Hoosiers fall out west, finish 1-4 in Campbell-Cartier tournament

It took senior Kari Bettenbrock and the Hoosiers (1-4) four games and the time leading up to their last out in the bottom of the seventh inning to capture their first win of the season. \nThis weekend, the Hoosiers played in California as they participated in the Campbell-Cartier Tournament, hosted by San Diego State.\nThe Hoosiers were down 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh, when Bettenbrock came to the plate with junior pinch runner Julie DiNallo on second because of junior second baseman Sarah Padove’s double to left field. Bettenbrock belted a walk-off home run over the center field wall to defeat Tulsa and give the IU its first victory of the season.\n“When I hit the ball, I remember thinking that it would score Sarah from second base, but I didn’t think it would make it out,” Bettenbrock said. “As I rounded first, I realized that it was gone and heard everyone going crazy in the dugout. It was an amazing feeling to be able to help the team get our first win.”\nJunior pitcher Monica Wright (1-1) got her first win of the season, pitching a complete game and scattering eight hits, six runs and four walks, and striking out four batters. Junior Emily Bergeson and senior Tory Yamaguchi each homered in the game as well. \nOne key to the Hoosiers’ victory was their eight hits. In their previous four games over the weekend, they only managed a total of 11 hits.\n“I thought we faced decent pitching; more than anything, I thought we were in control of our situation,” said IU coach Stacey Phillips. “In the last two games, I thought we settled in getting more comfortable and confident at the plate.”\nIn the Hoosiers’ first game Friday morning, they lost 10-0 in five innings to Fresno State. IU senior center fielder Julia Hamilton went 1-3 and recorded a stolen base.\nIn game two Friday evening, the Hoosiers took on host school San Diego State. They lost 9-0 and recorded one hit – Bettenbrock’s infield single in the fifth inning. \nSaturday morning, the Hoosiers took on UC Santa Barbara. IU was shut out for the third game in a row and fell to the Gauchos 5-0. The Hoosier’s best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the first, when they put runners on second and third with only one out. However, a flyout and a strikeout ended the threat. Freshman pitcher Alyssa Maiese (0-2) went the distance surrendering seven hits, five runs, three earned and striking out five. \nLater that morning, the squad took on Utah State. Although the Hoosiers had ended their three-game scoreless streak, they lost 6-5 to the Aggies. The Hoosiers had a comfortable lead at 5-1, but in the bottom of the fifth the Aztecs hit a two-run home run and scored an unearned run to cut the lead. They later scored another unearned run to tie the game at five. In the bottom of the seventh, the Aggies loaded the bases and won the game on a walk-off single. \nThe Hoosiers are now off until Feb. 29 when they travel to Chattanooga, Tenn. for the Frost Classic.