Indiana softball will aim to keep its momentum going following a dominant win over Valparaiso University on Wednesday, as the Hoosiers prepare to hit the road one final time in the 2026 regular season to face Michigan.
Indiana is fresh off a five-inning run-rule victory over Valparaiso on Wednesday at Andy Mohr Field. Although the Beacons started the scoring with a home run by senior infielder Mack Gallagher in the first inning, Valparaiso would not score again.
Indiana’s offense took off from there, using a three-run first inning, a four-run second inning and a six-run fourth inning to win the game 14-1. Senior catcher Avery Parker had two home runs, while junior utility player Aly VanBrandt, sophomore infielder Josie Bird and junior utility player Brooke Mannon each homered once.
On the mound, Indiana rotated between sophomore pitcher Ella Troutt, freshman pitcher Aubree Hooks and Mannon. Troutt and Hooks each pitched two innings. After Troutt gave up three hits, including Gallagher’s home run, Hooks entered in the top of the third inning and did not surrender a hit or an earned run. Mannon replaced Hooks in the top of the fifth and helped Indiana secure the final three outs and the victory in five innings.
Michigan enters this weekend’s series holding a 29-17 overall record with a 7-11 mark in Big Ten play. The Wolverines are coming off a 3-0 home win over the University of Toledo on Tuesday but lost their most recent Big Ten series 2-1 on the road against Wisconsin from April 17-19.
The last time Indiana and Michigan faced each other was in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament title game, when the Wolverines defeated the Hoosiers 3-1. This year, Michigan is led in most offensive statistical categories by sophomore utility player Lauren Putz. Putz is hitting .458, which is fifth in the Big Ten, and leads the Wolverines in hits with 60, home runs with 18 and RBIs with 70. Junior outfielder Jenissa Conway is second on the team with a .365 mark, and she is second on the Wolverines in hits with 58. She has hit 12 home runs and 42 RBIs.
On the mound, sophomore right-handed pitcher Kat Meyers holds the lowest ERA among qualified players with a 4.00 mark. She has given up 59 hits and 32 earned runs in 19 appearances along with 10 starts. Junior right-handed pitcher Erin Hoehn has made 27 appearances with 18 starts, and she leads Michigan in strikeouts with 85. She holds a 4.42 ERA but has given up 114 hits and 60 earned runs, and the Wolverines pitching rotation will face a dynamic Indiana offense.
Offensively, the Hoosiers are led by VanBrandt, who is hitting .421 and leads Indiana in hits with 67. The Ottawa Lake, Michigan, native has hit 12 long balls along with 52 RBIs. Parker leads the Hoosiers in homers with 14, and Bird paces Indiana in RBIs with 54.
On the hill, the Hoosiers are led by the duo of Hooks and Troutt, as they are the only two pitchers in Indiana’s rotation with ERAs below three. Hooks has a 2.25 ERA and Troutt holds a 2.50 ERA. In 31 appearances and 15 starts, Troutt has given up 85 hits and 33 earned runs. In 23 appearances and 15 starts, Hooks has surrendered 61 hits and 22 earned runs. Redshirt junior pitcher Taylor Hess leads Indiana in strikeouts with 51, and Troutt sits just behind Hess with 50.
Indiana’s series with Michigan will begin at 6 p.m. Friday at Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The second game of the series will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, while the final game of the set will be at 1 p.m. Sunday. All three 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.
