Indiana softball wrapped up its regular season on a positive note with a series win over in-state rival Purdue on Friday and Saturday at Bittinger Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The series went back and forth and consisted of many highs and lows as the Hoosiers won the first game Friday and split the doubleheader Saturday. Indiana’s offense proved to be crucial and the deciding factor in the games throughout the weekend.
In the first matchup Friday, the Hoosiers and Boilermakers went back and forth throughout the contest, needing nine innings to determine a winner. After Purdue tied the game at 3 in the seventh inning, Indiana’s offense stepped up when to secure the game one victory by scoring two unanswered runs in the ninth inning.
In the series-opener, the Hoosiers outhit the Boilermakers seven to five, with four different Hoosiers recording an RBI. Senior outfielder Taylor Minnick hit her 43rd career home run in the game, which tied the program home run record set by senior pitcher and utility player Brianna Copeland.
Following the strong offensive performance in game one, the Hoosiers’ offense disappeared in the second matchup of the series Saturday. The Hoosiers put up five hits in the game but didn’t capitalize when they had runners in scoring position throughout the first three innings. The lack of offense ultimately resulted in the Hoosiers falling 2-0.
After the loss, the Hoosiers had a quick turnaround with their last game of the series to follow 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Indiana’s offense had a resurgence in the final game of the series, resulting in a run-rule win in just five innings.
In the final game of the series, Indiana outhit Purdue 10 to two and won 10-2. Seven different Hoosiers got a hit in the game, including Copeland, senior outfielder Kinsey Mitchell, junior catcher and utility player Avery Parker, junior outfielder Melina Wilkison, sophomore utility players Aly VanBrandt and Alex Cooper and freshman catcher and infielder Josie Bird.
Wilkison tallied two triples, becoming just the eighth Hoosier ever to hit two triples in a single game and the first since outfielder Jennifer Glueckert in 2009.
With the win, the Hoosiers finished with a 10-12 conference record and a 32-17 overall record.
To compete for an NCAA Tournament berth, the Hoosiers’ offense must be effective and consistent throughout the Big Ten Tournament. Indiana is not guaranteed a spot in the NCAA tournament, but a conference championship win would secure an automatic bid for the Hoosiers. Indiana’s offense has proved it can be potent throughout the season, as it currently leads the country in overall batting average at .380.
Indiana will be back Wednesday in West Lafayette for the start of the Big Ten Tournament. The Hoosiers hold a No. 10 seed in the tournament and will face the No. 7 seed Washington Huskies at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Should Indiana win and advance, they would next face the No. 2 seed UCLA in the quarterfinals at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
