Indiana softball’s pitching rotation locked down Purdue’s offense as the Hoosiers trounced their in-state rivals in a series sweep over the weekend.
Indiana jumped out in front of Purdue in the first game of the series and never looked back. In Friday’s game, Indiana opened the scoring as senior outfielder Ellie Goins hit a solo home run to left field to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
Purdue junior catcher Delaney Reefe tied the game up at one in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI single to center field.
But that was the only run Purdue scored for the rest of the game. Indiana junior utility player Aly VanBrandt got the Hoosiers back out in front with a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning. Freshman utility player Josie White hit a two-RBI single as Indiana took the first game 4-1.
Indiana sophomore starting pitcher Ella Troutt had a solid performance, onlygiving up four hits and no earned runs to the Boilermakers’ offense while notching one strikeout. Redshirt junior pitcher Taylor Hess finished the game and struck out two batters while only surrendering one earned run.
In Saturday’s matchup, the pitching staff performed once again. The Hoosiers’ arms only gave up three hits and one earned run. Freshman starter Aubree Hooks and Hess combined to strike out seven Purdue hitters.
The Hoosiers’ offense did its part as well, as sophomore infielder Josie Bird put Indiana on the board in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single after Purdue jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the frame.
That opening inning run was all Purdue’s offense managed for the remainder of the game. VanBrandt gave the Hoosiers the lead in the bottom of the second inning with a two-RBI single. After she was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third inning, senior outfielder Cassidy Kettleman brought home a run on a bases-loaded walk. And later on in the frame, VanBrandt brought home Goins on an RBI sacrifice fly.
Neither team scored any more runs in the contest, and Indiana’s pitching rotation continued to shut down Purdue’s lineup as the Hoosiers won Saturday’s game 5-1.
Ninth-year Indiana head coach Shonda Stanton said Saturday the pitching rotation has begun to click as the regular season winds down.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that, when you bring transfers in, you got young pitchers, you got a young, inexperienced staff, but they’re a hungry staff, and we’ve stayed the course,” Stanton said. “It’s a deep staff, so trying to be in that situation, it’s like the pinch hitter: having to wait until your number’s called, stay ready…we’re hungry, and it’s just about being 1-0.”
In Sunday’s game, Indiana was looking for a series sweep. The pitching staff was dominant once more. The Hoosiers did not concede a run and only surrendered one hit, which came during the first at-bat of the game via a single from Purdue senior outfielder Khloe Banks.
Indiana’s offense did its part, as sophomore infielder Madalyn Strader got the scoring started with a solo home run to right-center field in the bottom of the second inning. Senior catcher Avery Parker then knocked in a three-RBI double, and Bird homered to right field to cap off a five-run third inning.
Sophomore outfielder Hannah Haberstroh hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, VanBrandt hit an RBI double, and Strader then walked home an RBI on a bases-loaded walk.
Junior pitcher Brooke Mannon and Indiana’s defense secured the remaining three outs to clinch the series sweep over Purdue.
With the series victory, Indiana improved to 31-10 overall and 10-5 in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers will be back in action as they prepare for a midweek game against the University of Notre Dame at 6 p.m. Tuesday 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.
