In the quarterfinal round of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament, then-No. 10 seed Indiana softball tied then-No. 2 seed UCLA at four runs heading into the sixth inning. With a win, the Hoosiers would have continued their underdog run in the tournament.
Instead, the Cream and Crimson went scoreless over the final two frames. Meanwhile, the Bruins pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh to advance and end the Hoosiers’ tournament run.
This weekend, Indiana traveled to Easton Stadium in Los Angeles to face No. 9 UCLA for the first time since its loss last season. While Hoosiers’ roster had changed — the team brought 12 new players into this season’s matchup — the series followed a similar script. Indiana again struggled in late innings against UCLA, dropping all three games over the weekend.
Entering the weekend, the Bruins’ offense ranked second in the nation with a .504 on-base percentage and 104 home runs. Yet, UCLA was quiet at the plate through the first four innings of Friday’s game. Indiana scored first, as junior utility player Aly VanBrandt lined a two-RBI double and gave the Hoosiers a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Junior utility player Alex Cooper hit an RBI double to extend Indiana’s lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth. The Cream and Crimson remained in control entering the final innings.
Then the momentum shifted.
Indiana junior pitcher Taylor Hess exited the game in the fifth inning, and Brooke Mannon entered in relief. The junior owned a team-low 2.18 ERA in the circle heading into the series. However, she loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, before walking in a run to bring UCLA within one score.
After keeping one of the nation’s premier offenses in check through five innings, Indiana’s pitching faltered in the sixth frame. After walking in a run an inning prior and allowing two baserunners to start the sixth, Mannon exited.
Sophomore pitcher Ella Troutt entered the circle in relief. Her first batter –– sophomore outfielder Rylee Slimp –– launched a three-run home run past the right center field wall, giving the Bruins a 5-3 lead. Indiana scored a run in the seventh, but its sixth inning mistakes resulted in a 5-4 loss.
Like Friday, Indiana kept the game close Saturday, trailing 2-1 through four innings. Sophomore pitcher Ella Troutt started in the circle for the Hoosiers. She allowed just one earned run across 3.1 innings pitched.
After Troutt exited in the fourth, UCLA generated more offense. The Bruins hit two home runs in the fifth, extending their lead to 5-1. The Hoosiers’ offense could not keep up, scoring just one run in the sixth frame and dropping Saturday’s matchup 7-2.
Looking for redemption Sunday, Indiana head coach Shonda Stanton again relied on Troutt to start in the circle. Both teams remained scoreless through three innings. But the Bruins began to find their rhythm in the batter’s box, while the Hoosiers remained quiet at the plate.
Two consecutive Bruins reached base in the fourth, before redshirt junior designated player and infielder Ramsey Suarez roped a double to right-center field. Suarez’s double scored the first run of the game. A fielding error by VanBrandt at second base brought in two more runs for UCLA, as it seized a 3-0 advantage.
The Hoosiers’ offense failed to generate any runs Sunday afternoon, as the Bruins hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth to help clinch a 4-0 victory. While Indiana remained competitive early, UCLA outscored the Hoosiers 10-3 in the fifth inning and onward to notch the series sweep.
This weekend’s series represented Indiana’s fourth matchup against a ranked opponent this season. The Bruins’ No. 9 national ranking was the highest of any team the Hoosiers have faced. Prior to UCLA, Indiana defeated then-No. 25 Ohio State, before losing to then-No. 22 Arizona State University and then-No. 16 Oregon.
Following their west coast road trip, the Hoosiers fell to 27-10 on the season, but they currently have no ranked opponents remaining on their 2026 schedule. The Hoosiers now head home to face Butler University at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. The 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.
