Indiana softball will play Lakeland Community College for the first time in an organized scrimage at 1 p.m. Sunday. The team is scheduled to play a total of six games over five weekends this fall, with three games remaining on slate.
Fall ball games are not recorded for the Hoosiers but are played as organized scrimmages, functioning as a way for players to get back into the game before the spring season.
The Hoosiers return from a successful spring 2023 season in which they finished second in the Big Ten standings, with a final record of 43-16. Their season was cut short in the NCAA Regionals tournament with losses to the University of Tennessee. Although it was not the outcome they had hoped for, it was a significant improvement compared to seasons prior and shows hope for the upcoming spring 2024 season.
A significant roster change took place in the offseason as star infielder Taryn Kern entered the transfer portal after the season ended, transferring to Stanford University. Kern was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year last season. She led the team with a .404 batting average and 23 home runs this past spring.
Kern's transfer does not leave the roster empty, though, as pitchers Macy Montgomery returns for her senior season and Brianna Copeland comes back for her junior season. Last season, Montgomery recorded 35 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched. Copeland was on the NFCA Third Team All-American as well as the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
Prior to Sunday’s scrimmage against Lakeland, the team played an intersquad scrimmage on Friday in which Cream defeated Crimson 13-0. Sunday’s contest won’t be broadcasted but will be free to attend at Andy Mohr Field.
