IU prepares for first tournament of the season
For the fifth consecutive year, the IU softball team will begin its season at the Kajikawa Classic.
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For the fifth consecutive year, the IU softball team will begin its season at the Kajikawa Classic.
The 2015 regular season has arrived. Here are five IU softball players to watch for as the season gets underway.
For now, you’ll still need a heavy coat, some sort of hat and maybe even some gloves. But spring is just around the corner, which comes with sunshine, doubleheaders and home runs. Softball is almost here.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Since joining IU in 2010, IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo went 654 at-bats without sending one out of the park. That changed in the top of the first inning Thursday, but it wasn’t enough to extend the Hoosiers’ season as they fell 4-2 to Purdue. On a 1-0 offering from Purdue sophomore pitcher Lilly Fecho, Saucedo hit a shot just over the right field wall for her first career home run. “When I made contact I knew it was going to be close,” Saucedo said. “When it went over the wall I was in a bit of shock. It felt amazing to finally hit a home run.”Saucedo, who went 1-for-3 on the day, was also named to the Big Ten’s second All-Conference team during the week. “It is a big honor, especially since I got the opportunity to come back for a fifth year,” she said. “I truly feel so honored to have earned that.”IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was thrilled when she learned that Saucedo had earned a spot on an All-Conference team.“She’s very deserving of that honor,” Gardner said. “I’m very happy for her.”IU (17-39-1, 5-18 conference) fell in the first game of the Big Ten tournament to in-state rival Purdue (27-27-1, 13-10 conference), ending their season. The defining moment of the game came in the bottom of the fifth frame.Purdue hit an RBI single to drive in senior outfielder Andie Varsho to take a 3-2 lead. On the following at-bat, the Boilermakers pushed another run across when junior infielder Ashley Burkhardt scored on an IU throwing error. Burkhardt’s run would be the final of the game. Following Saucedo’s long ball to begin the game, freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos made an attempt to cushion the Hoosier lead. Facing a 2-0 count, Tsirigos hit her sixth home run of the season to right field. In the home half of the third, Burkhardt hit a two-run home run over the right field wall to even the game at 2-2. That score would remain the same until Purdue officially put the game away two innings later. Gardner said although she was happy with the way the team came out offensively in the early innings, they left runners on base in important situations. “We didn’t have timely hits,” she said. “We had the tying run on base, and we struck out twice.”IU junior pitcher Lora Olson got the start but finished with a no decision. She threw 2.2 innings while allowing six hits and two earned runs. Senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy was credited with the loss after pitching 1.2 innings and allowing three hits and two runs, one of which was earned. The team’s 39 losses matched the highest total since the 2009 season, which was in Gardner’s first season at IU.“We improved throughout the season, and I loved how we competed,” Gardner said. “Even though we didn’t always end up on top, they played with tremendous heart.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Heading into the final Big Ten series of the season, IU Coach Michelle Gardner wanted to see the Hoosiers do one thing against No. 19 Nebraska — win.“I want a couple wins from Nebraska,” she said. “We need to put together a full game.”IU (17-38-1, 5-18) was unable to do so, getting swept in three games on the road against the Huskers (40-14, 18-5).During the first contest of the weekend, IU fell 3-1. Through the first five innings, neither team was able to score.In the first at-bat of the sixth frame, IU junior center fielder Brianna Meyer homered giving IU the first lead of the game. The solo home run was Meyer’s second long ball of the season. The 1-0 Hoosier lead would be short lived.With one out and two runners on base, Nebraska freshman infielder Marjani Knighten sent a 1-0 offering to left-center, clearing the bases and legging out a triple in the process.On the next at-bat, junior outfielder Kylee Muir hit a double to left center field, pushing across Knighten for the final run of the game. The Hoosiers offense shutout for the ninth time this season in a 3-0 loss. Not only did IU’s offense not push a run across the plate, but the team was limited to just one hit, which came off of the bat of senior third basemen Shelby Gogreve in the top of the seventh inning. The first run of the game came in the fourth. Nebraska freshman outfielder Austen Urness sent a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall, giving the Huskers a 2-0 lead.Nebraska registered what was at that point the third team home run of the weekend in the following inning. On the first at-bat of the frame, senior catcher Tay Edwards sent the first pitch of the offering to left field for the final run of the game. Gardner said she saw some encouraging things from the offense.“I felt like Friday and Saturday we did some good things,” she said. “We were in both those games. We scored first Friday but couldn’t finish on top. We need to continue to battle and find timely hits with runners in scoring position.”Despite an early lead from IU in the third game Sunday, Nebraska came back to win 8-3, completing the three-game sweep. With two outs in the bottom of the second, IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson hit a single to drive in two runners for IU. The Hoosier lead would last until the bottom of the third. Senior pitcher Tatum Edwards sent a ball to left center, driving in the first Nebraska run of the game.After recording two outs, IU junior pitcher Lora Olson faced a bases loaded jam as Muir stepped up.On the second pitch of the at-bat, Muir sent a ball to left field, bringing in four runs to give the Huskers a 5-2 lead. IU allowed two more runs in the next inning after a throwing error and another RBI single from Edwards. In the bottom of the fifth, Muir got her fifth RBI of the game, driving in Knighten off of a double to left. With IU set to begin conference tournament play Thursday against Purdue, Gardner wants to see the team stay competitive and push more runs across the plate.“We need to play our own game,” Gardner said. “We need to be better with putting runs on the board.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the regular season nearly complete, IU softball has one more Big Ten series before the postseason.IU’s (17-35-1, 5-15) final series against No. 19 Nebraska (37-14, 15-5) this weekend is in Lincoln, Neb. The Huskers has won 11 of its last 12 games, including an 11-game win streak before a 6-4 loss Wednesday against Wisconsin.IU Coach Michelle Gardner wants to see the team make noise before the conference tournament begins. “I want a couple wins from Nebraska,” Gardner said. “I know that we can do it and we have shown we can at times this year. We need to put together a complete game.”That isn’t the only thing Gardner wants to see from the team in the final days of the regular season.With the conference tournament beginning in Evanston, Ill., May 5, Gardner knows the team will have a lower seed. Regardless, she thinks the team has the potential to shake things up. “This is a good ball club,” Gardner said. “We can do some serious damage in the Big Ten Tournament if we can continue to work and put everything together.”Nebraska has one of the best offensive attacks in the Big Ten. The team’s .303 batting average trails only Michigan and Northwestern for the best in the conference. The Huskers’ lineup has produced 57 home runs, giving them an average of 1.06 home runs per game, tied for 27th in the nation. Senior catcher Taylor Edwards has been a problem for opposing pitchers all season.She has a batting average of .373 and her 16 home runs are tied for the 12th-highest amount in the nation. Senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo said IU’s pitching is going to be key during the weekend. “Our pitchers have been doing really well lately,” Saucedo said. “If they keep it up we are going to be successful.”Hitting isn’t the Huskers’ only strong point.The team’s earned run average of 2.00 is not only the third lowest in the conference, it’s also the 25th lowest ERA in the nation. Senior Tatum Edwards and sophomore Emily Lockman lead the pitching staff. The two have a combined record of 37-13, an ERA of 1.98 and they have struck out 276 batters. Edwards alone has fanned 178. They will be opposed by an IU offense that is averaging nearly six runs per game in the last five contests. Saucedo’s .350 batting average and 16 steals continues to lead the team.Saucedo thinks in order for the team to leave Lincoln, Neb., victorious, timely hitting is going to be important. “They key is to keep hitting like we have been,” she said. “We need to put timely hits together to score runs.”Junior center fielder Brianna Meyer has continued to be a threat to reach base. She is currently on a 22-game streak in which she has reached base at least once. Meyer, who Gardner has praised in the past because of her patience at the plate, wants to see the offense stay disciplined and take advantage of opportunities with runners on base.“We need to come out strong like we have been doing,” Meyer said. “I think, especially against Iowa, the offense has been doing really well. We need to string together good hits.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Redshirt senior infielder Breanna Saucedo went through her pregame rituals as she had for the previous five years.She touched home plate, greeted her teammates and ran to her position at the top of the infield for the start of the national anthem. It was nothing extraordinary, nothing special.However, it was the last time Saucedo would ever step onto Andy Mohr Field wearing her IU uniform.“It felt amazing,” Saucedo said. “It’s been five long years. It was a little emotional, but it was a great feeling to be able to play on this field.” Saucedo, four other IU seniors — pitcher Meaghan Murphy, third baseman Shelby Gogreve, left fielder Jenna Abraham and catcher Jenna Malmen — and the rest of the Hoosiers (17-35-1, 5-15 conference) concluded their home season Wednesday, sweeping Valparaiso (20-30, 10-6) in a double-header.IU Coach Michelle Gardner was thrilled with the way the team sent the seniors off.“It feels fantastic, I loved it,” Gardner said. “Meaghan did a great job in the first game closing it out. I loved that I was able to give her the last innings in the second game, too.”In the first game, IU concluded the final two innings of a game that was postponed from March 1.The Hoosiers, who had a five-run lead at the time of postponement, held on to defeat Valpo 5-0. IU junior pitcher Lora Olson was credited with the win after pitching the first four innings before the delay. She allowed just two hits while striking out six batters.Murphy started the last three innings, striking out seven batters without allowing a hit. IU won the second game 8-0 behind a five-run second inning.In the top of the second frame, Olson forced freshman Taylor Lawson to ground out to third, getting IU out of a bases-loaded jam.After recording the third out, the IU bats came to life in the bottom half of the inning.IU freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos started the offensive onslaught, driving a solo homerun to left field.After a brief rain delay, freshman outfielder Natalie Lalich scored a run from third after a wild pitch. Sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson added to the Hoosiers’ lead, hitting a one-out, three-run home run to left field. On the next at bat, junior center fielder Brianna Meyer reached base on an error, sending her streak of reaching base to 22 games. Meyer said the key to her success has been staying comfortable at the plate.“I try not to think about it too much,” Meyer said. “I’m always trying to get on, and I don’t care how I do it. I just try not to get into my head.”In the bottom of the fourth, Saucedo sent a pitch to right field, driving in another IU run. After the Crusaders were held scoreless, IU pushed another run across the plate off of an Abraham single to center field. On the next at bat, sophomore designated player Michelle Huber drove a ball to the left field wall, sending in Abraham and ending the game after five innings. Saucedo credited the team’s performance to timely hitting, especially in the second game.“We did well putting hits together tonight,” she said. “We had some big hits, which allowed us to score runs early.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Today’s home doubleheader with Valparaiso means more for the Hoosiers than a normal game.IU will aim to give the senior class — pitcher Meaghan Murphy, shortstop Breanna Saucedo, left fielder Jenna Abraham, third baseman Shelby Gogreve and catcher Jena Malmen — the final home victories of their careers. Abraham said it is going to be an emotional day for everyone, not just the seniors. “It’s a little bittersweet,” Abraham said. “I’ve really been blessed to even play on Andy Mohr Field.”The five seniors will lace up their cleats for the last time at home when IU (15-35-1, 5-15 conference) plays two games against Valpo (20-28, 10-6 conference). IU will face a familiar Valparaiso team.The first time they met, the game was postponed in the fifth inning because of poor weather conditions. IU was leading 5-0. That game will be continued at 4 p.m. today.Abraham said the end of the season has helped her put things into perspective.“This is going to be the last time I play on that field,” she said. “These last games really mean a lot to me.”The two teams also played in the Springhill Suites Invitational. In that game, sophomore infielder Kassi Farmer and junior center fielder Brianna Meyer each registered two hits in a 3-1 IU victory.The win was the 300th of IU Coach Michelle Gardner’s career.Gardner said having already faced Valparaiso gives the team a slight advantage. “We have a pretty good understanding of who their big hitters are,” Gardner said. “Seeing them two times has really helped us prepare for Wednesday.”One of the hitters IU will look to stop is sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Ranieri.Ranieri leads the team in batting average with .362, slugging percentage with .586, runs with 34 and hits with 55. Although Gardner hasn’t decided who will be starting in the circle for IU, she said all three pitchers will be prepared.“I guarantee that all three of them will be seeing action in tomorrow’s games,” Gardner said. In Murphy’s most recent performance, she pitched six innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs, and she struck out seven batters in a losing effort.Junior Lora Olson most recently appeared in the 1-0 loss to Iowa this past Friday. She pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run, which was off of a home run in the first at-bat of the game. Sophomore Brooke Boetjer, who has become a third starter after seeing most of her time in relief situations early in the season, was the only IU pitcher to register a win in the Iowa series. Boetjer allowed just three hits and one run in her five-run effort. Offensively, IU will be facing off against the Valparaiso pitching duo of sophomores Sierra Pico and Taylor Weissenhofer. The pitching combination has a cumulative record of 17-21 with an ERA of 4.24. Individually, Weissenhofer has accounted for 104 of the team’s 223 strikeouts.Gardner said she wants to see one thing out of the team: run production. “We need to come out and play our game,” she said. “We need to make runs happen. For us, that has been our nemesis at times. No matter what we do, I want to see us put runs on the board.”Abraham said going against a pitcher such as Weissenhofer, the team is going to have to take advantage of opportunities with runners on base. “We really need timely hitting,” she said. “We did well with it and executed well Saturday. Offensively, it’s the most important thing. We need to score runs.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With a full crowd in attendance for senior day at Andy Mohr Field, all attention was centered on senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve standing at home plate. But it wasn’t for her batting.She was going to sing the national anthem. “I asked to start singing it freshman year,” Gogreve said. “Coach really opened the door for me to do it. It felt great to do it. I feel like that was how the story should end.” Gogreve, one of five seniors, had a career day Saturday, driving in five runs in IU’s (15-35-1, 5-15) lone victory against Iowa (15-26-1, 8-12) during the weekend. The first game of the series was a pitching battle that resulted in a 1-0 Iowa win. The lone run of the game came off a home run. Iowa senior left fielder Brianna Luna belted a ball over the fence on the first at-bat of the first inning.IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo and freshman right fielder Natalie Lalich accounted for the only two Hoosier hits of the afternoon. On Saturday, there was no shortage of offense for IU in the 9-1 victory.In the bottom of the first, the Hoosiers got off to a quick start. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Saucedo scored from third on a wild pitch for the first run of the day. Three batters later, Gogreve hit a bases-loaded single to shallow right field, pushing two more runs across the plate for IU. Gogreve struck again in the bottom of the third frame. With the bases loaded for her second consecutive at bat, Gogreve hit a bases-clearing double to right center bringing IU’s lead to six runs. She said she had a good feeling heading into the game.“I came in feeling really great,” Gogreve said. “After my first hit, it gave the team momentum. We had a great day collectively.” The Hoosiers plated three more runs in the fourth from three RBI singles, ending the game after five innings. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was thrilled with the team’s performance all weekend, especially Saturday. “We played really well,” she said. “It was the best we’ve played this season.” On Sunday, when the five seniors were honored, IU’s senior day, the Hoosiers fell 3-2. In the top of the third inning, Iowa plated the first run of the game when shortstop Megan Blank hit a solo home run to right field.The lead would only last for a half inning before the Hoosiers struck back. In the bottom of the third, IU sophomore second baseman Kassi Farmer hit a single to right field, driving in two runs for IU. When Iowa returned to offense in the top half of the inning, centerfielder Erin Erickson sent the first pitch of a two out offering over the left field wall, tying the game at two. In the top of the seventh frame, Iowa regained the lead. After retiring a runner at home, IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson made a throw to attempt a double play at first base. Freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos was unable to secure the throw, allowing Hawkeyes first baseman Kaitlyn Mullarkey to score on the play via the fielding blunder. IU stranded seven runners on base, something that has hurt the team all season. “You can’t leave seven on base when you’re playing a team like Iowa,” Gardner said. “We were a couple timely hits away from a different result.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With a full crowd in attendance for senior day at Andy Mohr Field, all attention was centered on senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve standing at home plate. But it wasn’t for her batting.She was going to sing the National Anthem. “I asked to start singing it freshman year,” Gogreve said. “Coach really opened the door for me to do it. It felt great to do it. I feel like that was how the story should end.” Gogreve, one of five seniors, had a career day Saturday, driving in five runs in IU’s (15-35-1, 5-15) lone victory against Iowa (15-26-1, 8-12) during the weekend. The first game of the series was a pitching battle that resulted in a 1-0 Iowa win. The lone run of the game came off of a home run from senior left fielder Brianna Luna on the first at-bat of the first inning. IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo and freshman right fielder Natalie Lalich accounted for the only two Hoosier hits of the afternoon. Saturday, there was no shortage of offense for IU in the 9-1 victory.In the bottom of the first, the Hoosiers got off to a quick start. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Saucedo scored from third on a wild pitch for the first run of the day. Three batters later, Gogreve hit a bases-loaded single to shallow right field, pushing two more runs across the plate for IU. Gogreve struck again in the bottom of the third frame. With the bases loaded for her second consecutive at bat, Gogreve hit a bases-clearing double to right center bringing IU’s lead to six runs. She said she had a good feeling heading into the game.“I came in feeling really great,” Gogreve said. “After my first hit, it gave the team momentum. We had a great day collectively.” The Hoosiers plated three more runs in the fourth from three RBI singles, ending the game after five innings. IU Coach Michelle Gardner was thrilled with the team’s performance all weekend, especially Saturday. “We played really well,” she said. “It was the best we’ve played this season.” On Sunday, IU’s Senior Day, the Hoosiers fell 3-2. In the top of the third inning, Iowa plated the first run of the game when shortstop Megan Blank hit a solo home run to right field.The lead would only last for a half inning. In the bottom of the third, IU sophomore second baseman Kassi Farmer hit a single to right field, driving in two runs for IU. When Iowa returned to offense, centerfielder Erin Erickson sent the first pitch of a two out offering over the left field wall, tying the game at two. In the top of the seventh frame, Iowa regained the lead. After retiring a runner at home, IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson made a throw to attempt a double play at first base. Freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos was unable to secure the throw, allowing Hawkeyes first baseman Kaitlyn Mullarkey to score on the play. IU stranded seven runners on base, something that has hurt the team all season. “You can’t leave seven on base when you’re playing a team like Iowa,” Gardner said. “We were a couple timely hits away from a different result.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the Big Ten Tournament two weeks away, the IU softball team (14-33-1, 4-13) will play the final home conference series of the regular season against Iowa (13-25-1, 6-11). The season is nearing its conclusion, and IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo said preparing for games has become an emotional experience.“Getting ready for games has become more mental than anything,” Saucedo said. “Knowing that I’m closing in on my last game here makes it difficult.”The Hoosiers and Hawkeyes are battling for seeding in the tournament, with Iowa holding a two-game lead over IU in the current standings. Iowa has a 1-2-1 record since sweeping No. 11 Missouri in a double-header last week, including a 6-6 tie Wednesday against in-state rival Iowa State. Senior pitcher Kayla Massey leads an Iowa pitching staff with a cumulative earned run average of 3.80, which is the fifth highest in the conference.Individually, Massey has the ninth lowest ERA in the Big Ten with 2.61. They will be matched up with an IU offense that drove in eight runs in a midweek victory against Louisville. Saucedo was an anchor for Indiana’s scoring, batting 4-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored. IU Coach Michelle Gardner also praised Saucedo for her defensive effort Wednesday, a game in which she recorded seven assisted outs.“Bre Saucedo was amazing for us (Wednesday)” Gardner said. “She was the savior of the game.”Freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos and sophomore second baseman Kassi Farmer also played a large role in the output against Louisville.Farmer hit 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Tsirigos went 1-for-3, including a key two-run home runin the third inning. Since returning to the lineup April 11, Tsirigos is batting .280 with two home runs and four RBIs.“I’ve been seeing the ball really well lately,” Tsirigos said. “I’ve been feeling good. I’m still not 100 percent but I’m working everyday to get there.”IU’s pitching staff, led by junior Lora Olson, will be matched up against one of the conference’s worst offenses. Olson pitched four shutout innings in Wednesday’s victory, allowing just two hits while walking two batters. Olson credits her performance to a strong defensive outing, specifically from the IU infield, and mixing up her pitches.Iowa’s team batting average of .245 is the second lowest the conference has to offer, and the team’s 116 hits rank last. In addition, Iowa leads the conference in strikeouts with 229. Hawkeyes junior infielder Megan Blank has provided a spark for the offense all season, leading the team in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, extra base hits and RBIs. Olson said the team is going to have to continue to stay disciplined on defense and hit productively when runners are in scoring position in order to be successful. “We’ve been getting better each game,” Olson said. “We need to stick with our game plan and play Indiana softball. As long as we stay confident in our abilities, play good defense and string together hits we will be successful.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team (14-33-1, 4-13) was ready for a turnaround Wednesday.IU women’s soccer Coach Amy Berbary threw the game’s first pitch, and a member of a youth softball team, Avon Elite, sang the national anthem. And if the day wasn’t already emotionally charged, IU had an opportunity to defeat Louisville (28-18, 9-6) for the first time in a decade. The Hoosiers did just that, downing the Cardinals 8-3. IU Coach Michelle Gardner made it a point in practice this week for the offense to execute with runners on base. “It felt really good to win today,” she said. “We got some timely hitting out of the offense. It was a key to the win today.”After a pair of singles from junior centerfielder Brianna Meyer and senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo, sophomore second baseman Kassi Farmer hit a ground ball to left field, scoring the first run of the day. Another IU walk loaded the bases. Louisville made a pitching change from freshman pitcher Maryssa Becker to senior Rachel LeCoq.LeCoq was unable to stop the Hoosier scoring run, walking two batters with the bases loaded to give IU an early 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, IU continued to solidify its lead.Facing a full count with two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson drew a walk, which brought in freshman right fielder Natalie Lalich. Following the walk, Louisville made the second pitching change of the game, this time bringing in senior Caralisa Connell. On the following at-bat, Meyer drew a walk, bringing in freshman outfielder Kayla Mathewson. With two outs, Saucedo hit a high-bouncing ball just over shortstop Hannah Kiyohara’s head, driving in senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve to give IU a six-run lead. Following a Farmer triple in the fourth, freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos hit a two-run home run over the right field wall, giving IU an 8-0 lead. The homerun was Tsirigos’ fourth of the season and her second since returning to the lineup following a hand injury.“I felt really confident out there today,” Tsirigos said. “I’ve been seeing the ball really well lately. It’s nice to connect on one.” Gardner decided to make a move to the bullpen, bringing in senior Meaghan Murphy after four scoreless innings from junior Lora Olson. Gardner said she made the move because she wanted all three of the team’s pitchers to see action.“I wanted all of them to get innings tonight,” Gardner said. “Despite the homerun, Meaghan did a very good job.”Murphy struggled, pitching 0.2 innings while allowing three runs. Louisville got on the board for the first time in the top of the fifth when senior catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod hit a homerun over the center field wall. They scored again when junior first baseman Brittany Duncan drove in two runs off of a double off the center field wall. Olson was credited with the win, giving her a record of 6-14 on the season. “I felt good out there tonight,” Olson said. “Our defense made some awesome plays. Their performance gave me some momentum. Whenever the defense is playing well, it really allows me to attack hitters.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After getting swept in a road series against Northwestern Wednesday, the IU softball team (13-33-1, 4-13 conference) is looking to get back into the win column with a midweek showdown against the Louisville Cardinals (28-17, 9-6 conference).Last season, then-No. 11 Louisville defeated the Hoosiers 4-1.IU sophomore first baseman Kassi Farmer, who hit 2-for-3 against the Cardinals last season, said she is hoping to have a similar performance in this year’s game.“I remember hitting well against Louisville last season,” Farmer said. “I’m hoping to have the same type of success against them this season. I just have to stay relaxed at the plate and not think too much.”The Hoosiers offense struggled to take advantage of opportunities with runners on base, stranding a total of 20 in three games. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said even though the team has been hitting well, it has become a priority to start producing hits with runners in scoring position. “We really need timely hits,” she said. “We need to produce with runners in scoring position. If we execute, it will lead to more runs.”Senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo said the team has been focusing on driving pitches to the opposite field.“Against Northwestern we were most successful sending the ball to opposite field,” Saucedo said. “Focusing on that is going to allow us to be more successful at the plate.”Freshman pitcher Maryssa Becker leads the Cardinals pitching staff. In her 120.1 innings pitched this season, she has an ERA of 1.80 with 116 strikeouts. Opponents are only batting .212 off of her this year, the fifth-lowest opposing batting average allowed by a pitcher in the American Athletic Conference.Offensively, Louisville has one of the best lineups in the conference. The team’s cumulative batting average of .297 and 235 runs scored are both the second highest amounts in the conference.Louisville also has a knack for getting extra base hits. Of 357 total hits, 32 percent have gone for extra bases, including a conference-high 73 doubles. Louisville senior second baseman Katie Keller’s .515 on base percentage is the top in the conference and 44th nationally. Her .398 batting average, 38 runs scored and 15 doubles all rank within the top three in the conference. The Cardinals will be matched up with an IU pitching staff that gave up 15 runs in the last series, 13 of which were earned runs. Gardner said the key to neutralizing Louisville’s offense will be early run support for the pitching staff and limiting errors.“We have to play clean defense,” Gardner said. “That is critical. We need to get off to a good start for our pitchers. We need to play a clean game and play our type of game.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers’ struggles in Big Ten play continued during the weekend. After splitting a midweek doubleheader with Ball State, the IU softball team (13-33-1, 4-13) was swept in Evanston, Ill., by No. 25 Northwestern (27-11, 9-6). The loss gives IU an 0-11 record this season against ranked opponents.Despite the weekend results, IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was encouraged by the team’s performance in the last two games. “That is the number 25 team in the country, and we competed with them all weekend,” she said. “We really battled. I’m very happy with how we competed this weekend.”In the first game of the series, Northwestern’s bats were too much for IU as they fell in six innings 8-0. Northwestern drove its first run across the plate in the bottom of the second inning.Facing a 2-2 count with one out, Northwestern junior infielder Anna Edwards hit a solo home run over the left field wall. After a scoreless third inning, Northwestern found the scoreboard again in the fourth, this time pushing two across to extend the lead to three runs. Following a double in the bottom half of the fifth from Northwestern senior infielder Mari Majam that drove in one run, senior infielder Marisa Bast took the fifth pitch of her at bat.The hit went over the left field wall for a two-run home run, giving the Wildcats a six-run lead. A pair of Northwestern RBI singles extended the lead to eight, which ended the game due to the NCAA run rule. IU didn’t register a hit until the top of the fourth in the second game, when freshman outfielder Natalie Lalich reached after a bunt to second base. It was the first of just two hits off of sophomore pitcher Kristen Wood. The Hoosiers were unable to take advantage of opportunities with runners on base in game two, stranding eight in the 4-2 loss. “We have to execute,” Gardner said. “We need to control what we can control. We have got to find a way to get timely hits when we have runners on base.”In the bottom of the first frame, Bast hit her second home run of the weekend, this time a solo shot to center field after facing a full count. With two outs in the top of the third, Northwestern scored three runs off of three consecutive doubles, giving them an early four-run advantage. In the top of the sixth, IU scored the first runs of the weekend. With the bases loaded, senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve was walked, bringing in sophomore utility player Alyssa Rosati. IU scored again on the next at-bat after a wild pitch. Sophomore second baseman Kassi Farmer scored from third. In the third game of the weekend Sunday, the Hoosiers lost 3-2 off of a walk-off single. The Wildcats’ offense struck first, sending two runners across the plate to give them a two-run lead in the bottom of the second inning. In the top of the fifth inning, IU knotted the game at two highlighted by a RBI-triple off of the bat of senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, senior catcher Paige Tonz hit a 2-0 offering centerfield, driving the game’s winning run. “It was unfortunate that we lost, but we battled,” Gardner said. “It was the best the team played all weekend.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After splitting Wednesday’s doubleheader with Ball State, the IU softball team (13-30-1, 4-10) will travel to Evanston, Ill., to take on Big Ten foe Northwestern (24-11, 6-6 conference).IU Coach Michelle Gardner said in order for the team to be successful, it is going to have to limit the Wildcats’ big hits. “We have been giving up big hits at inopportune times,” Gardner said. “We need to focus on the task at hand, which is not allowing extra base hits.”Gardner said Northwestern’s offense is similar to that of Ball State.The Wildcats’ team batting average of .325 ranks the team 16th in the statistic nationally, three slots ahead of Ball State.After facing a Ball State lineup that has six players with a batting average above .300, IU will have to go against an even more efficient Northwestern offense. Northwestern has seven starting players with an average above .300. The team averages six runs per game and ranks third in the conference in total runs with 233. The offense is led by sophomore infielder Brianna LeBeau and senior infielder Emily Allard, who each have a .389 batting average. They are tied for the 10th-highest batting average in the conference.Allard also has 22 steals, the highest amount for an individual player in the conference. The last time IU junior pitcher Lora Olson pitched was during the first game of the Ball State doubleheader. She pitched a complete game, allowing just two earned runs on two walks and five hits. She said in order to see a similar performance against the Wildcats, she will need to mix her pitches and keep batters off balance. “I need to stick to the plan I had against Ball State,” Olson said. “Hit my spots, mix my speeds and keep hitters guessing. I need to use my pitches evenly and not get into a pattern.”In the circle, Northwestern has one of the highest team ERAs in the conference at 4.14. Sophomore pitcher Kristen Wood has become the ace of the pitching staff. Through 117.1 innings pitched, Wood has an ERA of 3.94 and has struck out 150 of the 444 batters she has faced. IU will need to continue swinging like it did against Ball State. The Hoosiers accounted for 20 hits in Wednesday’s doubleheader. Although the Hoosiers were able to get on base, the team wasn’t able to bring runners across the plate. IU left 13 runners on base in Wednesday’s games and drove in six total runs. Olson said driving in runners and limiting errors will be important against Northwestern.“We really need to play clean defense and deliver timely hits,” Olson said. “We need to stick to our game plan.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team (13-30-1, 4-10 conference) won the first game of Wednesday’s double-header against in-state rival Ball State (24-15, 4-2 conference), but fell victim to a big hit during the final inning of the second game. With runners at first and second base, Ball State second baseman Emily Dabkowksi hit a three-run home run to left center field, solidifying the 6-3 victory.After the series split, IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was impressed with how her team hit. “We really hit the ball well today,” Gardner said. “I think we had good pitching, although we gave up some hits. I’m proud of the team. They really came out and played.”IU won the first game 3-2.In the bottom of the third inning, IU pushed three runs across the plate. Freshman second baseman Erin Lehman started the rally, reaching first after a hit to right field. Following junior centerfielder Brianna Meyer’s walk, senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo sent a bunt to the circle. After an error on the throw to first, Lehman scored from third base. On the following at-bat, Saucedo stole her 15th base of the season. When Ball State catcher Shelbie Scamihorn made the throw to second, the ball went past the glove of sophomore shortstop Selena Reyna, which allowed Meyer to score from third. With Saucedo on second, freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos hit a single to right field, driving in Saucedo to give IU a three-run lead. Ball State struck back in the top of the fourth. After the Cardinals’ left fielder Jennifer Gilbert reached first on a fielding error, third baseman Audrey Bickel hit a two-run home run to left field, cutting the IU lead to one run. With two outs and a runner on first and second in the top of the sixth, IU junior pitcher Lora Olson used a four-pitch at-bat to get out of the jam. “At that point, I had a lot of innings under my belt,” Olson said. “I was in a groove and made sure to keep hitting my spots. I went at each batter like I did in the early innings.”Both teams were held scoreless in the final two innings. Olson threw her fourth complete game of the season, striking out five batters while allowing just one earned run. With the win, her record moves to 5-13 this season. Leaving runners on base plagued the Hoosiers during the second game. In the loss, IU stranded six runners.Ball State used the fourth inning to blow the game wide open. The offensive onslaught began with a single off of Dabkowski’s bat that went past a diving Saucedo. Gilbert stepped up to bat following Dabkowski, hitting a two-run home run over the left field wall. After a Bickel double off of the left field wall, Scamihorn sent a ball to shallow right field. Bickel scored on the play off of a fielding error. In the next half inning, IU began to chip away at the lead. With two outs, IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson sent the first pitch of the at-bat over the left field wall, reducing the Ball State lead to two runs. The solo home run is Dotson’s fourth of the season. Right fielder Natalie Lalich started the bottom of the fifth inning with an infield single. On the next at-bat, Meyer drove a ball down the left field line for an RBI double, cutting the deficit to one run. Facing a full count with two outs, designated player Michelle Huber beat out a throw for an infield single, driving in Meyer to tie the game. The Hoosiers had an opportunity to gain the lead in the top of the sixth. After senior left fielder Jenna Abraham reached base on a single up the middle, she was thrown out attempting to steal second base for the first out of the inning. After preventing IU from scoring in the sixth, the Ball State offense used a three-run seventh inning to officially put the Hoosiers away.The Hoosiers will be back in action when they travel to Northwestern (24-11, 6-6 conference) for a three-game series.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team (12-29-1, 4-10) returns to action in a Wednesday doubleheader after coming off of a dramatic win to end the weekend series against Penn State. IU will face the leader of the West division of the Mid-American Conference, Ball State (23-13, 4-2). The Cardinals are on a three-game winning streak after going 3-1 in last weekend’s series against Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said the key to playing Ball State is controlling the tempo.“If they get people on, we need groundouts or strikeouts,” Gardner said. “We really need to control the tempo of the game.”The last time the two faced off, Ball State won 5-2, something IU junior pitcher Lora Olson remembers well. “I remember from facing them last year that they have a very potent lineup,” Olson said. “This is nothing new for us. We’ve played some pretty good teams this season. We need to keep them off balanced, mix our speeds and hit our spots.” Ball State has the 19th-highest team batting average in the country and five hitters in the lineup have an average above .300. As a team, it has more home runs (42) and have driven in more runs (204) than any team in its conference. The team’s most productive hitter, sophomore outfielder Briana Evans, has the highest batting average in the MAC at .409. Senior outfielder Jennifer Gilbert not only has the conference’s third highest batting average at .405, but she also leads the MAC in home runs (15) and runs batted in (45).Ball State’s pitching staff has a cumulative ERA of 4.33, and it is allowing an opponent batting average of .314. The Hoosiers can expect to face sophomore right-handed pitchers Kelsey Schifferdecker and Nicole Steinbach. They have a combined ERA of 4.05 and a total of 112 strikeouts.Ball State will be facing off with an IU offense that has been productive in recent weeks. Sophomore first baseman Kassi Farmer played a large role in Sunday’s win against Penn State. She had a career-high four hits in five at-bats, and she also drove in a career-high five runs. “I need to do what I did Sunday,” Farmer said. “I was feeling good. I went to the plate relaxed and didn’t think too much.”Farmer said if the team comes out on offense like they did Sunday, they have a good chance at being successful. “We need to play like we did on Sunday,” she said. “We had an attacking mindset and to attack early. We were stringing hits together.”IU has also received a boost on offense from the return of CaraMia Tsirigos. Tsirigos, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week March 18, missed 11 straight games with a hand injury before returning for the Penn State series. In her first series back, Tsirigos batted 3-for-8 and had a key solo home run in Sunday’s game. In the second game of the Purdue series, Gardner decided to change her leadoff hitter for the first time in 35 games. She moved senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo to the second slot while moving junior outfielder Brianna Meyer to leadoff.In the seven games since the change, both have seen a slight bump in production despite a small sample size. Meyer’s batting average in the leadoff spot is .400 as compared to her .242 in the second position. Saucedo, who has the highest batting average on the team at .342, batted .327 at the leadoff position. After the switch, she has an average of .416. Gardner said she made the switch because of Meyer’s patience to take pitches, but she is very pleased with the production she has seen from both players. “We made the change because Brianna takes more pitches,” she said. “Breanna tends to swing at the second or third pitch while Brianna tends to work deeper into the count. I’m happy with how the change has worked out.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the first Big Ten game of the 2012 season against Ohio State, IU scored two runs to decrease the Buckeyes’ lead to one run. The team was looking to get three quick outs and to return to the plate in order to continue the comeback attempt.With a runner on first in the bottom of the sixth inning, IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo set to go through a routine out. Saucedo said the batter bunted to former IU first baseman Amanda Wagner, nicknamed Wags.“Wags threw it to me at second and my foot was in front of the base when the girl slid into second,” Saucedo said. “Her slide fractured three bones in my foot.”The injury didn’t require surgery, but she was in a walking boot for four months. By the end of the season, she was back to running and fielding ground balls.Heading into 2013 — her senior year — Saucedo was looking to return and build on her strong performance from the previous season. In the 28 games before her foot injury, she registered nine multi-hit games, had a .319 batting average and scored 18 runs. Against Ohio’s Miami University in the sixth game of the year, Saucedo felt a slight pain in her knee while attempting to take second base on an overthrown ball. “There was an overthrow at first, and I turned to run to second,” she said. “When I rounded the base, my knee gave out.” Saucedo said she didn’t feel a pop in her knee, and she was able to walk off of the field under her own power. The next day, the training staff informed her that she had a partially torn ACL.“I was able to keep walking on it for two weeks,” she said. “I ended up also tearing my meniscus after practice while fielding ground balls. The meniscus was definitely more painful than the ACL.”***After her surgery, Saucedo spent every day from February to July working with three members of the training staff to return to full health. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said Saucedo worked hard every day to get back onto the field.“She worked so hard to come back,” Gardner said. “She was very diligent with her rehab. As soon as she was able, she was in the cage taking extra cuts. Even when she couldn’t practice full, she was out there doing everything she could to help the team.” After she regained the ability to run at full speed in July, Saucedo was granted a fifth year of eligibility by the NCAA and decided to return to Bloomington.Gardner attributed Saucedo’s return to her competitiveness.“She’s so competitive,” she said. “She could’ve forgone her fifth year, but she really wanted to play.” Despite suffering three serious knee injuries in a two-year span, Saucedo said she was more than ready to make her return.“I wasn’t nervous to return at all,” she said. “After missing two years, I couldn’t feel anything but excited. I was so eager to get back out there.” Despite Saucedo’s excitement to return, others in the clubhouse were both nervous and anxious to see her comeback, including Gardner.“As a coach, there’s a fear factor,” Gardner said. “There is a hope that she doesn’t get hurt again. She wanted to be here and compete with her team. She’s worked so hard to get back. It is truly amazing to see.” ***As a lifelong athlete. Saucedo never suffered a serious injury before 2012. The only time she ever broke a bone was in a minor snowboarding accident her freshman year of high school. “I broke my wrist snowboarding,” Saucedo said. “Other than that, I’ve had no serious softball injuries.”Prior to the injury during her junior season, Saucedo already secured her name in the program’s history books. She became just the second player to ever lead the team in hits during her first two seasons. The task had not been done since Dianna Christiansen did so in 1977 and 1978. Despite three serious injuries in two seasons, which limited her to appearing in 34 of a possible 109 games, Saucedo picked up where she left off. She started and played in 41 games this year, and she currently is fourth in the Big Ten in stolen bases with 14. With a .342 batting average, 50 hits and 24 runs scored this season, she leads the team in all three categories. Saucedo registered her 200th career hit April 9 against Michigan State. The injuries haven’t changed the way Saucedo competes on the field. The only thing that has changed is her view on playing the game. “I appreciate it more,” she said. “Every time I’m on the field I really take it in and leave all that I have on the field. Every game. Every inning.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After dropping the first two games of the weekend series, the IU softball team (12-29-1, 4-10) defeated Penn State (12-23, 5-7) in extra innings during the final game of the series. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was happy with Sunday’s victory but sees room for improvement.“I’d like for us to not give up as many runs,” she said. “I am happy with the way that the team continued to compete in all three games.” IU lost 4-1 to Penn State Friday. Senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy started in the circle, but she was unable to match her strong performance from Wednesday. After allowing four runs on two hits, highlighted by a triple on the first at-bat from Penn State center fielder Lexi Knief, she was pulled after a third of an inning. Sophomore pitcher Brooke Boetjer came in to relieve Murphy and retired the last two batters to end the inning. She would go on to strike out 10 batters, a career high. Though Boetjer said she knew she was approaching a career high in strikeouts, she was focused on helping the team win.“I knew I was close, but I wasn’t thinking about it,” she said. “I just wanted to shut them down so we would have a chance to fight back. I wanted to do better at moving the ball in the zone today.” Penn State took the second game 2-1. The Hoosiers were unable to take advantage of opportunities with runners in scoring position in the early innings. In the bottom of the second, IU loaded the bases with one out. They stranded three after a strikeout by Meyer and a fly out off the bat of redshirt senior infielder Breanna Saucedo.The Hoosiers scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth frame. Meyer hit a fly ball to deep left field that resulted in an RBI double and scored second baseman Erin Lehman.After a pitching change, Boetjer allowed a base hit to Hatfield, which gave the Nittany Lions the runs they needed to win the game. Penn State would hold off IU in the final two innings. IU won Sunday’s game 8-7. The Hoosiers’ offense put runs across the plate early.With two runners on base, first baseman Kassi Farmer hit a three-run home run to left center field to give IU the early lead. Saucedo stole her 14th base of the season before scoring on the home run. In the next three innings, Penn State scored seven runs, building a 7-4 lead.Facing a 2-1 count with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Farmer hit an RBI single to left field to tie the game at seven. Farmer’s career day wasn’t done.After both teams were unable to score in the seventh, Farmer hit a walk-off single to center field. The single was her fourth hit of the day and her fifth RBI, both career highs. “I struggled yesterday, and I just wanted to help the team get a win after two tough losses,” Farmer said. “I had a good round of batting practice before the game, and I knew if I had good contact everything would work out.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After splitting a mid-week doubleheader Wednesday with Michigan State, the IU softball team (11-27-1, 3-8) will play Penn State (10-22, 3-6) at home for a weekend series. IU Coach Michelle Gardner was impressed with the team’s late comeback attempt in the first game of that series, which IU lost 5-3. “We came up too little too late,” Gardner said. “The good thing is that we came back and did the things in the series that we needed to do to be successful.”IU senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy said she is encouraged by what the team has been doing during the past week.“The team is coming together,” Murphy said. “We are putting all three aspects of the game together — hitting, pitching and defense. We are peaking at the right time.”She is coming off of a strong performance against the Spartans. She struck out 13 batters, the most by an IU player since the 2011 season. Murphy said she has been trying to improve in every game this season. “I’ve made pretty big strides since preseason,” she said. “All that I can ask of myself is to continue to improve my game in all aspects.”Gardner thinks Murphy’s previous work against Michigan State will be key this weekend. “Meaghan’s performance will be huge moving forward,” Gardner said.Murphy and the IU pitching staff will face the Penn State offense that doesn’t strike out often. Through 32 games, Penn State batters have been struck out just 134 times, the lowest in the Big Ten. Although they have shown good plate discipline, the Nittany Lions have the fourth-lowest batting average in the conference and have also registered the third-lowest amount of hits. They will match up with an IU pitching staff that has given up the most runs and hits in the Big Ten. Despite the team’s struggles on offense, Penn State has one of the statistically best hitters in the conference. Sophomore outfielder Lexi Knief currently leads the conference with four triples, and her .392 batting average is the ninth highest that the conference has to offer. She has also scored 30 runs. Defensively, errors continue to be an issue for the Hoosiers. They lead the conference in the category with 58 errors, including four errors in two games against Michigan State. Despite 33 steal attempts, the Hoosiers have allowed just 23 stolen bases. Only four teams in the conference have allowed fewer steals than IU. Offensively, IU will be opposed by a Penn State pitching rotation that has the highest earned run average, 5.91, in the conference. IU senior left fielder Jenna Abraham has been crucial to the team’s offensive attack all season. Abraham hit her third home run of the year against Michigan State — her second in five games — and also has the fourth-highest on-base percentage of the team at .382. In order for the team to replicate the recent success, Abraham said she thinks the team needs to be patient and relaxed at the plate. “We have some good players on this team, and sometimes we try too hard to do well,” Abraham said. “We need to do what we do best. Not press so much, and be relaxed at the plate. We need to score first, compete and win.”