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(04/10/14 3:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the Big Ten Network in place to broadcast a mid-week conference doubleheader, the IU softball team (11-27-1, 3-8) took the field on a 62-degree afternoon to face off against the Michigan State Spartans (9-25, 2-9).Michigan State won the first game, but IU responded with a strong performance in game two to split the series. The Hoosiers made a late comeback effort, but the Hoosiers ultimately fell to Michigan State in game one 5-3. Despite the loss, IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was happy with the team’s performance. “We only gave up three earned runs,” Gardner said. “When you give up three earned runs, you should win the game. We were hitting well and battling, but we made some costly errors.”After IU sophomore pitcher Brooke Boetjer retired the first two batters of the game, the Michigan State offense came to life. Spartans freshman third baseman Sarah Gutknecht started the rally, sending the seventh pitch of the at-bat off of the right field wall for a double. In the next at-bat, left fielder Kassidy Kujawa hit a double to right field to drive in the first run of the game. Right fielder Stephanie Sanders stepped up to the plate and hit a ground ball down the left field line to drive in Kujawa, the second run of the inning. All three hitters reached base while facing 2-2 counts. After two Spartan runs to begin the game, both offenses failed to drive in a run until the bottom of the third frame.On the first at-bat of the inning, IU freshman second baseman Erin Lehman took first base after getting hit by a pitch. Lehman advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman outfielder Kayla Mathewson, followed by a shot by IU junior center fielder Brianna Meyer over Gutknecht’s outstretched glove. Lehman scored, and Meyer legged out a triple on the play. IU struck again with an out in the bottom of the fourth inning.Sophomore catcher Kassi Farmer hit a single up the middle, followed by a sacrifice bunt from senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve to advance Farmer to second. Sophomore designated player Michelle Huber stepped up to bat with two outs and a runner in scoring position. She hit a double to left field, driving in Farmer to tie the game at two. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Michigan State regained the lead. Spartans outfielder Ellie Stoffer hit a ground ball just past Lehman’s outstretched glove to drive in catcher Lindsey Besson. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, a walk sent in the third run of the game for IU. IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson stepped up to bat. Dotson, who hit a walk-off grand slam against Ohio State, couldn’t repeat the late-game heroics and struck out to end the game. After the first game, Gardner wanted to make some changes. She moved Huber from seventh in the lineup to fourth. Huber went 1-for-4 in her new spot, including a key RBI in the second inning. The Hoosiers won the second game 7-3 behind a 13-strikeout effort from senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy. Murphy’s 13 strikeouts were the most by an IU player since the 2011 season.“It feels good,” she said. “I’m just sticking to my game plan. Sticking to the corners, moving the ball up and down and side to side. It feels good.” Gardner said she was happy to see Murphy playing so well.“She was dominant tonight,” Gardner said. “Thirteen strikeouts is huge, no matter who you’re playing. She did exactly what I knew she could do. I was thrilled for her.”The IU offense started early, scoring five runs in the first two innings. With Meyer on first base, senior left fielder Jenna Abraham stepped up to the plate.Facing a full count, Abraham hit a two-run shot to left field for third home run of the year.“I’m relaxed and doing what I do,” Abraham said. “If the ball is there, I’m swinging at it. She threw me a high pitch, so I swung.”After Murphy held Michigan State hitless for the second straight inning, IU extended the lead to five runs. With one out and runners on second and third, IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo drove in two with a single to right field. After Saucedo earned her 13th steal of the season and Abraham was walked, Huber hit her second RBI of the day. Her double to left field drove in Saucedo. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Hoosiers went deep again. With Farmer on first, Dotson hit a shot to left field. It was her third home run of the season and first since her grand slam against Ohio State. Michigan State put its only three runs of the game on the board in the top of the sixth, highlighted by a two-run home run from right fielder Stephanie Sanders.IU will look to build on its game two win with a three-game series against Penn State this weekend.“The team is coming together,” Murphy said. “We are putting everything together. Hitting, pitching and defense. We are peaking at the right time.”
(04/09/14 3:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a weekend in which IU’s pitching staff allowed just 10 runs in a series with Purdue, the lowest in a series since conference play began, the Hoosiers (10-26-1, 2-7 conference) play Michigan State (8-24, 1-8 conference) in a Wednesday double-header at Andy Mohr Field. Michigan State is currently on a five-game losing streak, and has also lost nine of its last 10 games. The Spartans’ lone conference victory came against Purdue on March 30. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said the team is feeling good heading into the midweek clash with the Spartans after the Sunday victory against Purdue.“Winning Sunday was huge for us,” Gardner said. “I really feel like we are in a good place going into tomorrow. As long as we take care of our business and do the things we did over the weekend, we have a good chance at being successful.”IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo said the team is excited to return to the field Wednesday.“After our win against Purdue, our team is ready to get out there,” Saucedo said. “We are anxious to show everyone what we can do. We can win and play as a team and make it happen. We are excited.”IU will face a Spartan offense that is statistically one of the worst in the Big Ten. Michigan State has a team batting average of .222, the lowest in the conference. The team’s 173 hits are also the lowest amount in the Big Ten. Spartan run production has come seldom, especially during the current 10-game stretch. The team has put 105 runs on the board this season, the second-lowest amount in the conference. They are averaging 3.4 runs per game in the last 10 games, which is slightly higher than the 3.1 IU has been averaging in that same span. Spartan freshman infielder Sarah Gutknecht has been a bright spot in the lineup this season. Her 25 hits, seven doubles, six homeruns, 23 RBIs and .532 slugging percentage all lead the team. Gardner said the team has carefully prepared for Gutknecht.“We aren’t going to let her hurt us,” Gardner said. “We’ve looked at the charts and the scouting reports, and we are going to have to make some decisions. We could pitch around her, if we need to. It really depends on the situation.” Other teams have begun to follow that lead. Gutknecht has been walked 12 times this season, the third-highest amount on the team. Michigan State’s offense could benefit from a struggling IU pitching staff that is allowing 5.33 earned runs per game, the second-highest ERA in the conference. Part of the high number of runs allowed by IU could be attributed to a conference-high 54 fielding errors this year. Michigan State has had struggles in the circle this season as well. The pitching staff has allowed 193 total runs, including a team ERA of 4.74, both the third highest in the conference. The Spartans struggle to strike batters out, fanning just 106 batters. Since the series against Ohio State, IU’s offense has started putting together hits more frequently. The team has strung together 46 hits since March 28, the highest amount of hits they have accumulated during a stretch this season. Saucedo said aggression at the plate has led to the improvement. “Our coaches are doing really well at making us be aggressive,” she said. “They are giving us opportunities to make things happen. They are being more aggressive, which has led to our batters following up each other.” Saucedo currently ranks fourth in the conference in stolen bases with 12 and will face a Michigan State defense that has allowed 30 stolen bases.Gardner said she wants to see the team work up the pitch count.“We’re not pressing at the plate as much in the past couple weeks,” she said. “We need to continue to do that and see pitches.”
(04/07/14 3:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team (10-26-1, 2-7) looked to earn its second conference victory of the season this weekend against Purdue (20-18-1, 7-2). After dropping both games in Saturday’s doubleheader, IU secured a 5-2 victory Sunday.IU Coach Michelle Gardner made a point in practice last week to limit the opposing run production. The team did that this week, allowing 10 runs in the series — the lowest amount of runs allowed in a weekend series since conference play began. Gardner attributed the success against Purdue to IU’s pitchers keeping the ball down in the zone.“We’ve been working on keeping the ball down,” Gardner said. “Other than a few pitches, I think we did a good job with it this weekend.”Purdue got off to a hot start offensively in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader and won 4-1. With Purdue senior right fielder Andie Varsho on third, center fielder Lindsey Rains on second and first baseman Ashley Burkhardt on third, senior catcher Danielle Fletcher stepped up to the plate. With one out, Fletcher drove a ball to left field for a grand slam, giving Purdue an early 4-0 lead.Purdue sophomore pitcher Lilly Fecho earned the win, pitching a complete game while allowing just four hits and one earned run. She also struck out four of the 29 batters she faced. In the second game of the afternoon, Purdue won again 4-1.Gardner decided to make a change in the leadoff spot in an attempt to increase the opposing pitch count. IU junior center fielder Brianna Meyer was moved from the second spot to leadoff, and senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo was moved to the second spot in the lineup.Gardner said the change was made because of Meyer’s plate discipline.“Bri tends to take more pitches,” she said. “We decided to make the change and to see more pitches, and it worked.”Meyer said that although she has batted in the leadoff position in the past, it felt a bit different doing it over the weekend. “It was a bit different, but I really liked it,” Meyer said. “It gave me a little more confidence.”She hit a single to second base on the first at-bat of the game. Both teams were held scoreless until the third inning.In the top half of the frame, the Hoosiers drove in the first run of the game when senior left fielder Jenna Abraham hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive Mathewson across the plate.With Varsho and freshman shortstop Kristen Hoppman on base, senior infielder Tori Chiodo hit a three-run home run to center field to give Purdue a 3-1 lead. After IU was unable to register a hit in the top of the fourth, Purdue struck again in the bottom of the inning when freshman Katy McJunkin scored from third on a wild pitch. Senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy got the start for IU. She pitched four complete innings allowing five hits and four runs.After losing the first two games of the weekend, IU defeated Purdue 5-2 in dramatic fashion in Sunday’s game. The Hoosiers struck first in the top of the opening frame. Abraham hit a sacrifice fly to center field, driving in Meyer in the process. After going two innings without scoring, Purdue scored its only two runs of the game in the home half of the third. A double to right field by Fletcher drove in Chiodo and Rains.After being held scoreless in four straight innings, IU tied the game when Meyer hit a solo home run to right field. In the top of the final inning, Meyer’s strong offensive output continued. Following a Gogreve solo home run to left field, Meyer hit a single up the middle of the field to drive in two runs.Murphy would hold Purdue scoreless in the home half of the frame to give IU its second conference victory of the season. Meyer, who went 2-for-3 and also drove in three runs while scoring two, said that it felt good to get back into the win column. “It feels so great,” she said. “We didn’t win all of the game, but we did respond with one on Sunday. It means a lot. We fought hard.”
(04/04/14 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a tough start to the Big Ten season, the IU softball team (9-24-1, 1-5) will head to West Lafayette this weekend for a showdown with in-state rival Purdue (18-17-1, 5-1). The Hoosiers will deal with a very potent Boilermaker offensive attack Friday through Sunday. Purdue currently ranks third in the Big Ten in batting average at .312 and leads the Big Ten in hits with 301. Senior outfielder Andie Varsho has provided a spark for the offense, putting up the second-highest batting average in the conference at .486. She also leads the conference with 54 hits. With an offense as dangerous as Purdue’s, pitching is going to be an important factor in determining IU’s success over the weekend.Despite her struggle against Ohio State, allowing five earned runs without recording an out, IU senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy will look to build on her solid performance from Tuesday. Against Indiana State, Murphy pitched two full innings without allowing a single hit or walk. Murphy credits her improvement to a change in the way that she approaches the game. “I’ve changed my mindset a little bit,” Murphy said. “I’ve put whatever happened in the past in the past, and I’m going out in the circle with a fearless mindset. It allows me to throw the game that I know I’m capable of throwing.”IU softball Coach Michelle Gardner has placed an emphasis on slowing down the high-powered Boilermaker offense.“We need to hold their runs down,” Gardner said. “It’s been our nemesis. We have to play our game and limit run production.” The Boilermakers have been dangerous on the base paths. They have 46 steals this season, which trails only Wisconsin in the conference. “One thing about Purdue is that they are going to run on you,” Gardner said. “They are going to make (IU catcher Kelsey) Dotson throw, which is something that she has proven she can do.” Dotson exhibited this against the Sycamores, throwing out two runners as they attempted to steal second base. Purdue also is a strong pitching team. They have the fourth lowest earned run average in the conference (2.76), but teams have shown the ability to get hits off the pitching staff. The Boilermakers have allowed 230 hits this season, the fourth highest amount in the conference. This could bode well for an IU offense that racked up 10 hits in Tuesday’s game against Indiana State. Gardner noted that the team has been putting hits together in recent games. “We really need to keep hitting,” she said. “We’ve been hitting a lot better lately. It’s been encouraging.” IU senior left fielder Jenna Abraham, who hit her second home run of the season Tuesday, said the team is focusing on the positive things they have done offensively.“We are leaving the negatives behind,” Abraham said. “We are building on the positives heading into the series against Purdue.” Abraham said the renewal of a rivalry, such as the one with Purdue, is going to further motivate the team.“There’s always extra motivation when we play Purdue,” Abraham said. “We want to really take it to them.”
(04/02/14 3:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After going 1-2 in last weekend’s conference home opener, the IU softball team went into Tuesday’s game with Indiana State looking to get back into the win column. Despite a comeback attempt in the final inning, IU fell to Indiana State 7-5. The loss was the third straight and also the sixth in the last seven games for the Hoosiers. After the loss at home, IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was encouraged from what she saw in relief from senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy, who didn’t allow a hit in two innings.“Her performance was huge,” Gardner said. “She came out and dominated. I really liked what she was doing out there.”Indiana State’s offense got started early, driving two runs across the plate in the top of the first inning. Senior utility player Morgan Allee reached base after being hit by a pitch on the second pitch of the day. ISU junior utility player Megan Stone drove in Allee with a double off of the right field wall. Two at-bats later, the Sycamores struck again when sophomore right fielder Alexa Cavin hit a ground ball just outside the glove of diving IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo.As the ball rolled passed Saucedo, the Sycamores had time to score freshman catcher Brooke Riemenschneider.With runners on the corners, IU escaped a jam when sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson threw out Cavin in an attempt to steal second base. After IU junior center fielder Brianna Meyer became the first Hoosier of the day to reach base on a walk, Dotson drove a pitch to left field to get an RBI single.Dotson’s timely hit brought the Hoosiers closer to the Sycamores, cutting IU’s deficit to one run early on in the game. But in the next half inning, Freshman Sycamores left fielder Rylee Holland hit a ground ball and beat out a Saucedo throw to first, driving in junior pitcher Yvette Alvarez in the process. In the home half of the second frame, senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve hit a fly ball to Cavin in right field. During the play, Cavin appeared to lose the ball in the glare of the sun, which resulted in sophomore first baseman Kassi Farmer scoring from second on the play as the ball hit the ground.As Farmer scored, Gogreve was thrown out attempting to stretch her double into a triple. After Boetjer allowed a triple to ISU center fielder Erika Crissman, Gardner brought in IU junior pitcher Lora Olson in for relief, but the change couldn’t slow down the Sycamore’s offensive output. Crissman scored shortly after the change off a bunt off the bat of Holland, which was the first of two ISU runs in the inning.The Hoosiers were able to get back onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning when Farmer sent a flyball to deep center field, driving in sophomore right fielder Natalie Lalich in the process.After going scoreless in the fifth, Indiana State’s bats reemerged in the top of the sixth inning. After Riemenschneider and Stone reached base on a single and double respectively, senior third baseman Shelby Wilson hit a pitch to right field to give the Sycamores a 7-3 lead. IU senior left fielder Jenna Abraham hit a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Hoosier’s comeback attempt fell short. The home run was Abraham’s second of the season, which was something she was excited about. “I’m not really one to hit the long ball,” Abraham said. “I’m usually not swinging for the long ball. I usually just try to get base hits so when that happens it feels good.”While one streak continued for the Hoosiers, another ended. Saucedo, who came into the game with a 10-game hitting streak, went 0-for-3 on the day, ending her hitting streak. IU now has a 9-24-1 record as they head into West Lafayette for a weekend series with the Purdue Boilermakers.
(04/01/14 1:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a tough series during the weekend against Ohio State, the IU softball team is set to take on the Indiana State Sycamores at 5 today at Andy Mohr Field. The Sycamores are off to a 17-14 start this season. They went 1-2 in a series against Illinois State last weekend. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said pitching will be key for the Hoosiers’ success today. “We need to be a whole lot better in the circle,” she said. Pitching was an issue for IU during the final two games of the Ohio State series. The IU pitching staff allowed 17 earned runs in 10 innings of play during those games. Most of those runs were allowed in big innings. IU allowed seven runs in the third inning of Friday’s win and nine in the first inning of the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader. IU junior pitcher Lora Olson said in order for the team to be successful, they will need to focus on the smaller things. “We know every team we play will be tough, no matter where their season is going,” Olson said. “We are going to have to come out and play Indiana softball every time out. It’s going to take every single person on the team to win. We need to stay positive and keep each other out. We need to win pitches, outs, innings and then games.” Errors continue to be an issue for IU, with 50 for the season so far and five in the Ohio State series alone. The team has seven more errors than the second-closest team in the category, Purdue, with 43. It won’t be getting much easier for the Hoosiers as they face an offensive attack led by Indiana State freshman utility player Kassie Brown, who has a .396 batting average and an on-base percentage of .431 in her 21 games played. IU will also attempt to contain senior utility player Morgan Allee, who leads the team with an on-base percentage of .474. Allee is also a threat when she gets on base, stealing 22 bases on 27 attempts this season. From an offensive standpoint, IU will need senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo to continue to play at a high level. Against Ohio State, Saucedo recorded a hit in every game, extending her hitting streak to 10 games. Saucedo stole her 12th base of the season Sunday, which gives her the fourth-highest total in the Big Ten. “Bre has been playing very well,” Gardner said. “She’s really coming along, and she has been a huge factor for us.”
(03/31/14 4:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Heading into the first game of a three-game series against Ohio State, IU softball Coach Michelle Gardner knew that earning the team’s first Big Ten victory of the season was going to be a challenge. What Gardner didn’t know was that the Hoosiers would do it by scoring 11 runs during the last three innings to overcome a seven-run deficit in the first game of a doubleheader that culminated in two IU losses.Ohio State junior pitcher Olivia O’Reilly began the game with a strong pitching effort, retiring the first five IU batters of the game, four of which by strikeout. IU and Ohio State went into the third inning still in a scoreless game, but that wouldn’t last for long. During the third inning, Ohio State drove in seven runs, led by a two-run home run from sophomore third baseman Jesse Machovina. After the Ohio State offensive outburst, Gardner told the team one thing.“Just keep battling,” she said. “I told them to focus in at the plate and to put some hits together.”The Hoosiers did just that, ending O’Reilly’s no-hit bid in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single from IU sophomore first baseman Kassi Farmer. After stealing second base and advancing to third after, IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson reached base with a single. Farmer scored IU’s first run of the game. In the bottom of the sixth inning, bases were loaded.Farmer hit a triple to right field, cutting the Hoosiers’ deficit to three runs. Farmer said she knew that with the bases loaded, she was going to have an opportunity to get a hit.“With the bases loaded, I knew there was no chance that they were going to walk me,” Farmer said. “I knew that they were going to attack the zone based off of my previous at-bats. I put it in the corner, and ended up being safe at third.”On the next at-bat, Dotson stepped up to plate and hit a double to right center field, driving in Farmer. Freshman outfielder Kayla Mathewson hit a single to the gap in left center field to drive in Dotson, cutting the deficit to just one run. Facing a one-run deficit in the top of the final inning, senior infielder Breanna Saucedo singled to left field to extend her hitting streak to eight games.With Saucedo at third, IU freshman outfielder Natalie Lalich hit a ground ball between second and third base. Ohio State’s shortstop opted to make the throw home, but it wasn’t in time. Saucedo’s score tied up the game. With runners on second and third, Ohio State decided to intentionally walk Farmer.After the walk, Dotson came up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Dotson battled, hitting multiple foul balls on her way to facing a two-two count. On the next pitch, Dotson hit a shot to left field that resulted in a walk-off grand slam. Stepping up to the plate after an intentional walk, Dotson said that she was eager to get a chance to solidify the win for IU.“I was excited to get the opportunity,” Dotson said. “When I got the hit, I knew immediately that the ball was going out of the park.”In the second game of the weekend, Ohio State defeated IU 12-2 in five innings.Ohio State’s offense got off to a hot start, registering nine runs and nine hits in the first inning. The Buckeyes sparked the nine-run effort with four extra-base hits, including a two-run home run.On a Lalich grounder to short in the bottom of the first frame, Jenna Abraham beat a throw home to score IU’s first run of the day. In the top of the second inning, junior Caitlin Conrad registered her third hit of the day, reaching third after Ohio State designated player Melaina Saalfeld scored the 10th run of the afternoon. After IU was unable to get anything going in the bottom of the second frame, Ohio State scored two more runs off of a Machovina single to right field. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Saucedo drove in sophomore utility player Alyssa Rosati. Saucedo’s single extended her hitting streak to nine games. The final game of the weekend went similarly as the second as the Hoosiers fell 10-2 in five innings. After both teams were held scoreless in the first frame, Ohio State’s offense poured in four runs in the top of the second inning. In the bottom of the third inning, Saucedo hit an in-field single to extend her hitting streak to ten games. After reaching base, Saucedo stole her 12th base of the season. In the top of the fourth inning, Ohio State center fielder Taylor Watkins hit a solo home run over the left field wall. After a runner reached base, junior infielder Evelyn Carrillo hit Ohio State’s second home run of the inning, giving them a seven-run lead. Ohio State scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning and IU responded by scoring two runs off of a double from centerfielder Brianna Meyer. The Hoosiers now have a record of 9-23-1 on the season, including 1-5 in the Big Ten. IU will take on Indiana State at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Andy Mohr Field.
(03/28/14 3:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team is looking for its first conference win in a three-game home series with Ohio State this weekend after starting the Big Ten season 0-3. The Buckeyes currently have a 15-14 record, including a 3-0 mark in Big Ten play. IU will face a tough Buckeye pitching rotation that includes junior pitcher Olivia O’Reilly, who currently has the ninth lowest earned runs average in the conference. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said putting everything together offensively is going to be extremely important against Ohio State.“We had a good weekend hitting the ball against Michigan,” Gardner said. “We were hitting better than we have been and we hit tough pitches, but we need to put it all together. We need to be able to score runs after getting hits, which is where we struggled last weekend.”Sophomore infielder Kassi Farmer, who is currently tied for the third-most home runs in the Big Ten with six, said finding holes in the defense will play a large role in how effective IU’s offense is against the Buckeyes.“We are on the right track,” Farmer said. “We hit the ball really well last weekend but we still struggled to get on base. We need to find holes in the defense and find ways to get on base. If we stick to the game plan things will start going our way.”Senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo has also played a role in the Hoosiers’ improved offense.Saucedo is looking to extend her seven-game hitting streak, a streak she has built from coaching and having confidence at the plate.“For me, I just go up to the plate relaxed,” Saucedo said. “My coaches have taught me all they can. I’ve put in the hours in practice and I know that when I step up to bat that I can hit the ball and get on base.”Saucedo, who currently has an on-base percentage of .365, is also a threat when she is base running. She has 11 steals on 13 attempts, which leads the team and she is fourth in the Big Ten in steals. Gardner said Saucedo’s performance has been valuable to the team.“Bre has been playing very well,” she said. “She’s really coming along and she has been a huge factor for us. Her effort and aggressiveness is just a part of what makes her so good.”Pitching will also be key for the Hoosiers against an Ohio State offense that has a team batting average of .280 and gets extra base hits on a consistent basis. Of the team’s 211 hits, 34 percent of them resulted in either a double, triple or home run. Limiting these opportunities is something that Gardner has been focusing on in practice this week.“We need to limit their big hits,” Gardner said. “We have been giving up big hits at inopportune times. We need to focus on the task at hand, which is not allowing extra base hits.”Errors have also continued to be an issue for the Hoosiers this season. They have 45 fielding errors throughout 30 games, which is the highest amount in the Big Ten. Farmer believes if the team can limit the mistakes on defense, it will prevent run production from Ohio State.“We need to play clean ball,” Farmer said. “When we commit errors, they usually lead to runs. If we limit our errors, it is going to increase our chances of winning.”
(03/24/14 4:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team went 3-5 in the last 10 days, including 0-3 in the Big Ten opener in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Hoosiers now have a record of 8-21-1, including 0-3 in conference play. IU will be back in action next week at home in a three-game series with Ohio State.Although IU struggled at the start of conference play, IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she is encouraged by some of the things that she saw in the team. “This team is much better than our record,” Gardner said. “We didn’t want to start the Big Ten off this way, but the team never quit battling.”During the first day of the Hoosier Classic, IU swept University of Illinois-Chicago and Toledo. Freshman second baseman Erin Lehman led the offensive attack during the first game of the weekend against UIC.With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehman hit a triple to clear the bases. Junior outfielder Brianna Meyer brought Lehman in to score on the next at-bat. In the 5-2 victory over Toledo, sophomore first baseman Kassi Farmer hit two home runs for the second time this season. Her first multi-home run game was against San Jose State on Feb. 8. Farmer is the third player in program history to hit multiple home runs in a single game two or more times. Senior pitcher Meagan Murphy struck out a season-high eight batters in five innings against Toledo. On the second day, IU defeated Wright State in the first game of the doubleheader. Against Wright State, freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos and senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo led the offensive effort. Tsirigos hit a three-run home run during the first inning, while Saucedo put together her sixth multiple hit game of the season. Despite a 10-9 loss in the second game against UIC, IU sophomore infielder Michelle Huber scored four runs for a career-high. The Hoosiers found themselves with a one-run deficit heading into the top of the seventh inning.In the final inning, UIC scored three runs, just enough to solidify the win. UIC ended IU’s six-game winning streak, which was the longest streak for the Hoosiers this season. Tsirigos, who was named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week due to her performance in the Hoosier Classic, finished the weekend hitting 3-for-6 and reached base in every game she played in. Tsirigos also hit a home run and drove in five runs. Gardner said Tsirigos is starting to develop into a threat in IU’s lineup. “It’s a great honor to have someone named Freshman of the Week,” Gardner said. “CaraMia is very talented and it took her a little while to get adjusted, but she is going to do some great things for us.”In a mid-week game Tuesday against No. 8 Kentucky, both teams were scoreless heading into the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Kentucky junior catcher Griffin Joiner hit a three-run home run to give the Wildcats the first lead of the game. The Wildcats would go on to score two more runs to give them a 5-0 victory. Friday, IU opened conference play with a doubleheader against No. 6 Michigan. Despite registering six hits, the Hoosiers fell to the Wolverines 8-0 in six innings.In the second game, Michigan defeated IU 9-1 in just five innings. Saucedo registered another multiple-hit game, and she also hit a triple to drive in IU’s only run of the afternoon. In the final game of the Big Ten series opener, Michigan defeated IU 12-3 in six innings. The Hoosiers started sophomore pitcher Brooke Boetjer, who is normally a relief pitcher. Freshman outfielder Natalie Lalich drove in two runs on a single in the top of the first inning. Sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson also got involved on offense, hitting a solo home run in the top of the second inning. Saucedo extended her hitting streak to seven games. Gardner attributes to her finally getting into a rhythm after returning to the team from an injury last season.“She’s getting comfortable and coming into her own,” Gardner said. “She’s playing great.”
(03/14/14 1:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Heading into the home opener with a three-game winning streak, the IU softball team is set to open the season at Andy Mohr Field from March 14-16 in the Hoosier Classic. IU will play University of Illinois at Chicago and Toledo on March 14, Wright State and UIC March 15, and will wrap up the weekend March 16 with a rematch against Wright State.The Hoosiers look to extend their winning streak, which includes victories against Boise State, Valparaiso and Weber State at the Spring Hill Suites Invitational last weekend. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said the team’s energy last weekend has been a big part of the turnaround.“We took ownership,” Gardner said. “The team came out with energy and enthusiasm that I haven’t seen yet this year. It has really made a difference.”IU senior infielder Shelby Gogreve said team unity has been a big factor in the improvement of the team.“We are feeling really good right now,” Gogreve said. “Coming off of some wins, we have good chemistry right now. Our cohesion as a team has been a big factor.”The UIC Flames started the season with a 2-11 record and haven’t played a game since Feb. 23. The team’s last nine games have been cancelled or delayed. Pitching has been an issue in the games the Flames have played.The pitching staff has an earned run average of 5.23 and allows an opposing batting average of .307.Although UIC offense has struggled to get hits with a team batting average of .234, senior infielder Jacki Fletcher has been a bright spot in the batting order.Fletcher leads the team in batting average (.514), hits (19), total bases (21) and slugging percentage (.568).Wright State has also struggled early in the year, starting with a record of 2-13, including 0-5 in road games.The Raiders also lost six of the last seven games. Its pitching staff has a 5.80 ERA while allowing an opposing batting average of .356.The batting lineup hasn’t provided much support, with only 1.52 earned runs per game while maintaining a .189 batting average.Toledo has a 7-13 record, which is the best out of the three teams IU is set to face this weekend. Freshman starting pitcher Emily Anderson leads the team with a 2.33 ERA and 88 strikeouts. The rest of the pitching staff has combined for just 11 strikeouts. Unlike the other two opponents, the Rockets are consistent hitters. The team has a batting average of .279.Freshman utility player Chandler Rice leads Toledo’s offense with a batting average of .369 and an on-base percentage of .444.In order for IU to continue its winning streak, Gardner said the team needs to play similar to the way it did last weekend.“We need to take things one game at a time,” Gardner said. “We also need to bring the same energy that we did last week in Boise.”Gogreve said winning is the one thing the team has in mind.“We are ready to continue to win games,” Gogreve said.
(03/12/14 3:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When IU junior softball pitcher Lora Olson was growing up, softball was a family affair.“I started playing when I was five,” Olson said. “It really was a family thing.”Both of Lora’s older sisters, Anna and Sara, were on softball teams and were constantly traveling for tournaments.Olson said even if she wasn’t playing in a game, she was consistently around the sport because of them.“I was always at a softball field with my family,” she said. “I couldn’t even tell you how many games I’ve seen in my life. Every weekend I was traveling throughout the country watching my sisters play, even if I didn’t have a game.”Anna, the oldest of the three sisters, was a highly decorated player at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Ill., before attending IU.At the time, she graduated from high school with the program record for most RBIs in a single season and was named Player of the Year by the Chicago Star.During her junior year at IU, Anna was selected for the Big Ten All-Conference Academic Team. Lora’s other sister, Sara, graduated with a highly decorated career at IU. She finished fifth on IU’s all-time home run list and sixth on the career list for RBIs.Sara was named to the Big Ten All-Conference team as a senior at first base, despite playing her first three seasons as pitcher. Lora said her sisters coached her throughout the early part of her softball career. “I never got to play with them because of our age difference,” Lora said. “Because of that, they both coached me. Since Sarah is a pitcher, it was cool to relate to someone in the house and get feedback right away. It was valuable to me and it really helped me grow as a player.”Pitching and hitting techniques weren’t the only thing that Lora learned from her sisters. She said their work ethic and constant desire to succeed helped make her the player she is.“The thing about softball is that you get what you put into it,” Lora said. “I got to learn that by seeing both of them work hard every single day. Seeing them fight through trials and tribulations really helped shape the player and person that I am today.”IU Coach Michelle Gardner, said Lora has a lot of similarities to Sara, including her competitive edge.“They are both team-first players,” Gardner said. “Also, they both are extremely competitive.”Although sibling rivalries sometimes form between athletes in the same family, Lora said they never experienced anything like that. She said the only time they ever competed directly against each other was in hitting contests at a park close to their home.“We would have competitions at parks and see who could hit the furthest,” she said. “That was about it. Unfortunately, I was usually the one who lost because I was the youngest.”Nearly three years ago, Lora had no idea that she would attend college in Bloomington, like both of her sisters.Lora originally committed to play for the University of Wisconsin.“I committed to Wisconsin my junior year of high school,” she said. “Wisconsin is a great school. At that point in my life, I thought that was really what I wanted.”All of that changed when Wisconsin parted ways with then-coach Chandelle Schulte, who heavily recruited Lora in high school.Schulte was replaced by Brent Vigness, who also recruited Lora during her high school career, but he left Wisconsin nearly a week after being named coach.The coaching changes led to Lora’s choice to re-open her recruitment.“After the coaches left, I had to rethink my decision,” she said. “It was stressful. At that point, most players are committed and most teams have enough pitchers.”She had scholarship offers from many schools including Georgia, Georgia Tech and Florida State. Lora said though she seriously considered attending Georgia Tech, Gardner recruited her — which led to her signing with the Hoosiers shortly before her senior year of high school. “Throughout the time it took Wisconsin to find another coach, I began to consider other programs,” Lora said. “Coach Gardner continued to recruit me heavily. At that point, I realized that everything happens for a reason.”Gardner said when Lora decided she would no longer attend Wisconsin, she knew Lora was the perfect fit for the program. “When Wisconsin made the coaching change, Lora began to look at other options,” Gardner said. “It worked perfectly for the program and for her to come here.”Lora said though her sisters played for the program, they never tried to influence her decision. “They never tried to persuade me,” she said. “I was just working hard and trying to be seen by as many programs as I could, and they understood that. They really just wanted me to be happy.”Despite Lora almost ending up at another Big Ten school, she said IU is the right place for her.“I figured out that IU was where I really wanted to be,” she said. “I know I made the right decision.”
(03/10/14 1:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU’s Sunday victory over Valparaiso was also IU Coach Michelle Gardner’s 300th career victory. Gardner said that even though she is proud of the accomplishment, the credit goes to her teammates.“I’m very happy to have gotten there,” she said. “The credit goes to the kids. They really played hard this weekend.”The Hoosiers went 3-2, including the team’s wins in the final three games of the weekend in the Spring Hill Suites Invitational, bringing its record to 5-16-1.In the first game, despite outhitting Weber State 8-7, the Hoosiers fell by a score of 5-3. IU registered the first run of the game in the top of the second inning when senior infielder Breanna Saucedo drove in sophomore infielder Michelle Huber on a RBI single to center field. Weber State quickly gained the lead, scoring three runs in the next three innings, including a two-run homerun off of the bat of freshman utility player Sara Hingsberger. In the top of the fifth inning, sophomore Kassi Farmer and senior Jenna Abraham hit a pair of RBI singles to tie the game at three.In the next half-inning, Weber State senior pitcher Jasmine Ioane hit a two-run homerun to take a two-run lead, which would be the final two runs scored in the game. In the second game of Friday’s double-header, IU fell to Boise State 3-2.The Hoosiers got on the board first when senior infielder Shelby Gogreve drove in Farmer on a bunt.In the top of the third inning, the Hoosiers extended their lead to two runs when Abraham hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Saucedo. In the next half-inning, the Broncos drove in their first run of the game when senior Devon Bridges drove in senior Mackenzie Whyte off a single up the middle. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Boise State scored off of an error by IU.After IU was unable to register a run in the top half of the final inning, Boise State scored the game-winning run when senior Tara Glover beat a throw home from Gogreve.Despite registering just two hits in the opening game of Saturday’s double-header, which was a rematch against Weber State, the Hoosiers defeated the Wildcats 5-1.The Wildcats put the first run of the game on the board off of a RBI single. In the bottom of the fifth, Huber hit a solo homerun over the left field wall to tie the game at one.IU opened the sixth inning with a triple from Abraham. After having batters reach the base because of a walk and a bunt, Gogreve stepped up to bat with the bases loaded.After Gogreve put the ball in play, Wildcat sophomore infielder Brooke Field overthrew the first baseman. Two Hoosiers scored on the error. In the next at-bat, freshman infielder Erin Lehman hit a ground ball that drove in two runs because another throwing error from Weber State, which solidified the IU victory.Junior starting pitcher Lora Olsen earned her first win of the season, throwing a complete game and allowing just one earned run on five hits. Olsen also struck out six batters, which is a season high.IU took on Boise State in the second game of Saturday’s double-header. The game was delayed in the fifth inning, but the Hoosiers earned the fourth victory of the season 5-4.Both teams were held scoreless until the top of the fourth inning.The Hoosiers brought three runs across the plate in the inning, led by a Huber double that drove in two runs. After play was resumed, IU drove in two runs in the top of the fifth.Despite a four-run effort by Boise State in the final two innings, IU came away with the victory. Sunday, IU defeated Valparaiso 3-1.The IU scoring effort started early when the team drove in two runs in the opening inning. Huber and Farmer were responsible for driving in the runs. After stealing her eighth base of the season, Saucedo scored IU’s third run of the day.Valpo scored its only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. The run by Valparaiso would be the final of the game for both teams.Gardner said even though the team struggled in the first two games, she liked the overall improvement in the final three contests.“After the first two games, I really challenged them to do some other things,” Gardner said. “The intensity and energy picked up. All of the things that I’ve been telling the team that they need to do, they have started to do them.”
(03/07/14 5:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Coach Michelle Gardner said the Hoosiers’ win against UT Arlington last weekend came down to one thing: scoring runs.“We scored a lot of runs,” Gardner said. “We really did some nice things all the way around. We put all of the aspects of the game together.”The Hoosiers will look to continue the turnaround, traveling to Boise, Idaho, for the Spring Hill Suites Invitational.IU is set to take on Weber State and Boise State Friday and Saturday and Valparaiso on Sunday. Gardner said the biggest key to the weekend’s invitational will be to play a well-balanced game.“We need to play all sides of the game,” she said. “Our pitching and defense are steadily getting better. Offensively, we are doing some good things. All we can ask for right now is to compete.”IU junior pitcher Lora Olson, who struck out a season-high five batters in the victory of UT Arlington, said sticking to the game plan will be very important this weekend.“We really have to stick to our game no matter who we are playing,” Olson said. “We need to focus on ourselves and play IU softball. We need to build off of the positive things that we did last weekend.”Weber State has a 9-5 record this season, including victories in five of the last six games. The Hoosiers will have the task of facing off against Weber State’s best pitcher, junior MaCauley Flint. Flint has a record of 6-1 with an ERA of 1.34. Also, Flint has struck out 59 batters and allowed just 10 runs.A pair of power hitters, sophomore utility player Alyson Kulp and senior pitcher Jasmine Ioane, lead Weber State’s offensive attack.Each has four home runs, while Kulp’s slugging percentage — .795 — is slightly higher than Ioane’s .667.. The Boise State Broncos have a 7-10 record to start the season, including splitting a set of games last weekend in the Saint Mary’s Tournament against Saint Mary’s and Sacramento State.Two seniors, infielder Mackenzie Whyte and outfielder Tara Glover, lead the Broncos’ offensive attack.As a team, Boise State has a batting average of .263 and scored 67 runs, which is good enough for an average of close to four runs per game. The pitching staff, led by senior Rebecca Patton and freshman Mackenzie McGill, has an earned run average of 4.50. Patton has struck out 39 batters, which leads the team. IU will conclude the weekend against the Valparaiso Crusaders.Last weekend, IU had a scheduled meeting with Valpo but the game was delayed in the top of the fifth inning due to rain. The teams are expected to conclude the game Sunday. IU had a 5-0 lead before the delay.The Crusaders are 3-10, but as the team exhibited in a 24-run outing against Seton Hall at the beginning of the season, the offense can put runs on the board.
(03/03/14 5:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team entered the Wildcat Invitational looking to turn its luck around, after starting the season with just one win through the first three weekends of the season.Although the Hoosiers lost to No. 10 Arizona and Longwood, IU secured its first win in 13 games against UT Arlington.In what was a back-and-forth game, the Hoosiers pulled out the victory 8-5.UT Arlington got on the board in the top of the first inning after an IU throwing error.IU responded quickly, putting its first run of the game on the board early after senior infielder Shelby Gogreve hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. The Hoosiers’ lead was erased in the third inning when Mavericks sophomore outfielder Britnea Barilli hit a solo home run to bring the score to 2-1.In the bottom half of the third inning, IU knotted the game at two after scoring on a fielding error. The score continued to go back and fourth when UT Arlington brought a runner across the plate in the top of the fourth inning.In the next half inning, IU freshman infielder Natalie Lalich helped give IU the first lead of the game. Lalich hit a double on the fifth pitch of the at-bat to drive in two runs. After the Mavericks tied the game in the sixth inning with a solo home run, IU sophomore pitcher Brooke Boetjer came in relief for junior pitcher Lora Olsen. In 5.2 innings pitched, Olsen allowed three earned runs and nine hits while striking out a season-high five batters. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning, Lalich stepped up to the plate.Lalich struck again, this time hitting a grand slam over the right-center field wall to give IU an 8-4 lead. The Mavericks scored one run in the top of the final inning, but it wasn’t enough as IU landed its second victory of the season. Lalich led the scoring attack with six runs batted in, which is the second most in a single game in program history. Saturday, the Hoosiers were unable to repeat its success from Friday, falling to Longwood 7-2. Longwood’s scoring efforts started early, as they were able to send seven runners across the plate in the first four innings of the game. For the Lancers, sophomore infielder Carly Adams and junior outfielder Chelsea Sciacca each has three RBIs on the day. IU didn’t bring a runner across the plate until the top of the sixth inning. Lalich hit an RBI single for the first IU run while junior outfielder Brianna Meyer scored the second run of the inning off of a sacrifice fly from freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos. The second game of IU’s double-header against Valparaiso was postponed until next week due to rain. Sunday, the Hoosiers fell to No. 10 Arizona 9-1. Senior infielder Breanna Saucedo scored the lone run for the Hoosiers in the opening inning off of a two-out walk.The Wildcats fired back quickly, scoring off of a two-run home run in the following half of the inning. Arizona added seven more runs in the next four innings to end the game due to the NCAA Mercy Rule.
(02/28/14 12:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After ending a 12-game losing streak with a 3-3 tie against Troy last weekend, the IU softball team is looking to win as they head to Tuscon, Ariz., for the Wildcat Invitational.The Hoosiers are set to face off against the University of Texas-Arlington, the University of Longwood, Valparaiso University and No. 14 Arizona.IU’s first opponent, UT Arlington, is off to a 10-6 start this season. Last weekend, the Mavericks went 4-2 in the UTA Hilton Invitational while scoring more than five runs during three of those games. In addition to a high-scoring offense, UT Arlington has shutout three opponents this season, two of which occurred last weekend.The Hoosiers, currently averaging 2.71 runs per game, will face a pitching staff that allows 4.75 earned runs per game. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said that the team improves every week, but she wants to see more balance on offense.“Last weekend, we had a couple of really good games,” Gardner said. “We just didn’t come out with wins. We’ve really been working on being more balanced at the plate.”IU will play Longwood for the opening game of Saturday’s double-header.Longwood has a 3-1 record after opening the season last weekend at the Longwood Spring Classic. The team’s only loss was to Townson, a game that went to extra innings, by one run.The Hoosiers will be pitching to a Longwood offense that averages six runs per game. For the concluding game of Saturday’s double-header, the Hoosiers are set to take on the Valparaiso Crusaders. Valpo has a 2-7 record, but as the team displayed during a 24-run outing against Seton Hall on Feb. 8, the offense can put runs on the board.The Crusaders are on a five-game losing streak that includes a narrow 3-2 loss to No. 22 ranked Louisiana last weekend. IU will conclude the Wildcat Invitational against Arizona Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats are 14-1, and the game has been called after five innings during eight of those victories due to the NCAA’s Mercy Rule.In addition, Arizona has one of the top offenses in the nation, averaging 7.86 runs per game. They have surpassed the 10-run mark in five games.The Wildcats don’t excel just offensively. They allow just .68 runs per game on defense.Arizona has also shutout eight of its opponents this year. Gardner said she is pleased with the role the team’s younger members have played this season.“Their production is huge for us,” she said. “It says a lot about what we are doing. The young kids are really putting up some good numbers and I’m expecting that to continue.”Freshmen CaraMia Tsirigos, Erin Lehman, Natalie Lalich and Kayla Mathewson have accounted for 23 hits and 34 total bases. Tsirigos, who hit the first home run of her career against Georgia Southern last weekend, said she was relieved to finally send one over the fence. “It was an awesome feeling,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming, but it felt good to finally hit one.”
(02/24/14 3:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team went into the weekend planning to play five games in the Lipton Invitational. Due to poor weather conditions, IU’s game against Coastal Carolina Friday was delayed and later cancelled. The Hoosiers went 0-3-1 over the weekend, bringing the team’s record to 1-12-1 on the season. Although the Hoosiers were unable to register a win, IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was pleased with the way the team competed all weekend.“We are truly competing,” she said. “It took a little bit of time, but I feel that things are finally starting to come together.” Friday night, IU played the first of two games against No. 1 Florida. Despite the game being close for seven innings, the Hoosiers lost 3-1.In the bottom of the first inning, IU senior infielder Breanna Saucedo hit a single to center field, extending her hitting-streak to six games. It also marked the 10th time in eleven games that Saucedo has registered a hit.In the top of the third inning, the Gators scored the first two runs of the game when junior first baseman Lauren Haeger hit a single to right field, driving in sophomore second baseman Kelsey Stewart. Haeger would go on to score later in the inning from a double off of the bat from junior outfielder Bailey Castro.In the next half-inning, the Hoosiers cut the deficit to one run when Saucedo scored on a passed ball.The Gators responded in the top of the fourth inning by scoring a run after a walk with the bases loaded. Senior third baseman Stephanie Toft scored on the play.That would be the final run scored of the game. IU sophomore pitcher Lora Olson held the Gators to four hits and two earned runs. Those were the lowest that Florida has registered in a game this season. In IU’s second matchup with Florida Saturday, the Gators were victorious in five innings by a score of 8-0. The Hoosiers were held hitless and the only player to reach base in the game, junior infielder Brianna Meyer, reached on a one-out walk in the first inning and also on an error in the top of the fourth. In the second game Saturday, IU fell to Georgia Southern 6-2. IU freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos was responsible for both of the Hoosiers’ runs in the game. Tsirigos drove in the first run on an RBI single in the second inning and later hit a solo home run in the seventh, which was the first of her career. Sunday, the Hoosiers tied with Troy University 3-3 when the game was called due to weather conditions after nine innings. IU freshman outfielder Natalie Lalich hit 4-for-4 on the day, including one RBI. She also scored twice. Lalich said her performance on Sunday could be attributed to her changed approach when she is at the plate. “When I go up to bat I’ve learned to relax and to take the pressure off,” she said. “I’m playing like I have my whole life.”The Hoosiers scored the first run of the game in the second inning when senior infielder Shelby Gogreve singled to left field, which drove in Lalich due to a Troy error in the outfield. IU scored again in the fourth inning after sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson drove in Lalich on a fielder’s choice. After being held scoreless for the first five innings, Troy drove in two runs in the sixth, which led to the game being sent to extra innings. After both teams failed to score in the seventh, IU scored a run in the top of the eighth inning. Lalich drove in Saucedo from third base on the play. Troy scored in the last half-inning to extend the game, but it was ruled a tie due to rain. Gardner said that, overall, she was satisfied with the team’s performance. “We played hard,” Gardner said. “I was pretty happy with our performance over the weekend.”
(02/21/14 4:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After starting the season with a record of 1-9, which includes a nine-game losing streak, the IU softball team is looking to improve in the Lipton Invitational. The Hoosiers will face off against Coastal Carolina, No. 1 Florida, Georgia Southern and Troy. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said the key for this weekend is to play solid all-around games on both offense and defense.“We need good pitching, defense and we need to score some runs,” Gardner said. “We need to put some hits together. We have been hitting OK this season, we just haven’t had timely hits.”The Hoosiers start the competition Friday against Coastal Carolina, who is off to a 5-1 start this season. Carolina averages almost six runs per game this season after averaging just more than three runs per game through the first six games last year. Junior third baseman Kory Hayden leads Coastal Carolina with five home runs this season, while sophomore outfielder Bri Chiusano has a six-game hitting streak. The Hoosiers will play Florida on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Florida is currently 12-0, which includes a 9-4 win against No. 5 Michigan.Florida’s three starting pitchers each have a 4-0 record.Haeger, who has the lowest estimated run average on the team of 0.78, also leads the teams with five home runs and is second on the team in hits with 14. Gardner said although Florida is a good team, facing the Gators is no different than playing against some of the top teams in the Big Ten. “The bottom line is that competing against Florida isn’t much different than competing against teams like Michigan,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what jersey the opposing team is wearing. We need to take care of our business. The rest will take care of itself.”IU will face Georgia Southern in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Their early season success can partially be attributed to the team’s defensive performance. Georgia Southern is allowing an opposing batting average of .189 while allowing just 15 runs.The Hoosiers wrap up the weekend against Troy University. Troy has a 4-5-1 record, including a 17-0 victory against Savannah State last weekend. IU senior infielder Breanna Saucedo, who leads the Hoosiers in hits and runs scored, said the team needs to take things an inning at a time in order to be successful this weekend. “We need to focus on our goals,” Saucedo said. “We need to win innings and individual at-bats. We need to take small victories as they come.”Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney
(02/17/14 1:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team traveled to Atlanta to play five games during the Panther Invitational this weekend. IU was unable to register a victory, bringing the team’s record to 1-9 and extending the losing streak to nine games. Despite the weekend’s struggles, IU Coach Michelle Gardner was encouraged by the team’s effort.“The team battled,” Gardner said. “When you aren’t seeing success it becomes difficult. We just need to keep pushing forward.”The Hoosiers began the weekend with a matchup Friday against Georgia State.In the bottom of the first inning, IU faced an early deficit after Georgia State junior first baseman Lauren Coleman hit a three-run home run to left field. The Hoosiers were unable to register a hit until sophomore infielder Kassi Farmer hit a double in the top of the fourth.Georgia State extended the lead to five runs before IU scored six runs in the top of the fifth to give them the first lead of the game. Sophomore infielder Michelle Huber put the first run of the game on the board for the Hoosiers after hitting a solo home run over the right-center wall. Huber also registered a career-high three RBIs during Friday’s game.The comeback attempt didn’t last long for IU as Georgia State drove in nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The game was called after the fifth and the Panthers secured a 14-6 win.During the first game of Saturday’s double-header, IU fell to Georgia State 5-1. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Georgia Tech scored the first two runs of the game. The Yellow Jacket lead remained at two runs until sophomore infielder Maddie Lionberger hit a two-run home run to extend the lead to four runs. IU senior infielder Breanna Saucedo hit a single in the top of the sixth inning. Saucedo would score IU’s only run of the game off of an error later in the inning. Shortly after the conclusion of the Georgia Tech game, IU faced off against the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. The Hoosiers lost the third game of the weekend 7-1.The Skyhawks took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. IU junior pitcher Lora Olson was taken out of the game after allowing five runs during 2.1 innings of work. Sophomore pitcher Brooke Boetjer came in to relieve Olson. Boetjer struck out a career-high nine batters during the 4.2 innings she pitched. Saucedo scored the team’s only run of the game off of a wild pitch.During the first game on Sunday, the Hoosiers faced Georgia State, whom they had lost to Friday. Although the rematch was closer than the first game, IU lost 4-3. The Hoosiers had an early lead, fueled by senior outfielder Jenna Abraham’s two-run home run during the second inning. The Panthers led a four-run comeback, which included a three-run home run by junior first baseman Lauren Coleman. IU wrapped up the weekend losing to East Tennessee State 6-0. Both teams failed to score during the first five innings until East Tennessee State was able to score six runs during the final two innings. Boetjer started the game and struck out five batters, giving her 30 strikeouts through the first 10 games of the season. Gardner said despite early season struggles, she is still seeing improvement in every game. “We need to believe in what we are doing,” she said. “We have to stick to the game plan. While we didn’t win this weekend, we did a lot of things a lot better. The season is way too long to get discouraged after a few tough games.”Abraham said the team has done a good job at sticking together despite the adversity they have faced early in the year.“We’ve done a good job staying together,” Abraham said. “We did a good job competing, especially on Sunday. We just need to keep playing together.”
(02/14/14 5:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After ending the season’s opening tournament with a 1-4 record, the IU softball team is looking to bounce back quickly as they travel to Atlanta for the Panther Invitational. The Hoosiers will face Georgia State Friday. Saturday, the Hoosiers will play a double-header against Georgia Tech and the University of Tennessee-Martin. The weekend will conclude Sunday as IU plays in another double-header against Georgia State and East Tennessee State University. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said though the team had solid offensive output last weekend, led by IU sophomore Kassi Farmer’s four home run weekend, pitching will be the key to IU’s success. “We need to start off the bat with good pitching,” Gardner said. “Each week we need to step up in all of the categories.”IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson said the team is feeling confident heading into the second week of the season. “We have confidence in ourselves,” Dotson said. “The practice and preparation that we have had has prepared us to play.” The team IU will play twice during the weekend, the Georgia State Panthers, are opening the season hoping to improve on the 36-19 mark the team posted last season. While the Panthers are looking to replace its most productive hitter in the lineup from last year, Jessica Clifton, the pitching duo of senior Kaitlyn Medlam and sophomore Kate Worley serves as the most stable position group on the roster. That pitching combination had a 33-18 record last season and also finished with an ERA of 2.97.Georgia Tech will face IU in the first game of the Saturday double-header after being added to the schedule Thursday. The Yellow Jackets currently have a 2-1 record after defeating Missouri State in a home series in the opening weekend. In the second game Saturday, IU will take on the UT-Martin Skyhawks. The Skyhawks currently have a 1-3 record, with the lone victory coming over Houston Baptist University. Skyhawk junior third baseman and pitcher not only led the team in batting average (.359), home runs (13) and RBIs (56) last season, but she was also the team’s best pitcher. She finished the year with a team-high 20-6 record and also recorded 2.79 ERA.East Tennessee State participated in the Music City Classic last weekend and finished with a 2-2 record. One of the losses came at the hands of Butler in extra innings. IU will face a pitching staff that allowed just 10 runs in four games this year. Gardner said he hopes the batting lineup’s production this week is similar to last week’s.“We need to stay disciplined at the plate,” she said. “We need to do things similar to the way that we did them last weekend. We made some good adjustments and did a very good job.”IU sophomore pitcher Brooke Boetjer said she believes cohesiveness will be a huge factor this weekend.“We need to get everything together,” Boetjer said. “We need our hitting, pitching and defense to come together as a unit.”Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney
(02/10/14 1:49am)
The IU softball team opened its season over the weekend in the
Kajikawa Classic. The team finished with a 1-4 record with the lone win
coming over the Bradley Braves Friday.IU sophomore first baseman Kassi Farmer led the offensive output hitting four home runs in a five-game stretch.