Offensive outburts finish off weekend slump

After dropping two games Saturday to Western Kentucky and Notre Dame, the Hoosiers bounced back to the tune of 16 runs in two games against St. Louis. The 2-2 performance on the weekend brought their overall record to 19-16, going 5-3 for the week.\nDespite being able to get solid contact and opportunities Saturday, IU wasn't able to score enough runs to capitalize for the wins.\n"We brought the bats across the board," IU coach Sara Hayes Nottger said. "On Saturday, we hit the ball well. We had an awesome performance (Sunday) on the mound from all three pitchers. It was a great weekend."\nThe Hoosiers dropped both games Saturday and suddenly found themselves right back in the hole Sunday, as the Billikins jumped out to a 3-0 lead. But it didn't take long for IU to get the bats going again, as fellow freshmen outfielder Kim Richards and catcher Tory Yamaguchi both singled to get runners on the bases in the third inning. Sophomore center fielder Mariangee Bogado then laced a line drive to the outfield, and Richards scored the first IU run with a heads-up slide around the catcher's outstretched tag attempt. \nAfter another run was walked in by St. Louis, senior outfielders Val White and Abby Stark each tallied two more RBIs and brought the run total to six on the inning. The six runs would be more than enough for senior pitcher Heather Stillians, who only relinquished one more unearned run on a ball lost in the sun by Bogado.\n"You are a whole lot more relaxed when your team is ahead," Stillians said. "You have a lot more confidence, and you get to see what worked best for the other pitchers. Plus, every pitcher has a different style, so that is working against the hitters as well."\nThe Hoosiers wasted no time in the consolation game against St. Louis, as they were able to score 10 runs in three innings. The 10-run onslaught featured two-run home runs from sophomore designated hitter Lauren Hines and junior second baseman Ashley Griffiths, along with a solo shot from Yamaguchi. Bogado and Stillians split the duties in the five-inning game, combining for a one-hitter with five strikeouts.\n"Today, we were really seeing the ball and taking our cuts," Griffiths said. "We were hitting a lot more offensively and basically just being more aggressive at the plate."\nIn day one, the Hoosiers took a 2-0 lead early against Western Kentucky, but the Hilltoppers came back in the fifth inning, scoring all five of their runs on five hits and one IU error. \nGame two featured 10 Bogado strikeouts against the Fighting Irish, but she would be out-dueled by Notre Dame's Heather Booth, who only struck out one Hoosier but allowed just two hits in the shutout. \nWith both pitchers producing, the game was decided by the five IU errors.\n"(Saturday), we just lacked a little bit of energy and a little bit of focus, and our defense, again, let us down, whereas we played solid defense (Sunday)," Nottger said.\nNotre Dame and Western Kentucky elected not to play the championship game Sunday, so the Irish were named champions due to tournament seeding. The Hoosiers next play at the University of Illinois-Chicago Wednesday and come home Friday to play Michigan.\n-- Contact senior writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.