After getting swept in a three-game series by Oregon on April 25-27, Indiana softball will conclude its regular season this weekend as it travels to Bittinger Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, for a matchup against Purdue. Sitting at 30-16 overall and an 8-11 Big Ten record, the Hoosiers have an opportunity to improve their case for an NCAA tournament bid.
The Boilermakers face a quick turnaround after they secured a 7-5 victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Wednesday. Going into their matchup against the Hoosiers, the Boilermakers also hold an 8-11 conference record, but Indiana sits one spot ahead of Purdue in the Big Ten standings.
Despite its placement in the standings, Purdue has showcased strong play at home this season, owning a 12-2 home record.
Purdue is in its second season with head coach Magali Frezzotti at the helm. The Boilermakers are in the midst of a breakthrough campaign under Frezzotti, owning a 27-20 overall record after the program went 25-27 in Frezzotti’s first season as head coach.
Sophomore outfielder Moriah Polar has been the driving force behind the Boilermakers’ offensive attack. The Pearland, Texas, native leads the team with 65 hits and a .458 batting average, which ranks 15th in the nation.
Last season, Polar ranked third in the nation with seven triples as a freshman. Polar also made an impact defensively, earning All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors in her first year.
In the circle, the Boilermakers’ pitching staff poses a difficult assignment for opposing hitters. Through 26 appearances this season, senior pitcher Madi Elish owns a team-leading 2.63 ERA.
Meanwhile, sophomore pitcher Julia Gossett earned Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week Honors on April 21. Throughout the week, Gossett pitched to a 3-0 record against Illinois and IU Indianapolis. During the stretch, the Massillon, Ohio, native recorded 27 strikeouts and a 0.91 ERA, while holding opponents to a .137 batting average.
However, Purdue’s pitching staff faces a tough task containing Indiana’s explosive offense.
As they have done throughout the season, Indiana will have to lean on its offense for a successful series. The Cream and Crimson have been the most effective team in the nation at getting on base this season, as they lead the NCAA with a .380 team batting average and .470 on base percentage.
Senior outfielder Taylor Minnick has been a key contributor to the Hoosiers’ nation-leading offense this season, as her .504 batting average ranks second in Division I behind Marist College redshirt junior infielder Haley Ahr. After being named a top 25 finalist for USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year award Wednesday, Minnick looks to make a final push towards the honor.
Indiana leads the all-time matchup between the two rivals with a 44-42 record. The last game played between the Hoosiers and the Boilermakers took place during the 2024 Big Ten Tournament on May 8, 2024. After splitting the regular season series, Indiana secured a 6-3 victory to advance to the second round of the tournament.
With its regular season coming to a close following its series against Purdue, Indiana hopes to improve its resume this weekend to secure an NCAA tournament berth.
The first game of the three-game series is slated to begin at 5 p.m. Friday. The second game of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, before the regular season concludes with a matchup at 1 p.m. Sunday. All games in the series will be streamed on Big Ten+.
