IU competes in Florida tournament, loses 3 of 4 games on road trip

The IU softball team (5-17) finished its spring break in Clearwater, Fla., this past weekend going 1-3 as they played in the 18-team Under Armour Showcase at South Florida. \nIn the Hoosiers’ game on Friday, Florida International shut out the team 5-0. Although starting junior pitcher Monica Wright (2-6) got the loss, she still managed to pitch well in the opener. This was Wright’s third complete game of the season – she also went the distance Saturday against Massachusetts – and she tied her career-high with eight strikeouts but still allowed five runs on eight hits. \nThe Hoosiers took on Rutgers in their first game on Saturday. Although IU broke a four-game scoreless streak, Rutgers defeated the Hoosiers 6-4, with two Hoosier freshmen providing a majority of the offense. \n“The freshmen are picking up the pace and coming,” IU coach Stacey Phillips said. “Going to high school then here is not an easy transition.”\nFreshman designated hitter Sara Olson went 2-for-3 and drove in two RBIs and freshman left fielder Brittany Devitt went 2-for-3 as she hit her third home run of the season. Olson’s hits and RBIs were the the first of her college career.\n“It was definitely exciting,” Olson said. “Also, having my sister (senior infielder Anna Olson) out there cheering me along was nice, too.”\nTaking the loss for the Hoosiers was freshman pitcher Alyssa Maiese (0-6). She went 2 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on only two hits, but the six walks she issued proved to be too much to overcome.\nThe Hoosiers broke their six-game losing streak in an eight-inning, 2-1 victory over Massachusetts Saturday afternoon.\nWhen a game is tied after seven innings in softball, the International Tiebreaker Rule goes into effect. This allows each team to place a runner on base at the start of every at bat prior to the start of each half inning.\nIn the Hoosiers at bat in the eighth inning, Maiese pinch-ran for senior catcher Tory Yamaguchi at second base. After freshman catcher Brittany Stein sacrifice bunted Maiese to third, sophomore outfielder Jennifer Glueckert singled to centerfield and Maiese scored. In the bottom half of the inning, Wright held on to give the Hoosiers the victory. Wright had her second solid pitching performance of the weekend as she allowed just one run on three hits.\nWright pitched her most consistent weekend of the season, as she secured her first win and pitched two complete games.\n“I have just been doing the same thing we have been taught,” Wright said. “I am focusing on getting ahead and trying to stay ahead.”\nIn the final game yesterday, the Hoosiers only managed three hits in their 1-0 loss to Radford. Junior infielder Stephanie Pellerito had two of the Hoosiers’ hits, and senior third baseman Jennilee Huddleston had the other. Olson started the game in the pitcher’s circle for the Hoosiers but left in the fourth inning because of an injury. Senior pitcher Jennifer Moore took the loss.\nThe home opener is next for the Hoosiers, when they welcome Drake to the IU Softball Field at 4 p.m. Thursday.