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(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.
(02/07/14 4:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the fourth consecutive season, the IU softball team will start its season in the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.The Hoosiers are set to play five games in a three-day stretch against Bradley, Portland State, Stanford, San Jose State and Cal Poly. IU faced off against Bradley, Portland State and Stanford last season, but IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she doesn’t believe the previous meetings with those opponents will necessarily provide the team with an advantage.“It’s a different year and it’s a different team,” Gardner said. “They may have some of their players from last season, but their lineups won’t be the same.”Gardner said because the season is opening this weekend, it levels the playing field.“They haven’t played games yet either,” she said. “It’s everyone’s first weekend out. I think anything can happen.”IU senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy said she thinks the team is feeling confident heading into the first set of games of the season. “We feel good,” Murphy said. “We’ve done some really good things in the preseason. We’ve been working hard and, although we haven’t been able to get outside to work as much as we’d like, we are doing some really good things on offense and defense.”The first opponent on the Hoosiers’ schedule, the Bradley Braves, finished last season with a 23-29 record and fell to the Hoosiers 15-7. Last year, IU senior infielder Breanna Saucedo led the team with three hits. Shortly after the conclusion of the game against Bradley, the Hoosiers will take on the Portland State Vikings.The Vikings finished the 2013 season with a 25-31 record, including a 7-0 loss to IU. IU junior pitcher Lora Olson pitched all seven innings for the Hoosiers and allowed seven hits in the shutout. The Hoosiers open Saturday with their second consecutive doubleheader, against the Stanford Cardinal and the San Jose State Spartans. Stanford finished last year with a 39-21 record and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. One of the Cardinal’s victories was an 8-2 victory against the Hoosiers. In that game, the Cardinal pitching duo of Kelsey Stevens and Nyree White held IU to just six hits. The team hasn’t forgotten the loss, said Murphy.“Every time we play Stanford it’s a battle,” she said. “We always play them really tough.”The Spartans, who finished last season with a 42-17 record, also made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament before losing a set of games to Arizona State and San Diego State in the opening weekend of the tournament. San Jose State’s most productive hitter in last year’s lineup, junior outfielder Michelle Cox, is set to return after finishing last season with a .363 batting average. IU concludes the Kajikawa Classic Sunday against the Cal Poly Mustangs. The Mustangs finished 2013 with a 19-34-1 record. The top three hitters from last year, junior utility player Jillian Andersen, junior infielder Kim Westlund and junior utility player Mariah Cochiolo, are all returning. IU senior infielder Shelby Gogreve said the team is anxious to start the season. “We are feeling great,” Gogreve said. “We are excited to be out in the warm weather and to actually be playing.”Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney
(02/04/14 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU softball team wants to shock the world this year.Senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy said the team wants to not only win but also earn respect.“We aren’t the same team that we were last year,” she said. “We are coming back with a little bit of vengeance, and we are going to turn a lot of heads.”Murphy said the Hoosiers, who finished with an overall record of 19-35 last season, want to prove to everyone that they aren’t the same team that finished with a 3-19 mark in Big Ten play in 2013. The Hoosiers start the season in Tempe, Ariz., against the Bradley Braves in the Kajikawa Classic on Friday. After the tournament, IU will have plenty of opportunities during the season to earn national recognition. According to the USA Today preseason Top 25 poll, IU is scheduled to face five of the top-ranked teams in the nation. The first of those teams on IU’s schedule, the University of Florida, is currently No. 4 and received six first-place votes. The Hoosiers will travel to Gainesville, Fla. to square off with the Gators in the Lipton Invitational Feb. 21. Senior infielder Shelby Gogreve said she has high hopes for this year’s team.“The main goal of our team is to win the Big Ten title and to earn an NCAA tournament berth,” Gogreve said.The Big Ten boasts two of the top 10 teams in the nation, including No. 5 Michigan and No. 9 Nebraska, who IU will face on the road this season.The Hoosiers face the task of replacing former infielder Amanda Wagner, who not only led the team in hits, doubles and total bases but also had the fourth-highest batting average in the Big Ten. IU Coach Michelle Gardner said the continued improvement of the young players on the roster, including four freshmen, is going to help fill the void left by Wagner.“We’ve added more talent,” Gardner said. “Also, some of the younger players who might have struggled last year are going to produce a little better in their second seasons. We are getting better every year.”Despite losing one of the most productive hitters in the lineup, Gardner said she believes the adversity the team faced last year will ultimately lead to more team success in the future. “When you face adversity, you have to be able to overcome it,” she said. “We faced a lot of injuries, which you have to work to overcome as a team. No matter what happened, the team kept coming back.”Murphy said team unity will be a key to its success throughout the season.“A key thing that we learned last year is that staying together is vital for team success,” Murphy said. “Even when things don’t go how we want them to, in terms of winning and losing, the team needs to stay together in order to be successful.”
(11/08/13 5:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team’s season came to an end in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday. The Hoosiers lost to Michigan State 6-0 in the first round of the tournament.Michigan State’s scoring effort started early. At the 7:34 mark, junior forward Abby Barker scored off of a deflection to the right of the cage. Junior forward Allie Ahern was credited with the assist on the play.Six minutes later, Barker scored again. In the 29th minute, the Spartans scored their third goal. Sophomore forward Claire Johnson scored her first goal of the season scored off of a rebound. Almost two minutes into the second half, Barker was able to score her third goal of the game, her 14th of the season. The goal occurred after a Michigan State penalty corner. Junior back Jenni Smith had the assist on the goal.In the 44th minute, junior midfielder Becky Stiles found Adelle Lever in front of a cage for a shot. Lever scored and gave the Spartans a 5-0 lead. Just under four minutes later, sophomore forward Mallory Tyler found the back of the cage for the third time this season. Junior forward Heather Howie was credited with the assist. In the first half, the Hoosiers were only able to register one shot. In the second half, IU registered nine shots but was unable to capitalize. Robertson said Michigan State’s early goals made it difficult for IU to rebound.“The second goal was a tough one,” Robertson said. “At that point we lost a lot of momentum. From that point on we were unable to find our stride and get rhythm and flow to our attack.”Robertson said the loss is very difficult, especially on the seniors. “It felt like we never played up to our potential,” she said. “It really hurts for our seniors. They had very high expectations coming into this tournament.”Before the game, the Big Ten announced that four Hoosiers had received honors for their performance during the season.Junior forward Audra Heilman was named to First Team All-Big Ten, while senior defender Hannah Boyer and sophomore back Sydney Supica were both named to the second team.In addition, senior forward Emily Bowker was awarded with the Sportsmanship Award.“It speaks a lot about the respect that the rest of the conference has for our team and those players,” Robertson said. “It is an honor. There are a lot of very good players in the Big Ten.”Robertson said she thinks that this season provided a lot of lessons that will help the team in the future. “I’m proud of the team for never giving up and for hanging in there,” Robertson said. “I have confidence we will come back next year and be a much better team because of this year.”Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney.
(11/07/13 4:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The last time the IU field hockey team played Michigan State, the Hoosiers fell 4-3 despite a late comeback attempt. The Hoosiers will have a chance to avenge that loss Thursday in their first Big Ten Tournament match, which starts at 2:30 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio.IU junior forward Audra Heilman said the game has given the Hoosiers some added motivation. “We started to score a little too late last time,” Heilman said. “If we score early, we will come out in the end with the success that we want.”Michigan State finished the regular season with a 9-9 record, including a record of 4-2 in Big Ten play. The Spartans finished well enough to earn the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, while IU is the No. 6 seed.Heilman said the offense needs to come out aggressive early and put pressure on the Spartans’ defense. “We need to press like we did against Michigan,” she said. “If we do that, we can find a lot of success. We also need to find connection between the lines and get into the circle.”IU Coach Amy Robertson said she believes the defense will also be a key to winning Thursday’s match.“We have to have better defensive positioning and organization,” Robertson said. “That’s a big key for us — not giving them easy passes into the attack. We need to solidify the midfield and not allow them to advance the ball.”Robertson also said that despite the loss to Michigan last Sunday, the Hoosiers feel upbeat heading into the weekend. “I think we are really confident and excited for this opportunity,” she said. “We have a lot of things going for us right now. We are peaking at the right time. A lot of aspects of our game are coming together at the right time.”If IU defeats Michigan State on Thursday, they will face the winner of Northwestern and Ohio State on Friday.“The biggest thing we can do is to really focus on playing our game,” IU junior goalkeeper Maggie Olson said. “When you’re playing so many teams, you don’t have time to adjust. Having a really strong basis of a game plan that we know we can play is the most important thing.”Robertson said the team’s experience in the tournament last year has helped them prepare for the quick turnaround.“It’s a sprint to put things together,” Robertson said. “Most of the team has the experience of how it works because we did it last year. As a coaching staff, we prepare for who we could be playing next.”Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney.
(11/05/13 5:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After winning a set of matches last weekend, the IU field hockey team traveled to Michigan for its final regular season game.The Hoosiers didn’t get the result they were looking for, falling to the Wolverines 4-3.Despite the result, IU Coach Amy Robertson said it was a one of the team’s best performances.“The heart that this team played with today was phenomenal,” Robertson said.Both teams were unable to register a goal in the first half.The Hoosiers were unable to register a shot attempt in the first half, while Michigan attempted four. IU came out firing in the second half.Junior forward Audra Heilman scored in the 36th minute off a pass from junior midfielder Corrine Karch. Heilman’s goal was the 19th of her career, which moves her into seventh on IU’s all-time list. In the 45th minute, Michigan senior forward Rachael Mack tied the match.Junior midfielder Ainsley McCallister was credited with the assist.Four minutes later, IU sophomore midfielder Sydney Supica scored on a direct shot.Senior forward Emily Bowker and freshman forward Hannah McDermott were both credited with an assist on the goal. Just more than two minutes following Supica’s goal, McDermott scored her first goal of the season on an unassisted shot to the left corner of the cage.In the 57th minute, IU senior defender Hannah Boyer was issued a yellow card. Trailing 3-1 in the 58th minute, the Wolverines started their comeback attempt.Michigan junior back Leslie Smith scored her first goal of the match unassisted off a blocked penalty corner shot. Three minutes later, Michigan senior back Alice Brown scored unassisted from a scrum in front of the goal. With a minute and a half remaining in the match, Mack scored her second goal of the game to secure the Wolverines victory.Mack’s goal was a corner shot to the opposite corner of the cage.Sophomore back Lauren Thomas had the assist on the play. “Michigan is a tough team,” Robertson said. “Some calls didn’t go our way. In the end, Michigan made sure that they made good on their opportunities.”Sunday’s loss gives the Hoosiers a 9-9 record, including a 1-5 record in Big Ten matches.Also on Sunday, the Big Ten announced the matchups for the first round of the conference tournament.IU earned the sixth seed and will face Michigan State at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.The match will stream live on the Big Ten Digital Network. The last time the two teams met, Michigan State won the match 4-3 despite IU’s late comeback attempt.Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney.
(11/01/13 4:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After helping lead the Hoosiers to two victories last weekend, IU field hockey junior forward Audra Heilman received her second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season, making her the first Hoosier to do so in program history.Heilman said the award is an honor and a representation of how hard the team has worked this season. “It’s a huge honor,” Heilman said. “It’s awesome to get it, but I’m also representing the team and the team’s effort from this weekend. I feel honored to be the person representing the team.”IU Coach Amy Robertson said Heilman’s ability to get things going offensively shows how the team has improved throughout the season. “The award is definitely a testament to Audra,” she said. “She creates a lot of the goal-scoring opportunities. It’s also a testament to our whole squad.”Robertson said IU’s entire team is better.“People have to worry about everyone, not just Audra,” she said.The Hoosiers will conclude their regular season on Saturday when they travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face off against the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines have a 10-7 record, and they are 2-2 in Big Ten play.On defense, the Hoosiers will need to contain Michigan’s leading scorer, senior forward Rachael Mack. Mack has 42 points this season, including 18 goals. When the Hoosiers are on offense, they will be going against one of the Big Ten’s best goalies, senior Haley Jones, who has a 9-7 record and 62 saves this season.Robertson said both wins over the weekend have been a big confidence boost to the entire team.“It gives us the knowledge to tell us that we can score,” Robertson said. “We scored five against a good Big Ten opponent.”Heilman said the Hoosiers need to get started on offense early against the Wolverines.“We need to come out firing right away,” Heilman said. “We did that against Ohio State. When we come out early on offensive it gives us the momentum, and that will lead to our success.”IU senior forward Emily Bowker said she thinks the win over Ohio State has the Hoosiers feeling more confident than they have been all season. The victory over Ohio State was the Hoosiers’ first Big Ten regular-season win since 2011.“That win was huge,” Bowker said. “It gives us the confidence to know that we can win a Big Ten game. I think it’s the best that we have felt going into a game all season.”Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney.
(10/31/13 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On Sunday, the IU field hockey seniors played their final home game of their careers, defeating in-state rival Ball State 6-1. IU Coach Amy Robertson said this year’s group of seniors has been a key to building the program throughout the last four years. The five seniors were a part of the IU team that defeated nationally ranked Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament last season 4-0, which ended Northwestern’s hopes of an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Senior forward Mariella Grote was a big factor in that match. She scored two goals and led the Hoosiers to one of the biggest upsets in program history. Grote said the Northwestern game was one of the moments that she will never forget as a player.“We came in as the underdog,” she said. “It was a great feeling. Not only did we beat them, but we beat them by four goals and didn’t allow them to score.”Grote said since arriving in Bloomington as a freshman, she has gained a lot of friendships and taken a lot of pride from the field hockey program.“The responsibility and the pride that you take being a member of this program is awesome,” Grote said. “I formed relationships with a lot of players and coaches.”Robertson said Grote is one of the most competitive players she has ever coached.“Mariella is a gamer,” Robertson said. “She wants to win. She will do whatever it takes to try to get the ball in the net. She sees it as her job to score goals.”Redshirt senior defender Hannah Boyer has been the Hoosiers’ vocal leader throughout her time with the program. Boyer, who is from Louisville, was a member of the last IU field hockey team to make an NCAA Tournament appearance, which is something that Boyer said she will always remember.“During my freshman year when I was redshirt, I was on the team that almost won a Big Ten championship,” Boyer said. “To see those girls get to go to the NCAA tournament is something to this day that I cannot describe.”Robertson said Boyer’s emotion has been something that has driven her since joining the Hoosiers five seasons ago. “She wants it so bad,” Robertson said. “She wants it so bad. She is the quarterback for our team out there. She organizes the defense and wants to play a big role on offense, although her position limits her offensive contributions. She has matured and led the team on the field and off of the field. Her impact is immeasurable.”Senior forward Emily Bowker has made a big impact this season, recording a career-high five assists in 2013.Bowker said she will never forget her first game as a Hoosier. “I still remember my first time stepping onto the field,” she said. “The National Anthem was playing, my name and hometown being announced, and I was finally playing Division-I field hockey. Those first moments before a game, standing with 22 girls who had become my best friends was such a rewarding experience.”Bowker suffered an injury midway through the season and bounced back immediately, wearing a cast and starting the next game. Robertson said Bowker’s performance has been a key to the Hoosiers’ success this season.“She has improved her assertiveness and grown more confident,” she said. “When she was wearing the cast, it was almost as if she wasn’t. She was playing so comfortable, and she was still generating a lot for us during those games.“Senior forward Gaby Olshemski has become one of the biggest leaders on the team, Robertson said. Olshemski has struggled with injuries throughout her IU career, which is something Robertson said has made her grow as a player.“Gaby is a player who has had to overcome a lot of adversity,” Robertson said. “She had to get hip surgery as a freshman. Through all of the injuries, Gaby has always fought back and helped contribute in a positive way. To see her healthy this entire season has been great.”Olshemski, who grew up playing basketball and even set a high school record with eight 3-pointers in a game, said the popularity of basketball at IU was something that factored into her college decision.“When I came to visit, I knew IU was a basketball school,” Olshemski said. “I’ve really enjoyed going to basketball games.”Senior back Danielle McNally has been a key player for the Hoosiers since joining the team four seasons ago. McNally has started in all 67 matches she has appeared in, including starting 17 games as a freshman. McNally still remembers her first game at the Division-I level and said Senior Day was very emotional for her. “I still remember being a freshman and stepping onto the field for my first game,” McNally said. “It’s very bittersweet. It is great that we won. We’ve been through a lot together, and to play our final home game together is difficult.”McNally has become a leader for the Hoosiers, and Robertson praised McNally for constantly pushing the team to get better. “She is a fierce competitor,” she said. “You’re never going to get less than everything she has.”As a back, McNally doesn’t normally get a lot of scoring opportunities, although she has scored a career-high seven goals this season. Robertson said McNally has a good ability to score, and she could do it consistently if called to do so. “She plays in a role where she is relied on to get the ball behind the goalkeeper,” Robertson said. “We have been playing in a system this year where she has a chance to get into the attack more than previous seasons.”The seniors have one more regular season game remaining on their schedule on Nov. 3 at Michigan. They will try to extend their season when the Big Ten Tournament starts Nov. 7.Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @DanMatney.
(10/30/13 3:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU field hockey junior forward Audra Heilman earned the Big Ten Player of the Week honor Tuesday for the second time this season. Heilman became the first Hoosier to win the honor twice in one season. Heilman scored the game-winning goal in overtime to defeat Ohio State 5-4. She also added two assists in that game. Against Ball State, Heilman scored another goal and accounted for two more assists as the Hoosiers won their final home game 6-1.Heilman currently sits nine points away from tying the Hoosier single-season scoring record, which Morgan Fleetwood set last season with 38 points. In addition, Heilman currently has 55 career points, which has her sixth on IU’s all-time scorer list.Heilman could break another record Saturday when the Hoosiers travel to Ann Arbor to face off against the Michigan Wolverines. Heilman is one assist away from tying the Hoosiers single-season assist record, which is 12. The record was also set last season by Fleetwood. This season, Heilman ranks third in the Big Ten in total points and also in points per game. Heilman could be on track to earn a spot on the Big Ten all-conference team.- Dan Matney
(10/28/13 2:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team gave its seniors a weekend to remember, defeating conference rival Ohio State in overtime 5-4 Saturday. It was IU’s first regular season conference win since the 2011 season. On Sunday, the Hoosiers also defeated in-state rival Ball State 6-1 on Senior Day. The Buckeyes took an early lead Saturday in the 24th minute when sophomore back Emma Royce connected on the first shot attempt of the match. Two minutes later, IU sophomore back Sydney Supica tied the game with her first goal of the day and the final goal of the first half. Ohio State controlled the early part of the second half, scoring goals in the 36th and 43rd minutes. IU sophomore back Karen Lorite cut the deficit to one goal when she scored her first goal of the game in the 47th minute. Just three minutes after the goal by Lorite, the Buckeyes regained a two-goal lead when sophomore forward Peanut Johnson scored in the 50th minute. The Hoosiers continued the offensive push and were able to cut the deficit to one goal when IU senior back Danielle McNally found the back of the cage in the 58th minute. McNally’s goal made the score of the game 3-4, with the Hoosiers trailing.With just four minutes remaining in regulation, Ohio native and IU freshman forward Morgan Dye found the back of the cage and sent the match to overtime. In overtime, junior forward Audra Heilman scored in the 75th minute to give the Hoosiers the win. IU Coach Amy Robertson said the team spent the week trying to solve its offensive issues, and she thinks the Hoosiers will continue the offensive output for the remainder of the season. “We made the players accountable,” Robertson said. “If we have a problem, we rely on them to work it out in practice. They are starting to trust themselves and their abilities, and it is paying off.”On Sunday, the Hoosier seniors defended their home field for the last time, defeating Ball State by a score of 6-1. The Hoosiers’ offensive attack started quickly, scoring a goal just over eight minutes into the match when Lorite scored from a pass from Heilman. Three minutes later, Supica scored her first goal of the game off of an assist from senior forward Gaby Olshemski. Ball State quickly fought back when sophomore midfielder Bethany Han scored unassisted in the 11th minute. With just under eight minutes remaining in the first half, Lorite scored her second goal of the game to give the Hoosiers a 3-1 lead. That goal would be the final goal of the first half. Three minutes into the second half, the Hoosiers scored their fourth goal of the game when Lorite assisted Heilman off of a penalty corner. Two minutes later, Heilman recorded her second assist of the game when she found senior forward Mariella Grote for a shot at the top of the cage. Both teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the game until Supica scored her second goal of the day off of a penalty corner. McNally and freshman midfielder Hannah McDermott were credited with the assist.That would be the final goal of the match as the Hoosiers won 6-1.Boyer, who has been with the field hockey program for five seasons, said she couldn’t believe Senior Day was already over.“I’m in disbelief and a little bit of denial,” Boyer said. “I wouldn’t trade this for the world. I have had a great experience in the last five years.”McNally, also a senior, said she had mixed emotions as her last career home game came to a close. “It’s bittersweet,” McNally said. “The feeling of going 2-0 this weekend was amazing but never being able to play on this field in a game again is difficult. The things the underclassmen did for the seniors today was amazing.” Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney.
(10/25/13 4:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the final time in their collegiate careers, seniors Emily Bowker, Hannah Boyer, Danielle McNally, Mariella Grote and Gaby Olshemski will play at the IU Field Hockey Complex Sunday against in-state rival Ball State.IU Coach Amy Robertson said this weekend will be very emotional for the seniors, but they need to focus on their road game Saturday against the Ohio State Buckeyes at 1 p.m. before they look ahead to the Ball State game. “We need to get ourselves back on track starting on Saturday,” Robertson said. “I feel that the team is on the verge of a breakthrough. We want to make our senior day a very happy and positive one.”The Buckeyes have had a tough season up to this point. They currently have a record of 5-10, including 0-4 in Big Ten play.The Buckeyes are allowing just 2.7 points per game. Grote, a senior forward, said the team has been working hard to develop strategies to attack Ohio State’s weaknesses, especially on the offensive side of the ball.“We have been watching film and doing our tactical stuff,” Grote said. “We are trying not to get overwhelmed with scouting reports and those types of things. We definitely have specific things that we have been focusing on this week.”The Hoosiers will be renewing their rivalry with Ball State at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Hoosiers are looking to avenge their 3-2 loss to the Cardinals last season. The Cardinals have a record of 5-10 this season and are allowing 3.5 points per game. Robertson wants the team to attack early in the game and end their two-game shutout streak.“We have not been generating enough attack,” Robertson said. “Having the trust to run through the lines and get players deeper down the field to create scoring opportunities will be a big key for us.”Bowker, a senior forward, said the team is feeling good heading into senior day and is looking forward to the competitive matchup against the Cardinals. “Ball State is always really competitive with us,” Bowker said. “We face two of our rivals this weekend. We feel really good, and the seniors definitely want to finish the season with two victories.”Grote said the team has been looking forward to senior day for quiet some time, and they are anxious to get back into the win column.“I’m really excited,” Grote said. “We don’t really want our last home game to come, but it gives us a lot of spark knowing it is our last home game.”Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney.
(10/21/13 3:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After being held scoreless in this weekend’s set of matches, IU field hockey Coach Amy Robertson said she wants to see improvement in the team’s attack as it approaches the Big Ten Tournament. “We have to make better decisions in our attacking third,” Robertson said. “Our defense is playing as good as they can. We have to be able to score.”The Hoosiers lost Friday to No. 11 Northwestern 2-0, and they also lost to Rutgers on Sunday 1-0 after Rutgers scored the game-winning goal with just more than a minute left in regulation.Friday, both teams started off attacking very quickly.Nortwestern registered two goals in the first half, both of which were scored by senior forward Nikki Parsley. Parsley scored the first goal of the game in the 17th minute from a shot to the left of the cage.Wildcats’ freshman midfielder Dominique Master was credited with the assist.In the 25th minute, Parsley scored an unassisted goal to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. That would be the final goal of the match.The Hoosiers were outshot by the Wildcats 16-2 with both of their shots coming in the first half. Senior back Danielle McNally said there were a lot of positives to take away from the game and this loss will provide the team with extra motivation moving forward. “We are frustrated about the loss,” McNally said. “We felt that we dominated a majority of the game defensively.”Sunday, the Hoosiers kept the Scarlet Knights scoreless for 68 minutes until sophomore forward Katie Champion scored an unassisted goal in the open field to give Rutgers its ninth win of the season.IU was able to get into the circle more on Sunday, but the Hoosiers were still outshot 13-9. Robertson said the next two matches are extremely important.“Our backs are against the wall right now,” Robertson said. “The next few games are must-wins for this program.”IU junior goalkeeper Maggie Olson has played a key role for the Hoosiers this season.Olson is currently leading the Big Ten in the three major goalkeeper statistical categories: saves, save percentage and saves per game. Olson added to the effort over the weekend, recording 17 saves.She said she attributes her improvement throughout the season to assistant coach Phil Edwards.“Phil and I have been focusing in the last few weeks on getting the little things right,” Olson said.“Repetition and making sure I get everything right every time has been key. ”Robertson said Olson’s confidence has been a major factor in her development this season.“She is a great leader for this program and is a person who always has a lot of composure,” Robertson said. “She is easy to coach and is someone who you can be honest with.”Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney.