Following Indiana softball’s 2-1 series win over Rutgers over the weekend, the Hoosiers are looking to keep their momentum as they prepare to welcome Indiana University Indianapolis to Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington.
The Hoosiers’ pitching rotation was dominant in the first two games against the Scarlet Knights. Indiana won 12-2 Friday and 6-1 Saturday. But the rubber match Sunday was a different story, as it proved to be a marathon for both sides. In the end, Rutgers escaped with a 14-11 win to avoid a series sweep.
Now, Indiana takes its second Big Ten series win of the season into a midweek matchup with the Jaguars.
Indiana has leaned heavily on its dynamic lineup throughout the season, as its mix of new talent and veteran leadership has produced effective at-bats. Junior utility player Aly VanBrandt leads the Hoosiers with both a .500 batting average and 47 hits. She has hit 10 home runs, currently holds a 1.011 slugging percentage and has racked up 38 RBIs, including four over the weekend against Rutgers.
Sophomore infielder Josie Bird has been another key contributor, who is hitting .364 on the year. She is second on the team in hits with 32, and has added six home runs and 31 RBIs. Senior catcher Avery Parker is second on the Hoosiers in batting average at .417, and she ranks third on the team in hits with 30. She has hit 10 long balls and tallied 34 RBIs.
Freshman pitcher Aubree Hooks and sophomore pitcher Ella Troutt have thus far anchored Indiana’s pitching rotation. Hooks has pitched in nine games this season with seven starts, and currently has a 2.25 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP. In 28 innings pitched, she has struck out 14 batters while giving up 25 hits and nine earned runs.
Troutt has a 2.64 ERA and is tied with Hooks in WHIP with 1.11. She has appeared in 16 games while starting eight, and leads Indiana in strikeouts with 38. She has given up 46 hits and 19 earned runs in 50.1 innings pitched.
For IU Indianapolis, the Jaguars enter Wednesday’s matchup with a record of 3-22. They have lost their last 20 games. Their only three wins on the season have come from February 7-8, with victories over Kent State University, Wofford University and Monmouth University.
Still, the Jaguars have had solid individual performers across the board during the season. One such case is junior outfielder Paige McPhearson, who is currently batting .333 with a 1.079 OPS. McPhearson is tied for second on the team in hits with 20, and she has hit two home runs and ranks fourth on the team in RBIs with nine. She has also been the most consistent power hitter for the Jaguars on the year, with a team-high .550 slugging percentage.
Senior catcher Molly Kable leads IU Indianapolis in hits with 22. Kable and McPhearson are tied for the team lead in home runs with two apiece, along with senior infielder Kennedy Cowan. Kable also leads the Jaguars in doubles with four.
Sophomore pitcher Lily Roush holds the lowest ERA for the Jaguars on the season, as she currently has a 6.75 ERA along with a 2.07 WHIP. She has appeared in nine games and started seven, and she is tied for the team lead in strikeouts with 14. She has given up 46 hits and 27 earned runs on the year.
Indiana will face IU Indianapolis at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. The game 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.
