Moren excited for freshmen class
Recruiting is the foundation of any successful college athletics program.
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Recruiting is the foundation of any successful college athletics program.
If you live anywhere in the state of Kentucky, except ?Louisville, you’re expected to be a part of “Big Blue Nation,” otherwise known as the wide fan base of the Kentucky Wildcats.
IU coach Teri Moren places a high value on the defensive side of the ball.
The Teri Moren era at IU began with a roar at Saturday’s Hoosier Hysteria.
The 2014-15 IU women’s basketball team will have a new look this season.
IU women’s basketball Coach Teri Moren landed the second frontcourt addition to the 2015 recruiting class Wednesday.
The last time the IU field hockey team appeared in the NCAA tournament was during the 2009 season.
Before taking control of the IU field hockey program in 2000, IU Coach Amy Robertson had a prolific field hockey career both on the field and as a coach.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Ryan Hunter-Reay takes the trip from the asphalt at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the Media Center. Hunter-Reay has made this trip many times, but this time was different. This time, Hunter-Reay makes the walk as an Indianapolis 500 champion, becoming the first American driver to accomplish the feat since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2006.Hunter-Reay nearly accomplished the feat last year, but he finished second to Tony Kanaan. The victory didn’t come without a flurry of lead changes at the end. Following a red flag caused by a Townsend Bell wreck, Hunter-Reay and three-time winner Helio Castroneves exchanged the lead multiple times, which concluded with a Hunter-Reay low pass that nearly sent him into the grass on lap 198.“We started running low out of the corner coming out of (turns) two and four,” Hunter-Reay said. “I thought when Helio got by that I made a mistake. I faked to the top and cut a little grass for IMS.”Castroneves said he just didn't have enough to defeat Hunter-Reay.“Coming down the front straightaway, he was able to have a very good run,” Castroneves said. “I was trying everything. I tried to take his air out. I did everything I could. It’s very difficult to keep the guy behind.”Marco Andretti, Hunter-Reay’s teammate who finished third, said he was disappointed after falling just short of his first Indy 500 victory. “One pit stop hurt us,” Andretti said. “We lost track position and could never get it back. Every time we’d get a run, something would happen. I came up short at the end.”Hunter-Reay said he knew he was going to have to go head to head with one of his teammates if he wanted to come out on top.“It was close racing,” Hunter-Reay said. “I knew last night before I went to bed that I was going to have to battle one of my teammates to win this. We had one of the strongest cars out there.”Andretti was one of nine drivers to have the lead during the race. With a track temperature around 113 to start the race, James Hinchcliffe took quick lead on the first lap from pole sitter and Indianapolis native Ed Carpenter. Hinchcliffe’s lead would last just nine laps before Carpenter regained the lead. This wouldn’t be the last time these two crossed paths. During the restart on lap 175 following a Scott Dixon wreck, Carpenter and Hinchcliffe, after spending most of their days in the top 10, collided after going three-wide into Turn One with Townsend Bell.Hinchcliffe said that he deserves most of the blame for the collision with Carpenter.“Ed gave me the room initially,” Hinchcliffe said. “I don’t know if Townsend knew we were three wide. I was the last guy there, so I take a portion of the blame. It’s 100 percent not Ed’s fault. I feel bad for him. He’s had a great month.”When asked about the wreck, Carpenter didn’t have many kind words to say about Hinchcliffe.“Let’s just say it’s a good thing he already had a concussion last week,” Carpenter said. The wreck brought out the third caution flag of the day. The first occurred on lap 150, when Charlie Kimball spun out exiting Turn 2. The 149 laps spent with a green flag was the longest time without a caution since 1976, when 133 laps passed by without going yellow. Castroneves said that the first caution couldn’t have come at a better time.“It was perfect because we only had a few gallons left,” Castroneves said. “It worked out perfect.”Kurt Busch, a NASCAR regular making his Indy Car debut, finished sixth. Following the race, Busch entered a helicopter to make the trip to Charlotte, N.C., to compete in the Coca Cola 600. He is the first driver since Robby Gordon in 2004 to complete the 1,100 miles of racing. Last year’s winner, Tony Kanaan, started the race in the 16th position but fell behind around the 64th lap because of an issue with the car. Kanaan would go on to finish 26th. Hunter-Reay, who now has the lead in the points race by 40 points more than Will Power, said his victory still hasn’t completely sunk in. “It started to sink in when I looked up after kissing the bricks,” he said. “You work so long for it. When it happens, it takes awhile to set in because you’ve worked so hard for it.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Standing in his team garage with his alma mater Butler coffee mug in hand, Ed Carpenter patiently awaits the opportunity to drive his No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet on the asphalt at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s just after 12 p.m., and the IMS ground staff has been working for hours to dry the track. Thursday isn’t the only day poor weather conditions have limited drivers from practicing. After an afternoon full of rain, the drivers spent just 90 minutes on the track Wednesday. “It’s been a weird month between the Grand Prix and the weather,” Carpenter said. “I feel like we have been in the garage more than we’ve been on the track.”With Saturday and Sunday’s qualifications a little more than 48 hours away, drivers have questioned their readiness, especially Carpenter, who finished 10th last year after starting the race in the pole position. “I feel like we are in a good position, but we haven’t been on the track enough to fully feel comfortable with everything yet,” he said. “We still have a lot of work to get done.”Although drivers said they would rather be on the track, many teams use the time during rain delays to make adjustments on their cars. Carpenter said that there is usually a list of things to get done in the garage, so the added down time has its advantages.Alex Tagliani, driver of the No. 68 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing car, said his team has lost a lot of time to prepare for qualifying because of his limited amount of practice this week. “It’s not easy to continue the testing program with less practice time because we have so many things that we wanted to try,” Tagliani said in Wednesday’s press conference. “The second day that we were running, we went to try something, and we didn’t have the time do try it. The same thing happened yesterday with the rain. Just before it started pouring down, we had made a massive change and were about to try it, and we didn’t have time. That’s the challenge of the Speedway in the month of May.”Dealing with unpredictable weather conditions has become something every driver has started to adjust to. Last year’s Indy 500 winner, Tony Kanaan, said after Wednesday’s delayed practice he is happy with the way the No.10 Target car has been performing all week. “We waited all day for the weather to clear, and we ended up getting some track time today,” Kanaan said Wednesday. “Something is better than nothing in this case. We worked on long runs in the Target car, and our speeds improved a bit as well, so that was a plus for us.” After qualifying first with an average speed of 228.762 last year, Carpenter said he is looking forward to trying to win the poll for the second consecutive year. “There’s not any pressure,” Carpenter said. “It almost makes it easier because I’ve been through it, and I know what to expect. "There is almost less pressure because I’ve done it. I’m staying focused, and, if we are in the mix for a poll, that will be a bonus. Now I just have to find a way to win the race.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With Indy 500 qualifications scheduled for this weekend, every practice counts. Unfortunately for the qualifying field, drivers lost a day of practice after rain caused a cancellation of Wednesday’s practice run.Rain also played a factor Tuesday, canceling practice at 2:47 p.m. because of the poor conditions. Before the cancellation, 31 drivers were able to participate in practice, with Team Penske’s Helio Castroneves running 56 laps, the most of any driver who was able to get on the track before it was closed down for the day.“It was another great day for Pennzoil Chevrolet,” Castroneves said. “We did what we needed to do before the rain came in. When the track goes green,” Castroneves continued, “We will be ready. We are getting close to qualifying, and that is what we are starting to think about.” Of the drivers to practice Tuesday, E.J. Viso led the field with an average speed of 224.488 mph. Viso was selected to take over for James Hinchcliffe, who suffered a concussion in the Indy Grand Prix Saturday.“I’ve taken on the full role for James,” Viso said. “Whatever his crew and engineer had planned to test and experience, I’ve been doing.”After recording an average speed of 225.025 mph Monday, which was the highest of any driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay finished practice Tuesday with a speed of 223.612 mph, making him the fourth fastest car during practice. Monday, Hunter-Reay and the other drivers for Andretti Autosport ran in a pack during practice in order to simulate what the actual race will feel like. “Just getting a feel for downforce levels and race (simulation),” Hunter-Reay said. “It was fun, we got through a lot of work today and it’s only Monday.”If the weather is clear, practice is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. today. The first day of qualifying is set to take place at 11 a.m. Saturday. Positions 10-33 will compete for positions on Sunday, while Fast Nine qualifying will begin at 2 p.m.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Since joining IU in 2010, IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo went 654 at-bats without sending one out of the park. That changed in the top of the first inning Thursday, but it wasn’t enough to extend the Hoosiers’ season as they fell 4-2 to Purdue. On a 1-0 offering from Purdue sophomore pitcher Lilly Fecho, Saucedo hit a shot just over the right field wall for her first career home run. “When I made contact I knew it was going to be close,” Saucedo said. “When it went over the wall I was in a bit of shock. It felt amazing to finally hit a home run.”Saucedo, who went 1-for-3 on the day, was also named to the Big Ten’s second All-Conference team during the week. “It is a big honor, especially since I got the opportunity to come back for a fifth year,” she said. “I truly feel so honored to have earned that.”IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was thrilled when she learned that Saucedo had earned a spot on an All-Conference team.“She’s very deserving of that honor,” Gardner said. “I’m very happy for her.”IU (17-39-1, 5-18 conference) fell in the first game of the Big Ten tournament to in-state rival Purdue (27-27-1, 13-10 conference), ending their season. The defining moment of the game came in the bottom of the fifth frame.Purdue hit an RBI single to drive in senior outfielder Andie Varsho to take a 3-2 lead. On the following at-bat, the Boilermakers pushed another run across when junior infielder Ashley Burkhardt scored on an IU throwing error. Burkhardt’s run would be the final of the game. Following Saucedo’s long ball to begin the game, freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos made an attempt to cushion the Hoosier lead. Facing a 2-0 count, Tsirigos hit her sixth home run of the season to right field. In the home half of the third, Burkhardt hit a two-run home run over the right field wall to even the game at 2-2. That score would remain the same until Purdue officially put the game away two innings later. Gardner said although she was happy with the way the team came out offensively in the early innings, they left runners on base in important situations. “We didn’t have timely hits,” she said. “We had the tying run on base, and we struck out twice.”IU junior pitcher Lora Olson got the start but finished with a no decision. She threw 2.2 innings while allowing six hits and two earned runs. Senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy was credited with the loss after pitching 1.2 innings and allowing three hits and two runs, one of which was earned. The team’s 39 losses matched the highest total since the 2009 season, which was in Gardner’s first season at IU.“We improved throughout the season, and I loved how we competed,” Gardner said. “Even though we didn’t always end up on top, they played with tremendous heart.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Heading into the final Big Ten series of the season, IU Coach Michelle Gardner wanted to see the Hoosiers do one thing against No. 19 Nebraska — win.“I want a couple wins from Nebraska,” she said. “We need to put together a full game.”IU (17-38-1, 5-18) was unable to do so, getting swept in three games on the road against the Huskers (40-14, 18-5).During the first contest of the weekend, IU fell 3-1. Through the first five innings, neither team was able to score.In the first at-bat of the sixth frame, IU junior center fielder Brianna Meyer homered giving IU the first lead of the game. The solo home run was Meyer’s second long ball of the season. The 1-0 Hoosier lead would be short lived.With one out and two runners on base, Nebraska freshman infielder Marjani Knighten sent a 1-0 offering to left-center, clearing the bases and legging out a triple in the process.On the next at-bat, junior outfielder Kylee Muir hit a double to left center field, pushing across Knighten for the final run of the game. The Hoosiers offense shutout for the ninth time this season in a 3-0 loss. Not only did IU’s offense not push a run across the plate, but the team was limited to just one hit, which came off of the bat of senior third basemen Shelby Gogreve in the top of the seventh inning. The first run of the game came in the fourth. Nebraska freshman outfielder Austen Urness sent a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall, giving the Huskers a 2-0 lead.Nebraska registered what was at that point the third team home run of the weekend in the following inning. On the first at-bat of the frame, senior catcher Tay Edwards sent the first pitch of the offering to left field for the final run of the game. Gardner said she saw some encouraging things from the offense.“I felt like Friday and Saturday we did some good things,” she said. “We were in both those games. We scored first Friday but couldn’t finish on top. We need to continue to battle and find timely hits with runners in scoring position.”Despite an early lead from IU in the third game Sunday, Nebraska came back to win 8-3, completing the three-game sweep. With two outs in the bottom of the second, IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson hit a single to drive in two runners for IU. The Hoosier lead would last until the bottom of the third. Senior pitcher Tatum Edwards sent a ball to left center, driving in the first Nebraska run of the game.After recording two outs, IU junior pitcher Lora Olson faced a bases loaded jam as Muir stepped up.On the second pitch of the at-bat, Muir sent a ball to left field, bringing in four runs to give the Huskers a 5-2 lead. IU allowed two more runs in the next inning after a throwing error and another RBI single from Edwards. In the bottom of the fifth, Muir got her fifth RBI of the game, driving in Knighten off of a double to left. With IU set to begin conference tournament play Thursday against Purdue, Gardner wants to see the team stay competitive and push more runs across the plate.“We need to play our own game,” Gardner said. “We need to be better with putting runs on the board.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the regular season nearly complete, IU softball has one more Big Ten series before the postseason.IU’s (17-35-1, 5-15) final series against No. 19 Nebraska (37-14, 15-5) this weekend is in Lincoln, Neb. The Huskers has won 11 of its last 12 games, including an 11-game win streak before a 6-4 loss Wednesday against Wisconsin.IU Coach Michelle Gardner wants to see the team make noise before the conference tournament begins. “I want a couple wins from Nebraska,” Gardner said. “I know that we can do it and we have shown we can at times this year. We need to put together a complete game.”That isn’t the only thing Gardner wants to see from the team in the final days of the regular season.With the conference tournament beginning in Evanston, Ill., May 5, Gardner knows the team will have a lower seed. Regardless, she thinks the team has the potential to shake things up. “This is a good ball club,” Gardner said. “We can do some serious damage in the Big Ten Tournament if we can continue to work and put everything together.”Nebraska has one of the best offensive attacks in the Big Ten. The team’s .303 batting average trails only Michigan and Northwestern for the best in the conference. The Huskers’ lineup has produced 57 home runs, giving them an average of 1.06 home runs per game, tied for 27th in the nation. Senior catcher Taylor Edwards has been a problem for opposing pitchers all season.She has a batting average of .373 and her 16 home runs are tied for the 12th-highest amount in the nation. Senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo said IU’s pitching is going to be key during the weekend. “Our pitchers have been doing really well lately,” Saucedo said. “If they keep it up we are going to be successful.”Hitting isn’t the Huskers’ only strong point.The team’s earned run average of 2.00 is not only the third lowest in the conference, it’s also the 25th lowest ERA in the nation. Senior Tatum Edwards and sophomore Emily Lockman lead the pitching staff. The two have a combined record of 37-13, an ERA of 1.98 and they have struck out 276 batters. Edwards alone has fanned 178. They will be opposed by an IU offense that is averaging nearly six runs per game in the last five contests. Saucedo’s .350 batting average and 16 steals continues to lead the team.Saucedo thinks in order for the team to leave Lincoln, Neb., victorious, timely hitting is going to be important. “They key is to keep hitting like we have been,” she said. “We need to put timely hits together to score runs.”Junior center fielder Brianna Meyer has continued to be a threat to reach base. She is currently on a 22-game streak in which she has reached base at least once. Meyer, who Gardner has praised in the past because of her patience at the plate, wants to see the offense stay disciplined and take advantage of opportunities with runners on base.“We need to come out strong like we have been doing,” Meyer said. “I think, especially against Iowa, the offense has been doing really well. We need to string together good hits.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Redshirt senior infielder Breanna Saucedo went through her pregame rituals as she had for the previous five years.She touched home plate, greeted her teammates and ran to her position at the top of the infield for the start of the national anthem. It was nothing extraordinary, nothing special.However, it was the last time Saucedo would ever step onto Andy Mohr Field wearing her IU uniform.“It felt amazing,” Saucedo said. “It’s been five long years. It was a little emotional, but it was a great feeling to be able to play on this field.” Saucedo, four other IU seniors — pitcher Meaghan Murphy, third baseman Shelby Gogreve, left fielder Jenna Abraham and catcher Jenna Malmen — and the rest of the Hoosiers (17-35-1, 5-15 conference) concluded their home season Wednesday, sweeping Valparaiso (20-30, 10-6) in a double-header.IU Coach Michelle Gardner was thrilled with the way the team sent the seniors off.“It feels fantastic, I loved it,” Gardner said. “Meaghan did a great job in the first game closing it out. I loved that I was able to give her the last innings in the second game, too.”In the first game, IU concluded the final two innings of a game that was postponed from March 1.The Hoosiers, who had a five-run lead at the time of postponement, held on to defeat Valpo 5-0. IU junior pitcher Lora Olson was credited with the win after pitching the first four innings before the delay. She allowed just two hits while striking out six batters.Murphy started the last three innings, striking out seven batters without allowing a hit. IU won the second game 8-0 behind a five-run second inning.In the top of the second frame, Olson forced freshman Taylor Lawson to ground out to third, getting IU out of a bases-loaded jam.After recording the third out, the IU bats came to life in the bottom half of the inning.IU freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos started the offensive onslaught, driving a solo homerun to left field.After a brief rain delay, freshman outfielder Natalie Lalich scored a run from third after a wild pitch. Sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson added to the Hoosiers’ lead, hitting a one-out, three-run home run to left field. On the next at bat, junior center fielder Brianna Meyer reached base on an error, sending her streak of reaching base to 22 games. Meyer said the key to her success has been staying comfortable at the plate.“I try not to think about it too much,” Meyer said. “I’m always trying to get on, and I don’t care how I do it. I just try not to get into my head.”In the bottom of the fourth, Saucedo sent a pitch to right field, driving in another IU run. After the Crusaders were held scoreless, IU pushed another run across the plate off of an Abraham single to center field. On the next at bat, sophomore designated player Michelle Huber drove a ball to the left field wall, sending in Abraham and ending the game after five innings. Saucedo credited the team’s performance to timely hitting, especially in the second game.“We did well putting hits together tonight,” she said. “We had some big hits, which allowed us to score runs early.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Today’s home doubleheader with Valparaiso means more for the Hoosiers than a normal game.IU will aim to give the senior class — pitcher Meaghan Murphy, shortstop Breanna Saucedo, left fielder Jenna Abraham, third baseman Shelby Gogreve and catcher Jena Malmen — the final home victories of their careers. Abraham said it is going to be an emotional day for everyone, not just the seniors. “It’s a little bittersweet,” Abraham said. “I’ve really been blessed to even play on Andy Mohr Field.”The five seniors will lace up their cleats for the last time at home when IU (15-35-1, 5-15 conference) plays two games against Valpo (20-28, 10-6 conference). IU will face a familiar Valparaiso team.The first time they met, the game was postponed in the fifth inning because of poor weather conditions. IU was leading 5-0. That game will be continued at 4 p.m. today.Abraham said the end of the season has helped her put things into perspective.“This is going to be the last time I play on that field,” she said. “These last games really mean a lot to me.”The two teams also played in the Springhill Suites Invitational. In that game, sophomore infielder Kassi Farmer and junior center fielder Brianna Meyer each registered two hits in a 3-1 IU victory.The win was the 300th of IU Coach Michelle Gardner’s career.Gardner said having already faced Valparaiso gives the team a slight advantage. “We have a pretty good understanding of who their big hitters are,” Gardner said. “Seeing them two times has really helped us prepare for Wednesday.”One of the hitters IU will look to stop is sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Ranieri.Ranieri leads the team in batting average with .362, slugging percentage with .586, runs with 34 and hits with 55. Although Gardner hasn’t decided who will be starting in the circle for IU, she said all three pitchers will be prepared.“I guarantee that all three of them will be seeing action in tomorrow’s games,” Gardner said. In Murphy’s most recent performance, she pitched six innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs, and she struck out seven batters in a losing effort.Junior Lora Olson most recently appeared in the 1-0 loss to Iowa this past Friday. She pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run, which was off of a home run in the first at-bat of the game. Sophomore Brooke Boetjer, who has become a third starter after seeing most of her time in relief situations early in the season, was the only IU pitcher to register a win in the Iowa series. Boetjer allowed just three hits and one run in her five-run effort. Offensively, IU will be facing off against the Valparaiso pitching duo of sophomores Sierra Pico and Taylor Weissenhofer. The pitching combination has a cumulative record of 17-21 with an ERA of 4.24. Individually, Weissenhofer has accounted for 104 of the team’s 223 strikeouts.Gardner said she wants to see one thing out of the team: run production. “We need to come out and play our game,” she said. “We need to make runs happen. For us, that has been our nemesis at times. No matter what we do, I want to see us put runs on the board.”Abraham said going against a pitcher such as Weissenhofer, the team is going to have to take advantage of opportunities with runners on base. “We really need timely hitting,” she said. “We did well with it and executed well Saturday. Offensively, it’s the most important thing. We need to score runs.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With a full crowd in attendance for senior day at Andy Mohr Field, all attention was centered on senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve standing at home plate. But it wasn’t for her batting.She was going to sing the national anthem. “I asked to start singing it freshman year,” Gogreve said. “Coach really opened the door for me to do it. It felt great to do it. I feel like that was how the story should end.” Gogreve, one of five seniors, had a career day Saturday, driving in five runs in IU’s (15-35-1, 5-15) lone victory against Iowa (15-26-1, 8-12) during the weekend. The first game of the series was a pitching battle that resulted in a 1-0 Iowa win. The lone run of the game came off a home run. Iowa senior left fielder Brianna Luna belted a ball over the fence on the first at-bat of the first inning.IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo and freshman right fielder Natalie Lalich accounted for the only two Hoosier hits of the afternoon. On Saturday, there was no shortage of offense for IU in the 9-1 victory.In the bottom of the first, the Hoosiers got off to a quick start. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Saucedo scored from third on a wild pitch for the first run of the day. Three batters later, Gogreve hit a bases-loaded single to shallow right field, pushing two more runs across the plate for IU. Gogreve struck again in the bottom of the third frame. With the bases loaded for her second consecutive at bat, Gogreve hit a bases-clearing double to right center bringing IU’s lead to six runs. She said she had a good feeling heading into the game.“I came in feeling really great,” Gogreve said. “After my first hit, it gave the team momentum. We had a great day collectively.” The Hoosiers plated three more runs in the fourth from three RBI singles, ending the game after five innings. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was thrilled with the team’s performance all weekend, especially Saturday. “We played really well,” she said. “It was the best we’ve played this season.” On Sunday, when the five seniors were honored, IU’s senior day, the Hoosiers fell 3-2. In the top of the third inning, Iowa plated the first run of the game when shortstop Megan Blank hit a solo home run to right field.The lead would only last for a half inning before the Hoosiers struck back. In the bottom of the third, IU sophomore second baseman Kassi Farmer hit a single to right field, driving in two runs for IU. When Iowa returned to offense in the top half of the inning, centerfielder Erin Erickson sent the first pitch of a two out offering over the left field wall, tying the game at two. In the top of the seventh frame, Iowa regained the lead. After retiring a runner at home, IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson made a throw to attempt a double play at first base. Freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos was unable to secure the throw, allowing Hawkeyes first baseman Kaitlyn Mullarkey to score on the play via the fielding blunder. IU stranded seven runners on base, something that has hurt the team all season. “You can’t leave seven on base when you’re playing a team like Iowa,” Gardner said. “We were a couple timely hits away from a different result.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With a full crowd in attendance for senior day at Andy Mohr Field, all attention was centered on senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve standing at home plate. But it wasn’t for her batting.She was going to sing the National Anthem. “I asked to start singing it freshman year,” Gogreve said. “Coach really opened the door for me to do it. It felt great to do it. I feel like that was how the story should end.” Gogreve, one of five seniors, had a career day Saturday, driving in five runs in IU’s (15-35-1, 5-15) lone victory against Iowa (15-26-1, 8-12) during the weekend. The first game of the series was a pitching battle that resulted in a 1-0 Iowa win. The lone run of the game came off of a home run from senior left fielder Brianna Luna on the first at-bat of the first inning. IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo and freshman right fielder Natalie Lalich accounted for the only two Hoosier hits of the afternoon. Saturday, there was no shortage of offense for IU in the 9-1 victory.In the bottom of the first, the Hoosiers got off to a quick start. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Saucedo scored from third on a wild pitch for the first run of the day. Three batters later, Gogreve hit a bases-loaded single to shallow right field, pushing two more runs across the plate for IU. Gogreve struck again in the bottom of the third frame. With the bases loaded for her second consecutive at bat, Gogreve hit a bases-clearing double to right center bringing IU’s lead to six runs. She said she had a good feeling heading into the game.“I came in feeling really great,” Gogreve said. “After my first hit, it gave the team momentum. We had a great day collectively.” The Hoosiers plated three more runs in the fourth from three RBI singles, ending the game after five innings. IU Coach Michelle Gardner was thrilled with the team’s performance all weekend, especially Saturday. “We played really well,” she said. “It was the best we’ve played this season.” On Sunday, IU’s Senior Day, the Hoosiers fell 3-2. In the top of the third inning, Iowa plated the first run of the game when shortstop Megan Blank hit a solo home run to right field.The lead would only last for a half inning. In the bottom of the third, IU sophomore second baseman Kassi Farmer hit a single to right field, driving in two runs for IU. When Iowa returned to offense, centerfielder Erin Erickson sent the first pitch of a two out offering over the left field wall, tying the game at two. In the top of the seventh frame, Iowa regained the lead. After retiring a runner at home, IU sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson made a throw to attempt a double play at first base. Freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos was unable to secure the throw, allowing Hawkeyes first baseman Kaitlyn Mullarkey to score on the play. IU stranded seven runners on base, something that has hurt the team all season. “You can’t leave seven on base when you’re playing a team like Iowa,” Gardner said. “We were a couple timely hits away from a different result.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the Big Ten Tournament two weeks away, the IU softball team (14-33-1, 4-13) will play the final home conference series of the regular season against Iowa (13-25-1, 6-11). The season is nearing its conclusion, and IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo said preparing for games has become an emotional experience.“Getting ready for games has become more mental than anything,” Saucedo said. “Knowing that I’m closing in on my last game here makes it difficult.”The Hoosiers and Hawkeyes are battling for seeding in the tournament, with Iowa holding a two-game lead over IU in the current standings. Iowa has a 1-2-1 record since sweeping No. 11 Missouri in a double-header last week, including a 6-6 tie Wednesday against in-state rival Iowa State. Senior pitcher Kayla Massey leads an Iowa pitching staff with a cumulative earned run average of 3.80, which is the fifth highest in the conference.Individually, Massey has the ninth lowest ERA in the Big Ten with 2.61. They will be matched up with an IU offense that drove in eight runs in a midweek victory against Louisville. Saucedo was an anchor for Indiana’s scoring, batting 4-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored. IU Coach Michelle Gardner also praised Saucedo for her defensive effort Wednesday, a game in which she recorded seven assisted outs.“Bre Saucedo was amazing for us (Wednesday)” Gardner said. “She was the savior of the game.”Freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos and sophomore second baseman Kassi Farmer also played a large role in the output against Louisville.Farmer hit 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Tsirigos went 1-for-3, including a key two-run home runin the third inning. Since returning to the lineup April 11, Tsirigos is batting .280 with two home runs and four RBIs.“I’ve been seeing the ball really well lately,” Tsirigos said. “I’ve been feeling good. I’m still not 100 percent but I’m working everyday to get there.”IU’s pitching staff, led by junior Lora Olson, will be matched up against one of the conference’s worst offenses. Olson pitched four shutout innings in Wednesday’s victory, allowing just two hits while walking two batters. Olson credits her performance to a strong defensive outing, specifically from the IU infield, and mixing up her pitches.Iowa’s team batting average of .245 is the second lowest the conference has to offer, and the team’s 116 hits rank last. In addition, Iowa leads the conference in strikeouts with 229. Hawkeyes junior infielder Megan Blank has provided a spark for the offense all season, leading the team in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, extra base hits and RBIs. Olson said the team is going to have to continue to stay disciplined on defense and hit productively when runners are in scoring position in order to be successful. “We’ve been getting better each game,” Olson said. “We need to stick with our game plan and play Indiana softball. As long as we stay confident in our abilities, play good defense and string together hits we will be successful.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team (14-33-1, 4-13) was ready for a turnaround Wednesday.IU women’s soccer Coach Amy Berbary threw the game’s first pitch, and a member of a youth softball team, Avon Elite, sang the national anthem. And if the day wasn’t already emotionally charged, IU had an opportunity to defeat Louisville (28-18, 9-6) for the first time in a decade. The Hoosiers did just that, downing the Cardinals 8-3. IU Coach Michelle Gardner made it a point in practice this week for the offense to execute with runners on base. “It felt really good to win today,” she said. “We got some timely hitting out of the offense. It was a key to the win today.”After a pair of singles from junior centerfielder Brianna Meyer and senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo, sophomore second baseman Kassi Farmer hit a ground ball to left field, scoring the first run of the day. Another IU walk loaded the bases. Louisville made a pitching change from freshman pitcher Maryssa Becker to senior Rachel LeCoq.LeCoq was unable to stop the Hoosier scoring run, walking two batters with the bases loaded to give IU an early 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, IU continued to solidify its lead.Facing a full count with two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore catcher Kelsey Dotson drew a walk, which brought in freshman right fielder Natalie Lalich. Following the walk, Louisville made the second pitching change of the game, this time bringing in senior Caralisa Connell. On the following at-bat, Meyer drew a walk, bringing in freshman outfielder Kayla Mathewson. With two outs, Saucedo hit a high-bouncing ball just over shortstop Hannah Kiyohara’s head, driving in senior third baseman Shelby Gogreve to give IU a six-run lead. Following a Farmer triple in the fourth, freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos hit a two-run home run over the right field wall, giving IU an 8-0 lead. The homerun was Tsirigos’ fourth of the season and her second since returning to the lineup following a hand injury.“I felt really confident out there today,” Tsirigos said. “I’ve been seeing the ball really well lately. It’s nice to connect on one.” Gardner decided to make a move to the bullpen, bringing in senior Meaghan Murphy after four scoreless innings from junior Lora Olson. Gardner said she made the move because she wanted all three of the team’s pitchers to see action.“I wanted all of them to get innings tonight,” Gardner said. “Despite the homerun, Meaghan did a very good job.”Murphy struggled, pitching 0.2 innings while allowing three runs. Louisville got on the board for the first time in the top of the fifth when senior catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod hit a homerun over the center field wall. They scored again when junior first baseman Brittany Duncan drove in two runs off of a double off the center field wall. Olson was credited with the win, giving her a record of 6-14 on the season. “I felt good out there tonight,” Olson said. “Our defense made some awesome plays. Their performance gave me some momentum. Whenever the defense is playing well, it really allows me to attack hitters.”