Indiana softball’s typically consistent and explosive offense was anything but during the Hoosiers’ weekend series with No. 9 UCLA, as the Bruins defeated Indiana in all three games from Friday to Sunday in Los Angeles.
Indiana made things interesting in the first game of the series, as junior utility player Aly VanBrandt hit an RBI double into left field to give Indiana a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. It was a prime opportunity for the Hoosiers to steal the opening game from a top 10 opponent.
However, UCLA struck back in the bottom half of the frame. Thanks to a throwing error from Indiana, senior utility player Megan Grant hit a double into right-center field that sophomore outfielder Rylee Slimp scored on, allowing UCLA to cut the Hoosiers’ lead down to 2-1.
In the top of the fifth inning, junior utility player Alex Cooper hit an RBI double to right-center field to add another run to Indiana’s total, increasing the Hoosiers’ advantage to 3-1. However, Indiana surrendered a bases-loaded walk in the bottom half of the inning that allowed UCLA to cut the lead back down to one run again.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Slimp connected on a three-run home run to put the Bruins up 5-3. Indiana did bring one more run across home plate thanks to VanBrandt, who hit an RBI groundout into a double play that brought home sophomore outfielder Hannah Haberstroh. But the late effort was not enough as the Hoosiers fell 5-4 to UCLA in the series’ opening game.
In Saturday’s game, Indiana’s offense struggled to manufacture runs. The Hoosiers only mustered five hits in the game. UCLA opened up the scoring in the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run, but senior outfielder Ellie Goins hit a solo home run of her own in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at one.
However, Indiana would only score one more run for the rest of the game, as UCLA used a three-run fifth inning to ultimately outpace the Hoosiers, winning the second game of the series 7-2. Indiana’s only other run came courtesy of an RBI double in the top of the sixth inning by Haberstroh.
Indiana only managed three hits in Sunday’s game.
In Sunday’s game, Indiana was shut out as UCLA’s starting pitcher, senior Taylor Tinsley, locked down the Hoosiers’ offense. The scoring did not get started until the bottom of the fourth inning when UCLA designated hitter and infielder Ramsey Suarez hit an RBI double to right-center field off Indiana sophomore starting pitcher Ella Troutt. Later in the inning, the Bruins brought home Suarez and redshirt junior catcher Alexis Ramirez thanks to an Indiana throwing error, extending UCLA’s lead to 3-0.
Finally, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Ramirez put the game away for good with a solo home run into left field to reach the game’s final score of 4-0. Indiana went 3-for-22 at the plate in the game, and Troutt took the loss while giving up four hits and three runs while striking out two Bruin batters.
The offensive struggles were a unique occurrence for Indiana, as the most recent time the Hoosiers were held below four runs in a game was back on March 6, in the first game of a three-game series against Minnesota where the Hoosiers did not manage to score a run in a 2-0 loss to the Golden Gophers.
UCLA has largely partaken in offensive shootouts against other Top 25 teams, but its pitching rotation has put on performances like they did in Sunday’s game. The Bruins locked down the offense of then-No. 12 LSU back in February in an 8-0 win, and they limited then-No. 20 Duke to just five runs in a Feb. 20 game.
With the series loss, the Hoosiers now drop to 27-10 overall and 7-5 in Big Ten play. Indiana will look to bounce back from the series sweep when it returns to Bloomington to host Butler University at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Andy Mohr Field. 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.
