IU spilts games over break, hurt by errors and few runs

While numerous classmates were enjoying spring break, the IU softball team was hard at work with a doubleheader last Tuesday and playing host to the Hoosier Classic for four more games last weekend. The Hoosier record remained essentially untouched by splitting six games and finishing the week with a 10-12 record.\nIU's most recent game against the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Jaguars had the Hoosiers unable to create runs and dropping the contest 6-1. They amassed just as many errors as hits with five. The Jaguars started a barrage right off the bat by scoring three runs off of three hits from three Hoosier errors in the top of the first. IUPUI junior Brandy Moser led off with a double to right field and was driven in by two consecutive Hoosier throwing errors after a single by junior Jennifer Owens. A walk, another error, and a run later, IU's sophomore starting pitcher Katie Witham was pulled from the game after only two-thirds of an inning of action. Junior Heather Stillians then replaced Witham on the mound and closed out the inning. IUPUI's three runs in the first were all they needed to defeat the Hoosiers.\nPoor pitching plagued the Hoosiers throughout the game and IU coach Sara Hayes attributed the IUPUI loss to the mound.\n"We were here and ready to go," Hayes said. "We just didn't adjust well to their pitching, and we need to be ready on the mound, but they just weren't ready to go."\nHowever IU did manage to strike back with a run in the bottom of the first after senior Heather Suca hit a double to center and was driven in with a single by Stillians for IU's lone RBI. \nThe Jaguars stuck again in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. In the top of the third, Jaguar sophomore Megan Crist stole second and third after reaching first with a bunt. Crist then reached home on a throwing error by IU junior Abby Stark when Stark tried to prevent third her from stealing third. IUPUI's final run came from a home run in the fifth to close out the scoring. \nIU's best chance of cutting into the Jaguar lead came in the bottom of the fifth when junior Valerie White singled to left field with two outs. Suca then managed to reach first after an error by the Jaguar catcher, driving White to third base. With runners at the corners, IU's main offensive weapon, senior Stormy Hanson, came to the plate. Unfortunately Hanson struck out, stranding White and Suca to end the inning.\nDespite the loss the Hoosiers are looking at the weekend as a learning experience to improve their game.\n"We just need to come out, and we all need to each do what we can to get better," White said. "Every game we learn something."\nPrior to the IUPUI game, the Hoosiers dropped a 6-5 heartbreaker against Detroit. Stark led the IU offense with three hits and one RBI with White and Stillians adding two hits and a RBI each to the Hoosier cause. \nDespite splitting a set of games against smaller schools, IU has learned that they cannot stop playing for any amount of time.\n"You can't take any team for granted, you've got to go out there and show up for the first inning and all the way through," Suca said. "You can't give up for any inning, because once you give up one, you're done."\nSaturday proved to be the most lucrative day for the Hoosiers with IU securing two straight shutouts against the teams that would defeat them on Sunday. Saturday was also the first time since 1996 that the Hoosier softball team has won two games in the same day and was also the first IU shutouts for the season. IU's first bout with Detroit led to a 5-0 blast with Hanson amassing three RBI's and three hits. The IUPUI game was a 6-0 Hoosier win that featured a balanced IU attack with six different players finishing the game with at least one hit.\nTuesday was the beginning of the Spring Break jaunt for the Hoosiers that saw IU split a doubleheader with Bradley. The first game had the Hoosiers fall 5-4 with IU rebounding with a 10-4 win later that evening.\nOverall Hayes is pleased with IU's showing over the past week, but she is also quick to say that there is work to be done with the softball team.\n"We have to be tougher, we're taking baby steps," Hayes said. "But we're getting better and preparing for the Big Ten season"