Indiana softball’s typically explosive offense was hot-and-cold against Iowa throughout the weekend, but it still helped the Hoosiers record a 2-1 series win over Iowa on the road.
The series was originally scheduled from Friday to Sunday, but Friday’s game was canceled due to severe weather in Iowa City, Iowa, forcing a Saturday doubleheader, with the rubber match played Sunday.
In Saturday’s first game, Indiana’s offense couldn’t consistently produce against the Iowa pitching staff throughout the game but still did just enough to secure a tight 2-1 win.
Indiana had seven hits but managed just two runs. The scoring did not start until the top of the second inning when junior utility player Aly VanBrandt singled right up to the mound, which brought home fellow junior utility player Brooke Mannon to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead.
Iowa tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Hawkeyes sophomore utility player Kiara Sipe hit a home run into center field. Indiana responded in the top of the fifth inning when senior outfielder Ellie Goins hit an RBI sacrifice fly into right field and brought home freshman outfielder Jada Ellison as the Hoosiers retook the lead 2-1.
Even though Indiana’s offense couldn’t produce consistent runs, the Hoosiers’ pitching rotation stifled Iowa’s hitters as well. Freshman starter Aubree Hooks pitched five innings and gave up four hits and one earned run.
Sophomore pitcher Ella Troutt entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and finished the job for the Hoosiers. Over the remaining two innings, Troutt only surrendered one hit. Indiana took the first game of the series 2-1.
In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, it initially looked like it could be a repeat of the first game, as Indiana jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a two-RBI single from freshman utility player Josie White in the top of the second inning.
Iowa narrowed the deficit to one run in the bottom half of the frame when Hawkeyes senior outfielder Echo Mattiello hit an RBI sacrifice fly to left field. The Hawkeyes then tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Indiana didn’t score over the next two innings, and Iowa subsequently blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring five runs including a three-RBI triple by senior outfielder Tory Bennett to take a 7-2 lead.
But Indiana then went on a rally, erasing the five-run deficit and tying the game at seven, with a two-RBI single from sophomore infielder Josie Bird and a two-RBI double by sophomore infielder Madalyn Strader on the next at-bat.
Neither team could put a run on the board in the eighth or ninth innings. But in the tenth, Indiana struck on a pair of RBI singles from Mannon and senior outfielder Cassidy Kettleman, securing a 9-7 Indiana win.
However, in the rubber match Sunday, Indiana’s offense seemed to have run out of gas, only putting up two runs on four hits.
Iowa opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as the Hawkeyes put up a three-run frame. Bennett hit an RBI double down the left field line, and Iowa then connected on two more RBI singles to jump out to a 3-0 lead through the opening inning.
The scoring lulled until the top of the fourth inning, when Indiana senior catcher Avery Parker hit a home run deep into center field to cut the Hoosiers’ deficit down to two.
From there, Indiana only managed one more run. Iowa scored another run in the bottom of the fifth and shut down Indiana’s lineup until the top of the seventh inning until Mannon hit a home run. Iowa took the rubber match 4-2, but Indiana still secured a series win.
The Hoosiers will be back in action when they return home to face Valparaiso University at 5 p.m. Wednesday 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.
