Senior’s homer leads to team’s 1st Big Ten win

A leader always leads by example. Whether it’s her assistance during practice or performance on the field, she knows when to step up at the right time. \nAfter seeing the Hoosiers start 0-6 this season in the Big Ten, Jennilee Huddleston, a senior third baseman on the IU softball team, rose to the occasion in Sunday’s victory against Wisconsin. \nAfter seeing her team drop two games to Minnesota Friday, Huddleston sparked some magic against Wisconsin during yesterday’s doubleheader, which was televised on the Big Ten Network. The Peachtree, Ga., native ignited the Hoosier brigade as she clobbered a three-run home run in the top of the seventh to help defeat the Badgers 5-3. Despite losing the second game of the series, the win marked the first Big Ten victory for the Hoosiers. \n“It felt great to help this team out,” Huddleston said. “It helps build our confidence for the next games to come.” \nHuddleston went 3-for-4 from the plate and delivered three RBIs. The Hoosier leader tops her squad in batting average, hitting .311 from the dish, and is second in slugging percentage behind junior shortstop Emily Bergeson. \n“It’s always a good thing to get a key hit,” Huddleston said. “I love being a leader for this team.”\nIU coach Stacey Phillips said Huddleston has basked in the glow for her whole career and her offensive success is key.\n“She’s really come through big in her career,” Phillips said. “There was no doubt that she was going to come through and take care of it.”\nDespite dropping the second game of the doubleheader to Wisconsin, freshman pitcher Sara Olson managed to pitch a solid game.\nAfter throwing three no-hit innings, Olson surrendered a home run to Wisconsin first baseman Alexis Garcia. Garcia’s home run broke a scoreless tie, a lead the Badgers did not relinquish. \n“It’s a thrill to be inside the pitchers’ circle and help this team out,” Olson said. “It’s definitely hard losing three out of four games, but we came out nicely against Wisconsin and everyone earned it.”\nEven though she allowed Wisconsin to break the deadlock, Olson pitched her second complete game and set a career high 10 strikeouts while giving up only four hits and two earned runs. \n“My drop ball has really been big for me,” Olson said. “I love it when (assistant) coach (Tarrah) Beyster calls for my change-up.” \nSunday’s performance was drastically different from the Hoosiers’ opening conference games against Michigan and Penn State. Sunday was their turn to shine. \n“We showed a lot of toughness out there, different from our previous Big Ten games,” Phillips said. “We are going to build on that from here on out and improve ourselves mentally and physically everyday.”\nThe Hoosiers will continue their road trip Wednesday when they travel to Indiana State for a 4 p.m. matchup.