Indiana softball had a strong showing last weekend at the University of South Florida Invitational in Tampa, Florida, where the Hoosiers put up a 4-1 record off wins over USF, Colgate University, Saint Joseph’s University and Boston College.
Now, the Hoosiers will look to improve their 11-4 record when they head to Elon, North Carolina, to compete in the Elon & University of North Carolina Greensboro Tournament.
Indiana will begin the tournament against Charleston Southern University at 12:30 p.m. Friday, followed by host school Elon at 3 p.m. the same day. The Hoosiers will again play, Charleston Southern at 10 a.m. Saturday and will conclude the tournament with two games against UNCG at 3 p.m. Saturday and 11:00 a.m. Sunday.
Indiana has gotten off to an excellent start to the 2026 season. The Hoosiers currently hold an 11-4 record, with notable wins over programs such as then-No. 25 Ohio State, the University of Nevada, Boston College and USF.
Indiana’s production at the plate has been one of its main sources of momentum. Four players are hitting above .400 on the season, and five players have at least 15 hits. Junior utility player Aly VanBrandt leads that charge with a blistering hot .529 batting average. She leads Indiana in hits by a wide margin with 27.
Senior catcher Avery Parker has displayed her skill with the long ball, leading the team in home runs with seven. She also ranks second on the team in hits with 18, and she leads the Hoosiers with 19 RBIs.
But several of the 12 newcomers on Indiana’s roster have made early impacts.
One of those additions is senior outfielder Ellie Goins, who transferred to Indiana from North Carolina State University. Goins has been great thus far, hitting .432 with 16 hits, two home runs, 12 RBIs and 16 total runs on the season.
Another transfer who's had early success is junior utility player Brooke Mannon, a University of Arizona transfer. Mannon has had a solid impact at the plate for Indiana, as she’s tallied eight hits with four RBIs and five total runs.
On the mound, a pair of new faces have immediately made their way into the pitching rotation for the Hoosiers.
Freshman Aubree Hooks has notched a 1.31 ERA along with a 1.13 WHIP so far. She has made five appearances with four starts, posting nine strikeouts. She has given up 15 hits and three earned runs.
Sophomore Ella Troutt arrived in Bloomington from the University of Georgia and has posted a 2.33 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. She’s made nine appearances and five starts this year. She is tied for a team-high 20 strikeouts, but she has also given up 23 hits and eight earned runs.
Indiana’s first opponent during the Elon & UNCG Tournament, Charleston Southern, has struggled in 2026. It has posted just a 3-14 record and lost its last five games.
The Hoosiers’ second opponent, host school Elon, has similarly struggled, owning a 3-11 record and dropping its last two games.
Indiana will face Charleston Southern a second time before taking on UNCG for its final two games. The Spartans have had a solid start to their 2026 season. They currently hold an 11-5 record and are riding a 10-game winning streak, which has included victories over Western Kentucky University, Kent State University, Fairfield University and Appalachian State University.
Indiana will get the Elon & UNCG Tournament underway against Charleston Southern at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Hunt Softball Park in Elon, North Carolina.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Joe Elms (@JoeElms1 and @jpelms@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana softball season.
