Indiana softball put on an offensive showcase Saturday at the Paradise Classic, rolling to a pair of run-rule victories with a 14–2 win over Delaware and a 10–0 shutout of Stonehill, both in five innings.
Indiana wasted no time asserting dominance in the opener on Saturday, erupting for five runs in the top of the first inning. Aly VanBrandt sparked the rally with a leadoff single and a stolen base. The bases would end up loaded, and Josie Bird was then hit by a pitch to bring home the game’s first run. Madalyn Strader followed with a bases-clearing single, driving in three runs, and Ellie Goins capped the inning with an RBI single to give Indiana a commanding 5-0 lead.
Delaware responded in the bottom of the first with a two-run double from Gracie Jacobs, but the Hoosiers defense quickly shut the door.
Indiana added to its lead in the second inning, taking advantage of defensive miscues from the Blue Hens. VanBrandt singled and stole second once again, and a Delaware error allowed both VanBrandt and pinch runner Jada Ellison to score, pushing the lead to 7-2.
After a scoreless third inning, Indiana blew the game open in the fourth. VanBrandt reached on an error and scored on an RBI double by Alex Cooper. Avery Parker followed with a run-scoring double of her own, and Hannah Haberstro added another RBI with a double to left center. A passed ball and another Delaware error allowed two more unearned runs to cross the plate, stretching the lead to 12-2.
The Hoosiers delivered the knockout blow in the fifth inning when Josie Bird launched a two-run home run to right field, scoring Cooper and making it 14-2.
After a dominant four-inning performance from Ella Troutt, the Hoosiers brought in closer Jasmine Reyes. Indiana finished the game in the bottom of the inning to secure the 14-2 run-rule victory.
After cruising through their second straight run-rule victory of the year, the Hoosiers looked to carry that momentum into their final game at the Paradise Classic against Stonehill.
Indiana didn’t hesitate in game two and struck early once again. VanBrandt opened the bottom of the first with a single, and after an error and aggressive baserunning, Bird ripped a two-run single to left field. A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and a sacrifice fly from Cassidy Kettleman opened the lead to 4-0.
The Hoosiers padded the advantage in the second inning when Parker crushed a two-run home run to center field, scoring Cooper and giving Indiana a 6-0 lead.
Stonehill managed to put runners on base throughout the game but struggled to find timely hits, as Indiana’s pitching staff worked efficiently and limited the Skyhawks to just four hits.
Indiana put the game out of reach in the fourth inning with another four-run surge. After Hannah Haberstro reached base and pinch runner Peyton Drummond stole second, Strader delivered an RBI single to score Drummond. Goins then stole home during a chaotic sequence at the plate, and Jada Ellison capped the inning with a two-run single following an error by the pitcher, pushing the lead to 10-0.
Indiana retired Stonehill in order in the top of the fifth inning, sealing its second run-rule win of the day and completing a dominant weekend going 4-1 at the Paradise Classic.
Indiana will stay on the road next week as the Hoosiers head to Tempe, Arizona, for the Littlewood Invitational, where they will face Portland State and host Arizona State on Thursday before taking on Pacific and Nevada over the weekend. The five-game slate offers Indiana another opportunity to build momentum against a challenging field as the Hoosiers continue their early season stretch away from home.
