After allowing 28 runs throughout its three-game series against Oregon on April 25-27, Indiana softball’s pitching staff surrendered just seven runs in its final series of the regular season against Purdue over the weekend at Bittinger Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Indiana’s nation-leading .380 batting average has carried the Hoosiers to victories throughout the season. However, this weekend the Hoosiers’ dominant effort in the circle propelled the Cream and Crimson to a series victory over the Boilermakers.
While senior pitcher and utility player Brianna Copeland allowed 11 earned runs across 7 2/3 innings in the circle against Oregon last weekend, she bounced back in her final regular-season series as a Hoosier.
Throughout the season, Indiana softball head coach Shonda Stanton has relied on Copeland to kick off weekend series with strong performances in the circle, as the senior leads the team with 38 total pitching appearances.
With Copeland earning the start, Friday was no different. The two-way player held Purdue hitless through five innings.
Meanwhile, Indiana’s offense added three runs to support the senior in the circle.
The Boilermakers began to string together more consistent plate appearances in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game at 3 and send it into extra innings.
In two extra innings of play, Copeland returned to her early-game form, surrendering just one hit and zero earned runs to finish the nine-inning complete game and secure a 5-3 victory and her team-high 15th of the season.
Freshman pitcher Jenae Berry aimed to follow up Copeland’s performance in the circle with a strong start of her own in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday. Heading into the series, Berry owned a 4.06 ERA.
However, Berry struggled to contain the Boilermaker offense across just one inning of action, surrendering two earned runs.
Junior pitcher Taylor Hess entered the circle in relief of Berry in the second inning. After transferring to Indiana from the University of Kentucky last summer, Hess has struggled with injuries.
When healthy, Hess has provided valuable contributions to the Hoosiers’ bullpen. Going into Saturday’s game, the junior led the Hoosiers with a 3.28 ERA but managed to lower it to 2.84 with a dominant performance. Across five innings of work, Hess allowed just three hits and zero earned runs.
Yet, Indiana’s offense was quiet as Purdue earned a 2-0 victory to even the series.
With a chance to take the series, Indiana turned back to Copeland in the second game of the doubleheader Saturday. In five innings of work, Copeland delivered.
She allowed just two hits and two earned runs, while collecting three strikeouts to earn her second complete game effort of the weekend and lead the Hoosiers to a 10-2 run-rule victory over Purdue.
Following their series win to conclude the regular season, the Hoosiers look to continue their momentum in the circle as they remain in West Lafayette to begin the Big Ten Tournament. No. 10 seed Indiana is set to face off against No. 7 seed Washington at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Indiana has found success in the conference tournament the past two seasons, reaching the Big Ten title game in each of those two years. The Hoosiers look to extend their streak and build a strong case for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
