Holding a 7-1 lead in the fifth inning over Saint Joseph’s University on Saturday, Indiana softball appeared well on its way to closing out a run-rule win in its second game of the University of South Florida Invitational in Tampa, Florida.
While the game was all but over, history was still within reach.
The Hoosiers were just one triple shy of the program’s single game record –– a mark that stood at three prior to the invitational.
Indiana junior utility player Aly VanBrandt entered the batter’s box with two outs. VanBrandt roped the ball to right center field and hustled around first and second base before stopping at third. Then, she drove in a run to extend Indiana’s lead to 8-1 over the Hawks.
The hit gave the Hoosiers their fourth triple of the game, officially breaking the record. The triple also marked the junior’s second of the game, tying with eight other players for the most in a game in program history.
VanBrandt led Indiana to a 4-1 record at the USF Invitational over the weekend, as the Hoosiers moved to 11-4 on the 2026 season.
VanBrandt was a highly touted prospect out of high school. The Ottawa Lake, Michigan, native ranked as the No. 3 general infielder and No. 21 overall player in the class of 2023, per Extra Inning Softball.
During her freshman season at Indiana in 2024, VanBrandt batted .369 at the plate, while collecting 59 hits and 17 RBIs across 59 appearances. In 2025, she improved statistically, owning a .372 batting average and adding 25 RBIs despite playing in five fewer games.
Now with two seasons under her belt, VanBrandt has already taken a leap this season. She is on pace to shatter her previous statistical finishes through 15 games in 2026 –– a result Indiana head coach Shonda Stanton forecasted during an open practice Feb. 2.
“Her commitment is at a really high level,” Stanton said. “So we trust her.”
The junior entered the USF Invitational after experiencing a historic outing against Portland State University at the Littlewood Invitational on Feb. 12. Against the Vikings, VanBrandt went 5-5 at the plate, and hit for the cycle. She tied Indiana’s single-game program record of seven RBIs against Portland State.
At the USF Invitational , VanBrandt proved this performance was not a fluke.
In the Hoosiers’ first matchup of the invitational against Colgate University on Friday, VanBrandt went 2-3 at the plate. She also added pressure on Colgate around the bases, collecting two stolen bases, and helping Indiana to an 8-0 victory to begin the weekend.
Indiana faced Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. In addition to her two triples against the Hawks, VanBrandt hit a double in the second inning and scored three runs in the Hoosiers’ 10-1 victory.
The Cream and Crimson faced Boston College in the first leg of a doubleheader Sunday. Though Boston College took an early 1-0 lead, VanBrandt singled up the middle for Indiana’s first hit of the game in the bottom of the first frame.
While it was her lone hit of the game, VanBrandt sparked a seven-run first inning for the Hoosiers, powering them to a 12-9 win over the Eagles.
Hitting in the lead-off spot, VanBrandt found continued success in back-to-back games against USF –– a team that took a 14-4 record into the matchup. In Indiana’s second game Sunday, and first against USF, VanBrandt racked up three hits and added an RBI. Despite her efforts, the Hoosiers lost 5-3.
Seeking redemption from the first matchup, VanBrandt and Indiana faced USF again Monday. This time, the junior recorded two hits and an RBI, helping the Cream and Crimson to a bounce-back 11-1 victory.
VanBrandt now rides an 12-game hit-streak, while leading the team with a .529 batting average and 27 hits.
Following its 4-1 finish in Tampa, Florida, Indiana will travel to North Carolina to compete in a tournament hosted by Elon University and the University of North Carolina Greensboro. The Hoosiers will play five games from Friday through Sunday.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Joe Elms (@JoeElms1 and @jpelms@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana softball season.
