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(02/18/11 4:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team gears up for its second weekend of games with the Fairfield Inn and Suites USF tournament in Clearwater, Fla., where the Hoosiers will face University of Alabama at Birmingham and DePaul on Friday.The team looks to build on its 2-3 start from last weekend in Arizona. Sophomore pitcher Jessica Dobson said she feels the Hoosiers need to continue doing what they have been doing thus far. IU surrendered only 16 runs in five games during the Kajikawa Classic, and Dobson said she thinks the Hoosiers can continue playing well on defense in Florida.“We did a great job of moving the ball around and keeping them off balance,” she said. “I know we used a lot of off-speed pitches, and they were on their toes the whole game, and I don’t think they knew what to expect so we’re just going to carry that over into this weekend.”A sore spot for the Hoosiers last weekend was the inconsistent offense; they scored 17 runs in two victories but managed one run in their three losses. Junior outfielder Lindsay Callanan said it comes down to staying patient at the plate.“We need to make better adjustments in our at bats and learn off of each other and what the pitcher is throwing to the earlier batters so we can make adjustments down the lineup,” Callanan said.Callanan said the Hoosiers feel confident about any team they may come up against and see bright things on the horizon no matter who their opponent happens to be.“We go out there and play just like it’s another team,” she said. “They put their pants on the same way that we do, we have been playing softball just as long as they have and we like to go out and attack every team the same. And if they are ranked, they are ranked. We can compete with anybody.”— Dennis Glade
(02/14/11 2:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team finished its first weekend of games with a record of 2-3.In the Kajikawa Classic, which was played Thursday thru Sunday, the Hoosiers beat Nevada and Cal Poly while falling to No. 2 Arizona, Texas Tech and No. 12 California.Despite losing its last two games, senior Sara Olson said the team has made great strides.“We worked so well together this weekend,” she said. “It’s so exciting being together and working together as a team, and I think our confidence level is up and we are ready for whatever is next to come.”Although the Hoosiers lost three of their five games at the Kajikawa Classic, they outscored their opponents 18-16. Senior Kelsey Stander said she sees their run production as something to build on in the future.“I think it is a confidence booster to know that we can score that many runs, even if we don’t come out with the win,” Stander said.The Hoosiers pushed across 17 runs in the two wins but scored one run in the three losses. Olson stressed the importance of having confidence that each player is going to succeed at the plate.“We just have to have confidence in each and every one of our players behind us and before us in the lineup that everyone is going to get it done and that if we don’t the next person is going to, and we just have to take every opportunity,” Olson said.With these being the first five games of the season, Stander said she thinks practicing will only help the team as a whole, and they will continue to grow and get better.“We just haven’t seen a lot of live pitching,” Stander said. “This is our first weekend out and I definitely think we have room for improvement, and we will improve,” — Dennis Glade
(02/10/11 4:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU women’s softball season opens Thursday against the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats as part of the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Hoosiers head into the new season looking to put last year’s 12-36 campaign behind them.“I don’t think anyone in this group is dwelling on last year. It’s kind of like, ‘Bring it on, here we go,’” IU coach Michelle Gardner said.The Hoosiers will look to start off their season on the West Coast with better results than last year when they scored six runs in an 0-4 weekend. Potentially standing in their way of starting the year in the win column is Arizona outfielder Brittany Lastrapes and pitcher Kenzie Fowler. Both of the Wildcat superstars have been named to the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List.IU made some noise of its own in the offseason with the transfer of senior pitcher Morgan Melloh from Fresno State. The Fishers, Ind., native posted an 18-10 record with a 2.35 ERA last season. Melloh said this year’s team has the potential to be very successful.“We have great incoming freshmen, great returners and great transfers, so I think this team will just be amazing,” Melloh said.Gardner said her main focus for the team as the season gets underway is on improving every day.“For me it is going out and being competitive this weekend, not basing everything on wins and losses, but how we do as a team and the strides we make as we go along,” she said.
(09/27/10 3:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It didn’t matter that they donned hair ties, ponytails and sparkly red headbands. It didn’t matter that it was an exhibition game or that their first regular season game was more than four months away. These girls came ready to play. The IU women’s softball team opened its fall schedule Saturday with a double-header against IUPUI at the IU Softball Field. By the end of the day, the Hoosiers had a grand slam and a home run in one inning, a transfer debut performance and most importantly, the first two wins on their fall season record.With senior Sara Olson on the mound, the women started quickly in the first game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. But the Jaguars struck back in the top of the third with a solo home run by freshman Alicia Brewer, a graduate of Bloomington High School North. However, it would prove to be the only run either Olson or relief pitcher sophomore Jessica Dobson would need in the first game. Neither gave up another run, leading the Hoosiers to a 4-1 win. “It’s been a big thing for our whole pitching staff to not focus on the last at-bat whenever we give up a home run because it’s not important,” Olson said. “I just focus on the next pitch and the next at-bat, and I know my team has my back, my defense is there to back me up and my team can produce runs.”Olson grabbed the win while giving up four hits, only one earned run and three strikeouts and walks. Sophomore Samantha Heyman led the Hoosiers with two hits and two runs in the game one win.In the second game, Olson picked up right where she left off, only in the batter’s box. Olson knocked in four runs with a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning. Later in the frame, freshman Meaghan Murphy began her stint as a Hoosier with a two-run home run, giving the Hoosiers a 6-0 lead after one inning.And it would prove to be more than enough run support for senior Morgan Melloh, a transfer student from Fresno State Universtiy, who pitched the complete shortened five-inning game, only allowing one hit, striking out eight Jaguars in 16 batters faced and not allowing a single run in the 8-0 rout.“It was great to get out and play because every game counts out here,” Melloh said. “I felt a little nervous starting out. I wasn’t smooth and really just needed to relax out there. I think it was just the first-game jitters.”Even though the game didn’t go toward the team’s regular season record, IU coach Michelle Gardner said she saw it as a great chance to get out with competition and bring the team closer together.“It was great to get the team out there and start building our team chemistry because I think that’s a big thing, and we did it today just by being out here,” Gardner said. “These games don’t make a difference or go in the books, but they do matter to me.”
(08/08/10 9:59pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington is the prime location for several things: basketball, tailgating — and softball tournaments.This past week, the city played host to the USA/ASA National Fastpitch softball tournament for the 19th time. It marks the largest Bloomington tournament since the Under-16 National Fastpitch Tournament in 2004. A total of 101 under-12 teams participated in this year’s event.However, bringing an event of such magnitude is not simple, and the city must have a strong rapport with events.“It’s a long process, year after year, building a reputation of being able to handle a tournament like this,” tournament director John Turnbull said. “You’ve got to be able to run it, and you’ve got to be able to follow the rules.“Two years ago we bid on this tournament, and we were selected to host it based on our reputation, based on our community and based on the package that we presented that said we could successfully host this tournament.”The city gains more than visitors when tournaments roll around: The economy is boosted as well. Bloomington expects this to garner more than $1 million, Turnbull said. Turnbull also said the city hopes the tournament will allow the parks department to make $20,000. However, the parks department and other government departments aren’t the main benefactors.“It’s not looked at as a single event — it’s looked at as a community-wide sort of thing,” Turnbull said. “It brings in a lot of revenue for the hotels and restaurants.”Given all the money generated from the tournament, it is clear that those involved are spending some serious money.Many teams use fundraisers for tournament fees, but the rest typically falls on the parents.Dawn Viles, mother of an athlete for Team Smith from Chino Hills, Calif., said being involved in travel softball is a big investment. “We play about one tournament per month,” Viles said. “The tournaments are all over the country, so we spend a lot of energy and time traveling.”For Team Smith, every parent is on his or her own as far as coming up with the money for the expenses.“We have a meeting at the beginning of the year where we let the parents know our goals and what we need for the season,” Viles said.Sean Kelly, a parent from Houston supporting Texas Storm Elite, said he feels planning is a huge part of being involved with travel softball.“These tournaments are like our family vacations, so we plan just like we would a vacation,” Kelly said. The Texas Storm Elite play in nearly 50 tournaments a year, and the cost of eating alone can put a huge stress on a family.“Sometimes it’s lunch meat from the grocery store, or if there’s some extra money we may go out to eat,” Kelly said. “It all really depends on our situation for each tournament.”The cost might be hard for some, but it is hard to put a price on the memories and the fun.“In the end, it doesn’t matter how much money we are spending at these tournaments, because we love to watch our girls play, and we love to be able to spend time with them and watch them do what they love,” Kelly said.
(06/17/10 1:29am)
Morgan Melloh will join the Hoosiers for the 2011 season, after spending the past 3 seasons at Fresno State. While at Fresno State, Melloh had a career ERA of 1.76, and was 90-35 overall. She has 95 complete games, ans 42 shutouts in 112 starts.
(06/04/10 4:45pm)
104 athletes were named to the Spring Academic All-Big Ten Team, up from 83 in the spring 2009 semester.The men's and women's track and field team combined had 44 athletes honors. To be eligible for this honor, the student-athletes must be letterwinners in their second academic year and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. 1,037 athletes were honored by the Big Ten for the spring semester.
(05/19/10 10:49pm)
Senior outfielder Jennifer Glueckert was named Second Team All-Big Ten on Wednesday (May 19).
(05/09/10 11:15pm)
After the players received their first win against Purdue in college, the team was defeated 5-0 in the final road game of the season.
(05/09/10 12:44am)
The IU softball team has beat Purdue for the first time since 2006, with their 3-2 win in West Lafayette.
(05/07/10 1:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU women’s softball team will look to West Lafayette as they attempt to break their losing streak of seven games in this weekend’s series. While the Hoosiers (11-34, 3-12) have not beat the Boilermakers (26-24, 7-7) since 2006, they have given them a good fight, with their last matchup going into extra innings.“We lost both games last year by one run and had opportunities to win, but just came up short,” senior Kristin King said. “We will be able to learn from those two games and use that as motivation this year to help us compete that much harder so we can come out on top.”The series, led by the Boilermakers 28-23, seems relatively close but has been dominated by Purdue for more than a decade. The Hoosiers only have three wins in the series since 1998, and none of the current Hoosiers have defeated the Boilermakers during their college careers. “Obviously Purdue is our biggest rival — they are in any sport,” King said. “We want to come out and play hard against any team that we play, but against Purdue it always means a little more, especially to me, since I have grown up in Indiana my entire life.”The Boilermakers are led by third baseman Molly Garst, who is batting .387 and has stolen 41 bases this season. Senior shortstop Liane Horiuchi is third nationally in stolen bases per game, ranked sixth in triples, and is also ranked ninth in triples per game. Purdue leads the nation in stolen bases with 140, and they are also the national leaders in stolen bases per game with 2.80. The Hoosiers will be led by senior outfielder Jennifer Glueckert, who is hitting .363 on the season, and by shortstop Breanna Saucedo, who is batting .305 and has stolen 13 bases on the season. As if the Hoosiers needed any more motivation against their in-state rival, they potentially can secure a contest for IU with a win. The Crimson and Gold Cup contest between the two schools only has a few events left for the year, and the Hoosiers are currently behind. A win could potentially allow the Hoosiers to maintain ownership of the contest, as they also won last year. “The games are still important to us,” King said. “We want to finish the season strong and get some momentum going into next weekend to close out the regular season. As a senior, it will be my last road trip, so getting a couple of wins would be very nice.”
(05/03/10 12:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU men’s basketball has the Crimson Guard, football has the Quarry and baseball has Tracy’s Terrace. But you can now add softball to the list of teams with organized student support.Despite the lack of recent success — the Hoosiers have not had a winning season since 2006 — IU softball has slowly built a large contingent of students that get involved at each game in Bloomington.“I have never seen anything like that,” junior pitcher Sara Olson said. “Our parents usually come to support us, but it’s nice to see our fellow classmates.”In the middle of the fifth inning of each matchup, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is played, and a group of supportive students sway together as one to the music.The group, which currently does not have an official name, was started by freshman Sami Schneider when she decided to bring her friends to a game.“One day they had signs up in my dorm saying come out to the games, and I grabbed my friends and brought them out here,” Schneider said.For the past 10 home games, a group of more than 10 students has showed its support to the Hoosiers.Although the team has been 2-11 at home this season, these students have come through with a wide variety of home-field chants.“We call all the umpires Jerry, and when there is a strikeout, we say ‘one, two, three got ‘em,’” Schneider said.They feel as if they are the 10th man or woman, comparable to basketball’s “sixth man.”Their presence was really shown during the Michigan State weekend home games April 10-11, when the group expanded to more than 20 students and all supporters wore home white T-shirts.“It’s all support for us, whether they are chanting for us or heckling the other players,” Olson said.The fans try to rally their Hoosiers whether waving their hands like a zombie or chanting, “We are IU.”After one of the Michigan State games, the students came to get autographs from each of the players on their white T-shirts.Schneider said creating a name is the next step for the group. “We made white T’s, but we haven’t quite come up with a name yet,” she said. Olson said the rowdier the students are in the stands, the more pumped up the team gets. “It definitely builds commotion, and sometimes that’s not a bad thing,” Olson said.IU baseball started Tracy’s Terrace last year, which is located behind left field of Sembower Field and named after IU coach Tracy Smith. Its recent success has brought optimism that something similar could work with IU softball. “We kind of vibe off the team,” Schneider said. “If they are excited, we are, and if they are down, we try to bring them up.”
(05/02/10 3:24pm)
The Wisconsin Badgers (17-28, 2-10 Big Ten) took advantage of a couple of lapses in the field by the Hoosiers (11-33, 3-11 Big Ten) to score three unearned runs and hand Indiana a 4-1 loss.
(05/01/10 4:15pm)
As the Hoosiers face on of the worst teams in the big ten, consistency will be a major factor in them winning games.
(04/30/10 2:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers needed someone to step up and lead the team this year.
Luckily for them, senior outfielder Jennifer Glueckert has become the person they were looking for.Glueckert’s .256 batting average last season wouldn’t have made her a favorite to be a team leader this year, but her hard work in the off-season helped improve her swing. “I focus in at moving the runner or trying to get on base, and I think that helps,” Glueckert said. Gleuckert’s work ethic and confidence have made her one of the top Hoosiers this year.“Jen is a competitor,” IU assistant coach Amanda Rivera said. “Every time she steps into that box, she puts in everything she has.” Through 43 games, Gleuckert leads the team with a .345 batting average and three triples. She is second on the team with a .454 slugging percentage.Rivera has seen her improve in contact with the ball as well as in the leadership she has shown to her younger teammates. Gleuckert has motivated her younger teammates to perform better, giving them tips on situational hitting at the plate.Her major improvements during the off-season have come, in part, because of the help of Rivera.“Being a senior, I have tried to be a leader, but the main source of my improvement have been the coaching staff helping me out,” Glueckert said. Through 13 conference games, she leads the team with a .368 batting average and a .526 slugging percentage. In Big Ten play last year, she had a .179 batting average and a .232 slugging percentage. “Her work ethic has gotten better and better every year since I’ve been here,” Rivera said. Glueckert’s ability to concentrate has also improved. Her focus on what’s happening at the plate has helped the team’s productivity.“I think more about the situation when I’m up to bat,” Glueckert said.The South Bend native’s slap-hitting ability has gotten her on base numerous times this year. Glueckert has gotten into a groove and continues to gain confidence as the season progresses. “She’s the person you want to put up with bases loaded and we are down by a run,” Rivera said.
(04/29/10 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The first game of the IU softball team’s doubleheader against No. 19 Illinois was a close loss, but the Fighting Illini’s powerful hitting crushed the Hoosiers in the second contest.The Illini (35-5, 8-2) beat IU (11-32, 3-10) twice on Wednesday in Bloomington. As one of the top hitting teams in the Big Ten, Illinois showed its strength with 14 runs on 20 hits. “The first game we battled back really well and played hard against one of the top 20 teams in the country,” IU freshman infielder Amanda Wagner said. The Illini won the first game 5-4 after the contest came down to the last outs.Deep in the game around the sixth inning, the Hoosiers started to come back, but it wasn’t enough. Illinois sophomore pitcher Monica Perry (19-4) threw eight strikeouts while allowing four runs and 11 hits. Perry’s performance became shaky in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings when she surrendered the four runs to IU.Down 5-4 with the bases loaded, Illini freshman infielder Maria Gillis hit a line drive to right field to give the Illini its 34th win. Illinois junior outfielder Ashley Conrad went one-for-three with a run and two RBIs in the game. IU junior pitcher Sara Olson went two-for-four with three RBIs and a run.Olson hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the second game, the Illini won 9-0 in six innings. The pitching of Illinois freshman Pepper Gay powered her squad.“Second game, the first inning got away from us,” Wagner said. “The game just didn’t go our way.”
(04/28/10 5:08pm)
Hoosiers face one of the toughest teams of the country in Illinois.
(04/28/10 2:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers will attempt to move out of ninth place in the Big Ten, as the team faces No. 18 Fighting Illini in a double-header in Bloomington. IU (11-30, 3-8) is currently on a three-game losing streak after suffering defeats from Ohio State and Northwestern.“With Illinois, it is important to be consistent with the hitting, pitching and every aspect of the game, in order to be successful,” junior pitcher Sara Olson said.The Fighting Illini (33-5, 6-2) did not field a team until 2001, but they lead the all-time series against the Hoosiers.On the other hand, Illinois is on a six-game winning streak.The Illini have won the previous three matchups, including last years 3-2 win.This year, Illinois players are dominating at the plate, with three players hitting better than .400 on the season. Senior outfielder Hope Howell’s .425 batting average leads the team, while sophomore infielder Meredith Hackett leads the team with 10 home runs and 39 RBI.The two games will most likely be pitched by two of the strongest pitchers in the Big Ten.Freshman pitcher Pepper Gay (11-1) has a 1.79 ERA and sophomore pitcher Monica Perry (18-4) has 11 complete games and 128 strikeouts.Despite tough pitching from Illinois, IU hopes to counter with exceptional defense. “Minimizing the errors has been a huge difference,” Olson said. “But we need to keep playing hard to get a victory. I think we need to work together as a team to understand and realize that everyone needs to contribute.”
(04/22/10 2:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball (11-29, 3-7) team knew it was going against a high-powered team in Ohio State. Still, the Hoosiers hoped to pull off at least one upset victory. l No. 19 Ohio State Buckeyes (28-11, 7-1) in Columbus, OH.But a surge of power helped the No. 19 Buckeyes (28-11, 7-1) easily win both.Ohio State beat IU 8-0 in the first game and 11-3 in the second. Both games were ended early due to the run rule."Ohio State has some very dangerous hitters and we just made too many mistakes and they capitalized on them," IU coach Michelle Gardner said.OSU freshman Melanie Nichols (14-2) pitched all six innings in the first game, as she threw 6 strikeouts, and only gives up one hit in the game.The lone hit came from senior outfielder Jennifer Glueckert.In the second game, the Hoosiers were at least able to muster some offense, started after freshman infielder Amanda Wagner hit a two-run homer in the top of the second, her fifth of the season."We were better at the plate in the second game, and it was good to see Amanda Wagner hit that home run,” Gardner said. Freshman infielder Breanna Saucedo wen t2-3 with a run scored in the game.One of the best hitters in the Big Ten, OSU sophomore infielder Alicia Herron, went 3-4 with 4 RBI and two runs scored.The Buckeyes got 23 hits in the two games to the Hoosiers' six.The Hoosiers look to improve their record this weekend against Northwestern (20-18, 6-5) in Bloomington.“We still have room for improvement and I know we will over the last month of the season," Gardner said.
(04/20/10 11:39pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team has found its winning touch, but it’s getting a tough test today.The Hoosiers (11-27, 3-5) look to continue its two-game winning streak as it travels to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (26-11, 5-1).“The girls are definitely confident, and the momentum is up from those two wins,” assistant coach Amanda Rivera said.The two teams will play a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.The Hoosiers’ two previous wins have come against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, which is tied for last in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes, on the other hand, are third in the conference.“Our drive to win has definitely increased from last weekend,” senior outfielder Jennifer Glueckert said. “Good pitching and defense will back up the other things we need to do right.” The Buckeyes are led by infielder Alicia Herron with a .432 batting average and 30 RBIs on the season.Five of the OSU starters have a batting average better than .300, compared with IU’s two batters boasting that average.On the pitching side, the Buckeyes will most likely go with freshman Melanie Nichols (13-2), who has a 2.09 ERA, and senior Megan Miller (10-2) and her 2.24 ERA.“If we keep playing Indiana softball and control what we can control, things will be great for us,” Rivera said.