Young squad looks for offense in tournament

Although defense wins championships, every team needs a little offense. \nThe IU women's softball team is looking for that offense after struggling in the batter's box last weekend in the Alexis Resort Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. In the tournament, despite only giving up nine runs in four games, the team managed to come out with just a single win. After combining for only 17 hits in five games, practice has focused clearly on offense to prepare them for their second tournament of the year, the LSU Tiger Classic, in Baton Rouge, La.\n"We have been doing a lot of hitting this week," said freshman infielder Jennilee Huddleston. "We just need to get two or three extra runs a game. It takes more than one run to win games."\nThe team learned that lesson the hard way in Las Vegas last weekend, losing to Cal State-Northridge and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas 1-0 and to Utah State by a score of 2-1.\nThe Hoosiers hope their practice will pay off when they face Southern University today to start off the tournament.\nSouthern, which won its Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2003, comes fresh off a five-game Southeastern Lions Tournament where the team finished 2-3.\nThe Hoosiers will face two more tough tests with games against Grambling State University and Louisiana State University Saturday.\nGrambling State finished last season 18-18 and won its last SWAC championship in 2001.\nLater on Saturday, the Hoosiers will face their toughest challenge of the weekend when they match up against the No. 5-ranked Louisiana State University Tigers.\nThe Tigers lost their first game of the season to the University of Illinois 5-3, but bounced back to pound the University of Louisville 7-1 later the same day.\nLast season, LSU came within seven outs of making the NCAA national championship game and will return eight letter winners from their 2004 roster.\nDespite not having played a game in more than 10 days, the Hoosiers think they are ready for their challenges in Baton Rouge.\n"At practice, we have been preparing to face our next opponent," said head coach Stacey Phillips. "We focus on playing our game, not who the other team is."\nPhillips said the team has been using the heavy scrimmaging and batting practice not only to improve the offense, but also to keep focus on game situations.\n"We've been working hard to improve the shortcomings of last weekend," said junior pitcher Megan Roark. "Scrimmaging, facing a lot of live pitching, that really keeps the intensity high."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Kevin Dwire at kdwire@indiana.edu.