IU faces No. 15 Louisville

After falling to Minnesota at home this past weekend to open up the Big Ten season, the Hoosiers (3-21, 0-2) will look to sneak up on No. 15 Lousiville (26-3, 4-0) at  5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Not only do the Cardinals come into Tuesday night’s contest with their highest national ranking in program history, but also as winners of 14 out of their 15 games. In their losses this season, their opponents scored a combined nine runs.

But the Hoosiers welcome the midweek challenge to take on one of the nation’s best teams.
“We know going in that we are the underdogs,” junior outfielder Kelli Ritchison said.

The Hoosiers have struggled to put runs on the board, which plays into Louisville’s hand well because of their ability to shut down any offense. The Cardinals have been able to shut out their opponent three out of their last four games.

“Our main goal is to get the bat on the ball,” Ritchison said. “We can’t wait five or six innings to figure out a pitcher.”

Although their schedule has not been an easy one, the Hoosiers still have the confidence to pull off a big upset Tuesday.

“We’re better than what our record says we are,” Ritchison said.

– Connor O’Gara