Indiana softball took a 7-0 lead before the Hoosiers’ pitching staff collapsed against No. 17 Oregon in the third inning. Indiana allowed 18 hits the rest of the way in its 24-12 defeat to Oregon on Monday at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. The loss dropped the Hoosiers’ record to 25-7 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten.
Indiana got off to a quick start with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning from sophomore infielder Josie Bird. Senior infielder Ellie Goins then hit a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning to push the Hoosiers’ lead out to 7-0. Indiana freshman starting pitcher Aubree Hooks only gave up three hits to Oregon through three innings.
However, in the top of the fourth inning, Oregon crept back into the game. Ducks' junior catcher Braiesey Rosa hit a two-RBI single to cut the deficit to 7-2. After Hooks hit Oregon sophomore catcher Emma Cox with a pitch, sophomore pitcher Ella Troutt replaced Hooks on the mound. From there, Ducks sophomore infielder Kaylynn Jones hit an RBI single to cut the deficit down to four runs.
Oregon senior utility player Elon Butler hit a two-RBI triple to shave the Ducks’ deficit to two runs, before she scored on an RBI single from senior utility player Amari Harper to cut Indiana’s lead down to one run. Harper then scored to tie the game at seven.
However, Bird took the lead right back for the Hoosiers in the bottom of the fourth inning, hitting a two-run home run to give Indiana a 9-7 lead.
Oregon responded in the fifth inning, as Cox connected on an RBI single before Jones hit a three-run home run. Oregon’s lead increased to 11-9, as the Hoosiers went scoreless in the frame.
In the top of the sixth inning, Rosa scored on a bases loaded walk to increase Oregon’s advantage to 12-9. Then, Butler hit a grand slam to blow the game open, as Oregon’s lead jumped to seven runs. Harper then added a solo home run. The Hoosiers didn’t score again until senior outfielder Cassidy Kettleman scored thanks to an Oregon error in the bottom of the sixth, and then junior utility player Alex Cooper hit a two-RBI double to trim Indiana’s deficit to six runs.
However, Indiana would only score one more run the rest of the game, while Oregon would continue to light up the scoreboard. The Ducks scored seven more runs in the top of the seventh inning, including a grand slam from Cox. Indiana’s only other run was an RBI single from Cooper.
Indiana had six different pitchers on the mound against Oregon, and none seemed to be able to keep up with Oregon’s offense. The Ducks entered the contest with a team batting average of .325 with 276 total hits and 212 total runs. Butler led the team in batting average at .429, RBIs with 42, and home runs with 10.
Hooks gave up eight hits and six earned runs in 3.1 innings. Troutt and redshirt junior pitcher Taylor Hess each pitched 0.2 innings. Hess gave up three hits and four earned runs, while Troutt gave up three hits and three earned runs. Going into the game, the Indiana pitching staff had a team ERA of 2.67, and they had given up 169 total hits and 71 total earned runs. Mannon led the Hoosiers with a 1.20 ERA, while Troutt was right behind her with a 2.42 ERA and Hess had a 4.26 ERA.
Junior pitcher Brooke Mannon pitched one inning and surrendered four earned runs and two hits. Sophomore pitcher Jasmine Reyes pitched one inning and gave up six earned runs and four hits, while junior pitcher Megan Gregory pitched 0.1 innings and surrendered one hit.
Indiana will be back in action with a two-game set against the University of Detroit Mercy. The first game will be at 6 p.m. Friday, and the second game will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. The games will be streamed on Big Ten+.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Joe Elms (@JoeElms1 and @jpelms@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana softball season.
