning victories on Friday, the Hoosiers closed out the weekend with three straight run-rule wins.

WEEKLY AWARDS FOR GOODIN AND NORTON
For the second time in three weeks, Indiana pitcher Emily Goodin earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. In addition, she was highlighted by NFCA as a Selected Top Performance. The Evansville, Ind. native went 3-0 on the weekend, tossing 15.1 scoreless innings. The righty surrendered just two total hits and five walks while striking out 21 batters. Goodin was near perfect against Western Illinois, surrendering just one hit while walking no batters and striking out eight.

In Friday's second game, she pitched 3.0 hitless innings in relief to earn the victory against Lipscomb. Her second relief appearance came on Saturday against Oakland. Goodin went 4.1 innings, allowing just one hit and three walks while picking up a career-high 10 strikeouts.

Fellow freshman Bella Norton earned honors from CollegeSportsMadness.com, who named her the Big Ten Player of the Week. Norton batted .538 with 7 hits and 4 RBI during the weekend. The McLean, Va. native knocked her first career homer against Memphis on Saturday. 

BATS COME ALIVE IN MEMPHIS
• For the weekend, Indiana hit .333 as a team at the UofM Tournament. The hot-hitting raised Indiana's season batting average from .235 to .257.

• After two low-scoring affairs on Friday, the Hoosiers scored 33 combined runs in the final three games, all of which resulted in run-rule victories. During those three final games, Indiana hit an average of .458, led by CaraMia Tsirigos, who batted .750 in those games with 6 hits, 6 RBI and 3 runs. Rebecca Blitz was close behind batting .700 with 7 hits, 4 RBI and 4 runs.

• The Hoosiers had five batters hit above .400 for the weekend, led by Norton's .548 average. Aimilia McDonough, Gabbi Jenkins, Rebecca Blitz and Gabbi Jenkins also hit above .400.

• After not registering a single triple in the first 19 games of the season, the Hoosiers hit three triple baggers in Memphis off the bats of junior Rachel O'Malley and freshmen Jenkins and Katie Lacefield. 

HOT HITTING FROM JENKINS, MCDONOUGH
• Jenkins has worked her way into not only a  regular spot in the starting lineup, but also into Indiana's leadoff spot. The Floyds Knobs, Ind. native has been a tear recently with 14 of her 15 hits on the year coming since Indiana's Feb. 26 game against Murray State. In those 12 games, Jenkins is hitting .341  with five runs scored. Jenkins has posted four multi-hit games this year, including the last three games in Memphis. Over the last four games, Jenkins has eight total hits.

• McDonough is riding a six-game hitting streak after another impressive outing in Memphis. She continues to lead the team with her .442 average and is tied with a team-best 13 runs.

TRAINER'S STRIKEOUT RANKINGS
Tara Trainer has 89 strikeouts on the year, good for 28th nationally and third in the Big Ten. In addition, her 8.7 strikeouts per seven innings is 39th in the country and third in the conference.

A season ago, the righty, who was named No. 21 on Fastpitch News' Preseason Top 50 NCAA Softball Pitchers List, set the Indiana freshman strikeout record with 183.

WHAT'S AHEAD IN 2017

The Hoosiers have 53 games on tap in 2017, including 16 to be played at Andy Mohr Field. Of Indiana's 32 opponents in 2017, seven are ranked in this week's USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll.

After this weekend, Indiana will have just two non-conference games remaining, a March 29 trip to Louisville and an April 19 game against Kentucky at Andy Mohr Field.

Home Big Ten battles for Indiana includes Rutgers, Purdue, Maryland and Michigan State. IU will travel to Penn State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Michigan. The 2017 Big Ten Tournament will be hosted by Michigan in Ann Arbor May 11-13.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/3/17/softball-iu-opens-up-home-slate-with-hoosier-classic.aspx

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Softball (12-14) split the first day of the home-opening Hoosier Classic, defeating Bowling Green in six innings, 11-3, and falling to UIC in eight innings, 11-9.
 
Indiana 11, Bowling Green 3
The first game of the day saw homers from junior Taylor Uden and senior Erin Lehman as the Hoosiers earned their sixth straight win and fourth straight run-rule victory.
 
Lehman turned in a 3-for-5 performance, bringing in a career-high five runs and scoring once. Another Hoosier with a career day was freshman Gabbi Jenkins who collected a personal-best four hits and four RBI.
 
Sophomore Tara Trainer earned the victory for Indiana in her eighth complete game of the season. Trainer struck out five, walked one and surrendered three runs in the win, her fifth of the year.
 
The Falcons jumped to an early 1-0 lead in second on an RBI single by Taylor Blevins, however the Hoosiers tied the game in the home half on Uden's homer to left center.
 
Bowling Green's Chelsea Raker answered with a solo homer of her own in the following frame and the Falcons carried the 2-1 advantage into the fourth before Indiana hung four runs to take the lead for good. Jenkins' RBI single started the scoring as she brought in junior Rachel O'Malley before Lehman's three-run shot to left center plated junior Rebecca Blitz and Jenkins.
 
After the Falcons cut the deficit to 6-3 on an RBI single by Aspen Searle, the Hoosiers responded with a three-run fifth inning. Jenkins brought in Uden on a sacrifice fly, followed by a two-run double by Lehman to score freshman Katie Lacefield and sophomore Sarah Galovich.
 
Runs by Lacefield and Galovich in the sixth ended the game early as Jenkins hit a two-run single to secure an 11-3 run-rule win.
 
UIC 11, Indiana 9
In the day's finale, the Hoosiers came back from a seven-run sixth-inning deficit before falling in extras.
 
Uden collected her second homer of the day as she went a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI and one run. Blitz added three hits while tying her career high with three runs.
 
UIC took a 1-0 lead in the first before scoring two more in the second as Taylor Cairns sent an RBI triple to right center and advanced home on a Hoosier error.
 
A double steal by Blitz and Lacefield put the Hoosiers on the board as Lacefield stole home while UIC looked to catch Blitz taking second base. A Flames' error put one more up for Indiana as Blitz made it 3-2.
 
However, UIC responded by plating six unanswered runs, including a four-run sixth-inning, to take a 9-2 advantage. Tiana Mack-Miller led the charge for the Flames as she brought in four runs in the game on a pair of hits.
 
Indiana would not go quietly as the Hoosiers put up a four-run frame of their own in the home half of the sixth. Uden's three-run shot to center brought in junior Sarah Thompson and Blitz before an RBI single by Galovich scored senior Kayla Mathewson to make it 9-6.
 
Thompson made it a one-run game in the seventh as she doubled to left center, bringing Lehman and Blitz home. The tying run game off the bat of freshman Bella Norton, who singled up the middle to score Thompson.
 
Playing with the international tie-breaker rule in effect, UIC started the eighth with a runner on second. Jennah Speth broke the stalemate as she plated Kayla Wedl on an RBI single before a single by Claire Crane gave the Flames an 11-9 cushion.
 
Indiana used a UIC fielding error to put two runners on in the bottom of the eighth, but a pair of strikeouts ended the game.
 
The Hoosiers return to action on Sunday as they again host UIC and Bowling Green to close out the weekend. Admission to all Indiana Softball home games is free of charge.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/3/18/softball-indiana-splits-day-one-of-the-hoosier-classic.aspx

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,776]

Hey Olivia, you're falling down on the job.  

http://www.idsnews.com/article/2017/03/iu-drops-tight-midweek-contest-against-louisville

As daylight faded at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, so did IU softball’s offensive production.

The Hoosiers managed just two hits, both in the third inning, in a 2-1 loss to the Louisville Cardinals on Wednesday. 

Only one IU batter reached base in the final four innings, and the final nine Hoosiers to step to the plate were retired consecutively by Louisville senior pitcher Maryssa Becker to end the game.

“Our bats just didn’t show up tonight,” junior outfielder Rebecca Blitz said. “We hit the ball hard but right at people.”

IU drops to .500 on the season with a 16-16 record as a result of the loss. After scoring 31 runs in the first two games of last weekend's series against Rutgers, IU has now scored just six runs in its last two contests.

Becker, pitching all seven innings in just 91 pitches on Wednesday, s

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

University Park, Pa. – Indiana Softball split Saturday's doubleheader with Penn State at Beard Field, winning the first game, 6-1, before falling in the second, 3-2.
 
Indiana 6, Penn State 1
In game one, the Hoosiers were led offensively by a 2-for-2 effort from senior CaraMia Tsirigos, who homered in the win and earned two walks. Junior Rachel O'Malley tied her career high with three hits while also scoring a run and collecting an RBI. Junior Taylor Uden and freshman Katie Lacefield also turned in multi-hit performances with each picking up two base knocks.
 
Sophomore Tara Trainer earned the win in the circle, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing just three hits and one run while striking out five. Freshman Emily Goodin pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief for the Hoosiers.
 
Tsirigos led off the second inning with a homer to left center, her team-leading fifth home run of the season.
 
The Hoosiers extended their lead to 3-0 in the following frame. After freshman Gabbi Jenkins walked, she stole second then advanced to third on a groundout. Uden plated her on a long single to left center before Tsirigos brought Uden in on a double.
 
Penn State loaded the bases in the bottom of the third on a pair of walks and a long single. However, back-to-back grounders ended the threat.
 
After O'Malley led off the fourth with her second double of the game, freshman Bella Norton walked to put two on for Lacefield, who tripled on a long fly ball to the warning track. The triple, which was the second of her career, scored O'Malley and pinch runner Sarah Galovich to make it 5-0.
 
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Shelby Miller to score Toni Polk, who reached on a leadoff single and advanced to second on a fielding error.
 
Indiana's final run of the contest came in the seventh as O'Malley singled up the middle to score Uden.
 
Penn State 3, Indiana 2
In the second game of the day, a seventh inning rally fell just short as the Hoosiers lost to Penn State, 3-2.
 
Redshirt sophomore Emily Kirk tossed her first complete game of the season, giving up just six hits in the game.
 
The contest started as a pitcher's duel as the first baserunner for either team came in the fourth as Jenkins led off the inning with a single up the middle, but a double play ball ended the threat.
 
Penn State followed that up with a leadoff hit of its own in the bottom of the fourth on a bunt by Rebecca Ziegler. After stealing second, she scored on a two-out double by Tori Dubois. The Nittany Lions tacked on another run as Dubois scored while the Hoosier defense got caught in a rundown with Mollie Sorenson between first and second base.
 
Tsirigos led off the fifth with a walk, but a double play emptied the bases. McDonough looked to start a two-out rally with a single up the middle before a pop-up in foul territory ended the frame.
 
The Nittany Lions added a third run in the sixth inning as Sorenson singled to right to plate Miller.
 
Blitz and Uden led off the seventh with back-to-back singles before an intentional walk to Tsirigos loaded the bags. O'Malley then picked up her third double of Saturday's doubleheader as she sent the ball to right center, scoring Blitz and Uden and cutting the deficit to 3-2. However, the Hoosiers couldn't get the tying run across as flyout to right ended the game.
 
Indiana (17-17, 3-2 Big Ten) and Penn State (13-19, 1-4 Big Ten) close out the series Sunday at 1p.m. The game will be streamed live on BTN Plus.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/4/1/softball-iu-splits-saturdays-dh-with-penn-state.aspx?path=softball

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Indiana Softball (17-18, 3-3 Big Ten) dropped the series finale to Penn State on Sunday at Beard Field, 2-1. The Nittany Lions (14-19, 2-4 Big Ten) won the game on a walk-off single to take the series.
 
Indiana's five hits came from five separate Hoosiers as junior Taylor Uden scored the lone IU run on a fourth-inning home run.
 
Sophomore Tara Trainer tossed a complete game, allowing five hits and striking out four. Penn State's Marlaina Laubach also threw all 7.0 innings, striking out three and surrendering no walks.
 
Junior Rebecca Blitz collected the first hit of the game as she singled to the shortstop with one out in the first. After Uden was hit by a pitch, senior CaraMia Tsirigos moved the runners to second and third base. However, the Hoosiers left them stranded.
 
Penn State got on the board in the second as Gianna Arrizurieta doubled with two outs to plate Toni Polk.
 
Uden tied up the game in the fourth as she led off the inning with her solo homer to left field. The home run was the fifth of the season for Uden, which is tied with Tsirigos for the team lead.
 
The Nittany Lions looked to threaten in the fifth as Arrizurieta knocked a one-out double before Destiny Weber walked. However, a jumping snag by senior Erin Lehman at second and a flyout to center helped work the Hoosiers out of trouble.
 
Penn State again came out strong in the sixth as Shelby Miller led off with a double before being moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. However, Trainer induced a pop-up before collecting her fourth strikeout of the day to end the inning.
 
A single by O'Malley and a double from junior Sarah Thompson put two on for Indiana with two away in the final inning, but a pop-up in foul territory left them stranded.
 
The Nittany Lions' game-winning run came off the bat of Sam Shanahan, as she sent a shallow single to right to plate Arrizurieta with one out.
 
Indiana returns to action next weekend as the Hoosiers travel to Minnesota to face the Golden Gophers. The first game of the series is slated for Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/4/2/softball-hoosiers-fall-in-series-finale-to-penn-state-2-1.aspx?path=softball

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana Softball (17-18, 3-3 Big Ten) heads to Minneapolis this weekend to face the No. 7 ranked Golden Gophers (32-3, 5-1 Big Ten). It marks the first time since 2013 the two teams have played each other, with the last meeting resulting in a Minnesota series sweep in Minneapolis.

Due to the Sunday weather forecast, Indiana and Minnesota will now play a single game Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. ET. All three games will be streamed on BTN Plus. Stats and a live radio broadcast for all the games can be found on IUHoosiers.com.

WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
Game One - Friday, 7 p.m. ET - BTN Plus
Game Two - Saturday, 2 p.m. ET - BTN Plus
Game Three - Saturday, 4 p.m. ET - BTN Plus

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
The No. 7 Golden Gophers opened their 2017 campaign 19-0 before falling to No. 8 Washington on March 10. Minnesota lost twice to the Huskies in the Washington Tournament and the team's only other loss this year came against Illinois last weekend.

Minnesota is hitting .348, best in the Big Ten and fifth in the nation. They also rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring (6th - 7.17 runs per game), slugging percentage (5th - .537), home runs per game (4th - 1.03 per game) and on-base percentage (8th - .435).  The Gophers have four hitting .400 or better, led by Makenna Partain (.425, 45 hits, 29 runs, 20 RBI) and Sydney Dwyer (.411, 44 hits, 15 runs, 46 RBI). Kendyl Lindaman leads the Big Ten in homers with 13 on the year.

In the circle, two-time All-American Sara Groenewegen leads the Big Ten with a 0.50 ERA, which is also third in the nation. The pitching staff's 1.40 ERA is eighth in the country. Amber Fiser (2.35 ERA, 6-0, 41.2 IP) and Tori Finucane (2.86 ERA. 5-1, 44.0 IP) could also see time in the circle this weekend.

LAST TIME OUT
IU traveled to Penn State last weekend. The Hoosiers earned a 6-1 victory in the series opener, but fell in the two final games as the Nittany Lions came away with the series victory.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS
• Juniors Rachel O'Malley and Taylor Uden put up strong numbers during the series against Penn State. O'Malley hit .500, going 5-for-10 with three doubles, three RBI and a run scored. Uden batted .444 with four hits, four runs, two RBI and a homer.
• Redshirt sophomore Emily Kirk tossed her first complete game of the year in Friday's second game. She pitched solidly, giving up just six hits and three runs in the 6.0 innings.
• Sophomore Tara Trainer also had a strong weekend in the circle. Trainer started two games, picking up a 1.85 ERA, striking out nine and allowing three runs in 11.1 innings of work. against the Nittany Lions.

SEEING DOUBLE
• The Hoosiers picked up six more doubles at Penn State and now have 54 on the season, which is second in the Big Ten.
• Indiana's out-doubling its opponents 54-37 this year
• For comparison, through 35 games last season, Indiana had 39 doubles. The Hoosiers finished the 2016 campaign with 69 doubles, which was fourth all-time in program history. 
• Uden leads the way with nine doubles, while O'Malley and junior Aimilia McDonough have each knocked seven. 
• The Hoosiers have seven players on the roster who have doubled at least four times this season.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Indiana freshman Gabbi Jenkins is hitting .305 this year and has picked up a hit in 13 of the last 15 games while hitting in the leadoff spot.
• Fellow freshman Katie Lacefield has also been impressive as of late. Since Indiana's March 5 game against Long Beach State, she is batting  .395 with 15 hits and 10 runs. She has raised her average from .167 prior to that game to .294 for the season.
• As a team, Indiana is batting .282. Last season, the Hoosiers hit .272.
• IU has knocked 18 home runs this season, led by five from Uden and senior CaraMia Tsirigos. The five homers is a career best for Uden while Tsirigos' career high is seven from a season ago.

PURDUE DH TO BE SHOWN ON BTN
Both games of Indiana's April 11 doubleheader against Purdue will be aired live on the Big Ten Network. The DH, which starts at 4 p.m. at Andy Mohr Field, will make it five total Indiana games shown on BTN this season.

HOOSIERS SET RECORDS IN 23-2 WIN
The Indiana offense exploded for a 23-2 win against Rutgers on Friday. The game set numerous records for the Hoosiers such as:
• 23 runs is the most scored ever in a Big Ten game in IU history and the most in any game since 1978 when Indiana scored 40 runs.
• 20 hits is the most in head coach Michelle Gardner's nine-year tenure
• 23 RBI is the most in a single game under Coach Gardner
• Four home runs is the most under Coach Gardner as CaraMia Tsirigos, Taylor Uden, Rachel O'Malley and Nicole Lawvereall went yard in the win.
• 14 different Hoosiers scored at least one run and 13 picked up at least one hit

TRAINER'S STRIKEOUT RANKINGS
Tara Trainer has 128 strikeouts on the year, good for 27th nationally and third in the Big Ten.

A season ago, the righty, who was named No. 21 on Fastpitch News' Preseason Top 50 NCAA Softball Pitchers List, set the Indiana freshman strikeout record with 183.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/4/6/softball-indiana-travels-to-no-7-minnesota-this-weekend.aspx?path=softball

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Indiana Softball (17-19, 3-4 Big Ten) fell to No. 7 Minnesota (33-3, 6-1 Big Ten) in Friday night's series opener, 11-6. Senior CaraMia Tsirigos brought in four of Indiana's runs as she homered twice against the Golden Gophers.
 
It was the first multi-home run game of Tsirigos' career and the first for a Hoosier since Michelle Huber did so against Maryland on May 7, 2016. The two home runs brings her season total to seven, tying her career high set in 2016.
 
Tsirigos led off the second inning with Indiana's first hit of the day on a single to right. Junior Sarah Thompson put two on for IU as she singled in just her fifth start of the season, but both were left stranded.
 
Indiana jumped to a 3-0 lead on Tsirigos' second hit of the day as she knocked a three-run homer to left field in the third inning. The homer plated freshman Katie Lacefield, who reached on a fielding error and junior Rebecca Blitz, who singled in the frame.
 
Minnesota loaded the bases in the home half of the third on back-to-back walks and a single through the left side. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Emily Kirk created a force out at home to get the first out, however Kendyl Lindaman sent one back up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Golden Gophers tied the game as MaKenna Partain reached on an Indiana fielding error and Maddie Houlihan scored from third base. Minnesota then took the lead on another two-run single, this time off the bat of Sydney Dwyer to make it 5-3.
 
Emily Goodin entered the game in a relief effort in the following inning, but the Golden Gophers added to their lead on a three-run homer by Danielle Parlich.   
 
Minnesota loaded the bags in the fifth and plated another run on a bases-loaded walk. But Jessica Conenna, who stepped in after the bases were loaded, forced a foul out and a pair of groundouts to limit the damage.
 
Tsirigos collected her fourth RBI of the game in the sixth as she sent her second home run to right center, a solo shot to cut the deficit to 9-4. However, Minnesota quickly got that run back as Lindaman led off the bottom of the inning with a homer. A sac fly by Sara Groenewegen plated the final Minnesota run of the day. 
 
The Hoosiers would not go quietly as senior Erin Lehman reached and Lacefield doubled in the seventh, setting the stage for pinch hitter Aimilia McDonough's two-run single to cut the deficit to 11-6. However, a pair of flyouts would end the game.
 
Friday's game marked just the fourth time all season Minnesota has surrendered at least six runs and the first time since March 11 against Seattle.
 
Indiana and Minnesota will wrap up the series on Saturday as the teams play a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Both games will be streamed live on BTN Plus.
 http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/4/7/softball-tsirigos-homers-twice-as-iu-falls-to-no-7-minnesota-11-6.aspx?path=softball

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

Just simply adding games from last weekend and this weekend I know that I have been busy and I apologize. 

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,776]

1 hour ago, OliviaPope40 said:

Just simply adding games from last weekend and this weekend I know that I have been busy and I apologize. 

FIRE HER!  This is embarassing.     LOL

[OliviaPope40 6,520]

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Indiana Softball (17-21, 3-6 Big Ten) dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader to No. 7 Minnesota (35-3, 8-1 Big Ten), falling 10-2 and 8-0.
 
No. 7 Minnesota 10, Indiana 2
In the first game of the day, Indiana outhit Minnesota, 5-4, but the Golden Gophers earned nine walks to propel them to the five-inning victory.
 
Junior Rebecca Blitz notched a pair of hits in the contest in her return to the leadoff spot for the first time since the season's opening weeks.
 
Minnesota jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening frame on a two-run double by Maddie Houlihan and sacrifice fly by Sara Groenewegen.
 
Groenewegen tossed all 5.0 innings for Minnesota, giving up two earned runs and two walks while striking out four.
 
Indiana's first hit of the day came from Blitz in the third as she sent a one-out single through the left side. Uden brought her home on her sixth home run of the season, a shot to left to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
However, the Golden Gophers extended their lead to 9-2 in the bottom of the third, capitalizing on four walks, an RBI single and a pair of home runs. MaKenna Partain started the scoring by plating Danielle Parlich on a single to left. A bases-loaded walk to Dani Wagner made it 5-2 before Allie Arneson's grand slam to left center. Sam Macken then hit a solo shot to make it 10-2.
 
Redshirt sophomore Emily Kirk pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief for sophomore Tara Trainer. Kirk's only hit allowed was Macken's homer.
 
IU responded to Minnesota's seven-run third inning by loading the bases in the fourth on a Golden Gopher error and singles from Blitz and freshman Katie Lacefield, however a ground out ended the threat.
 
No. 7 Minnesota 8, Indiana 0
The Golden Gophers knocked their second grand slam in as many games to start game two, this time off the bat of Sydney Dwyer.
 
An RBI groundout by Macken in the second extended the lead to 5-0 before a three-run third inning. After back-to-back RBI doubles by Dwyer and Groenewegen, a single by Dani Wagner made it 8-0.
 
Minnesota looked to add on to the lead in the fourth as a single and walk put two on. But Trainer, in to relieve Kirk, picked up a pair of strikeouts and Blitz made a diving grab in center to end the inning.
 
Tsirigos and freshman Gabbi Jenkins earned the lone Indiana hits of the game. For the series, Tsirigos collected five hits and batted .714.
 
Up next for Indiana, the Hoosiers return to Andy Mohr Field on Tuesday to host Purdue in a doubleheader. The action begins at 4 p.m. and both games will be shown live on Big Ten Network. Admission to all Indiana home games is free of charge.
 http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/4/8/softball-hoosiers-drop-dh-to-no-7-minnesota.aspx