Softball team plagued by errors

Defensive miscues cost the IU softball team another close game yesterday as they fell 5-4 in nine innings to Louisville. The teams were slated to play a doubleheader, but played just one game in expectance of inclement weather.\nThe Hoosiers (9-15-1) committed five errors to Louisville's one, including two in both the sixth and ninth innings. IU led the Cardinals 4-2 going into the sixth inning, but allowed two unearned runs to score in the top of the sixth to knot the game at 4-4.\n"If you look at our line scores (from recent games), we are committing five, six, or seven errors, but we are still right in some of these games," IU coach Diane Stephenson said. "It just boggles my mind that we can still be in these games the way our defense has played."\nAfter allowing Louisville (18-17) to tie the game in the sixth, freshman pitcher Katie Witham retired the next five Cardinal batters. Witham allowed a single to Louisville freshman center fielder Sara Bausher, but senior catcher Brooke Monroe threw Bausher out as she tried stealing second.\nIn Louisville's half of the ninth, Monroe and Witham each committed an error to allow Louisville to take the 5-4 lead they wouldn't relinquish. The loss was the Hoosiers fifth straight.\nSince having their lone error-free game of the year on March 24 against Butler, the Hoosiers have committed 21 errors in five games and given up 27 runs, of which only 10 were earned.\nSophomore first baseman/pitcher Heather Stillians said the Hoosiers need to re-focus to improve their defense.\n"I am not sure where all of our heads are right now, but we need to get them back into the game," Stillians said. "We play a lot better when we have fun and relax and aren't so tense about situations."\nIU scored four runs on Louisville freshman starting pitcher Krystle Herold, who threw five innings and gave up nine hits. Cardinal ace pitcher, junior Jessica Rak shut the door on the Hoosiers offense, hurling 3 and 2/3 innings of scoreless and hitless ball. Rak retired all eleven IU batters she faced.\nMonroe and Stillians each had two hits to lead the Hoosiers offensive attack. Monroe had a double, run batted in, run scored and a walk. Stillians went 2 for 5, with one of the hits being her first career triple. Stillians also had two runs batted in and a run scored in the game.\n"I have a lot of confidence in my bat right now," Stillians said of her hitting. "I am pretty relaxed when I get up to bat and it all kind of works out."\nIU returns to action tomorrow at 4 p.m. when they host No. 13 Michigan in Big Ten action at the IU Softball Field.