On the road for the first time in Big Ten play, Indiana softball won its weekend series against Maryland. Junior utility player Alex Cooper and sophomore infielder Madalyn Strader powered the Hoosiers to 25 combined runs across three games.
The duo’s efforts helped the Cream and Crimson to their first Big Ten series sweep of the season at the Maryland Softball Stadium in College Park, Maryland.
In Friday’s series opener, the Hoosiers trailed 4-0 entering the fifth inning, but stormed back and took a 5-4 lead in the sixth. However, Maryland freshman Zayda Rocke blasted a home run to left field and knotted the game at five runs heading into the seventh inning.
Cooper led off the seventh for Indiana. She launched a solo home run past the center field wall to retake a 6-5 lead. Three batters later, Strader stepped to the plate. She hit a two-run home run to extend the Hoosiers’ lead and secure an 8-5 victory over the Terrapins to begin the weekend.
The duo of Cooper and Strader sustained their momentum at the plate in the second matchup of the series Saturday. The Cream and Crimson led 2-0 in the second inning after senior outfielder Ellie Goins hit a sacrifice flyout and junior utility player Aly VanBrandt walked in a run.
With the bases loaded in the top of the second frame, Cooper came up to bat after flying out in the first inning. The Mooresville, Indiana, native redeemed herself, launching a grand slam over the right center wall, pushing the Hoosiers out to a 6-0 advantage.
In the third frame, Strader hit her second home run in as many days to extend Indiana’s lead to 7-0. Senior catcher Avery Parker lined a two-RBI triple in the fourth, and junior pitcher and utility player Brooke Mannon hit an RBI single as the Hoosiers claimed a 10-2 win.
The series concluded Sunday afternoon. Indiana struggled offensively through the initial three innings, resulting in an early Terrapins 2-0 lead. However, an offensive rally would bring in seven unanswered runs over the final four innings.
Strader sparked the resurgence, hitting her fifth home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning. Parker followed Strader’s solo home run with a two-RBI double. Sophomore infielder Josie Bird also hit an RBI double in the fifth inning to give Indiana a 4-2 lead. She followed this up with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh to help clinch a 7-2 win and the series sweep.
Leading up its series against the Terrapins, Indiana had largely relied on VanBrandt and Parker for offensive production. VanBrandt and Parker tied for the team-lead with 10 home runs entering the weekend. VanBrandt has also earned two Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season.
But it was Cooper and Strader who led Indiana's offense against Maryland. The duo combined for five home runs and nine RBIs across three games. Last season, Strader did not record a home run. Yet, she hit one in all three games over the weekend, and now has homered in four of her last five appearances.
Following the sweep, the Hoosiers improved to 25-6 overall and sit at 7-2 in conference play. Indiana now has a quick turnaround and returns home to face No. 16 Oregon at 5 p.m. Monday at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. The non-conference game will be televised on B1G+.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Joe Elms (@JoeElms1 and @jpelms@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana softball season.
