Following a 3-2 showing at the Littlewood Invitational in Tempe, Arizona, Indiana softball displayed much more offensive consistency this Friday-Monday, resulting in a 4-1 showing at the University of South Florida Invitational in Tampa, Florida.
The Hoosiers started off the invitational with an 8-0 win over Colgate University. The win was highlighted by a four-run fourth inning for Indiana. The Hoosiers put up two runs in each of the final two innings following an offensive explosion in the fourth, cruising to the shutout win in their opening game of the invitational.
In the next game, Indiana faced off against Saint Joseph’s University. The Hoosiers rode the momentum of the first game into a dominant 10-1 win over Saint Joseph’s in five innings. Indiana started off hot with a five-run opening frame, during which sophomore infielder Madalyn Strader, junior utility player Brooke Mannon and senior outfielder Ellie Goins each drove in runs.
The five-inning victory over the Hawks was finished off with a two-RBI single from sophomore infielder Josie Bird, and Indiana had started off 2-0 in the USF Invitational.
In the Hoosiers’ third game, they took on Boston College. Indiana’s offense was playing well once again, but Boston College went blow-for-blow with the Hoosiers throughout the game. Indiana started with a seven-run first inning that gave it a six-run lead after the opening frame. However, Boston College gradually chipped away, as a key RBI single in the second inning kickstarted the Eagles’ offense. The Eagles had a three-run second inning while the Hoosiers did not score. The two programs both tallied three more runs in the fourth inning, but at that point, Indiana still held a 10-7 lead.
From there, the Hoosiers added two more runs onto their total, thanks to a two-run home run that sailed into left field from senior catcher Avery Parker to push Indiana’s lead to 12-7. Boston College added two more runs, but the Hoosiers’ pitching staff ended any hopes of a comeback in the top of the seventh inning. In the end, Indiana took home a 12-9 victory over the Eagles to improve to 3-0 in the invitational.
Indiana’s fourth game of the USF Invitational featured the Hoosiers taking on the host school, USF, in what would be the first game of two consecutive matchups between the programs.
Unlike the previous three games, Indiana’s offense was limited in the fourth game of the invitational. The Hoosiers only managed three runs on seven hits all game. Indiana found itself in a 4-0 hole by the end of the fourth inning and were unable to climb out of it. The Hoosiers dropped the first of two to the Bulls, losing 5-3 despite three hits from junior utility player Aly VanBrandt.
Indiana looked to rebound in its second consecutive matchup with USF. This time, the Hoosiers’ offense came out hot once again. Indiana dominated USF in its final game of the invitational, winning 11-1 in five innings.
The Hoosiers held a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth inning, but after a scoreless frame, Indiana blew the game open with a nine-run fifth inning, as the Hoosiers ended the contest with 11 runs on 11 hits compared to just one run on four hits for the Bulls.
Bird went 3 for 4 at the plate and racked up five total RBIs and a run. VanBrandt and Strader each added two hits. This was easily the most consistent and comfortable Indiana’s offense has looked at the plate this season, and they could very well be finding their form as conference play approaches.
Indiana will now travel to Elon, North Carolina, to compete in the Elon University & University of North Carolina Greensboro Tournament.
The Hoosiers’ first game in the tournament will come against Charleston Southern University at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Hunt Softball Park in Elon, North Carolina. Indiana will then play two games against Charleston Southern, a game against Elon University and two consecutive games against the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Joe Elms (@JoeElms1 and @jpelms@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana softball season.
