For three innings at Andy Mohr Field, this didn’t look like a game that could get out of hand. Both Indiana and Detroit Mercy couldn’t buy a hit, and despite Hoosier Aubree Hooks and Titan Savanna Schultz having early control in the circle, the game moved along without much separation.
But there was no doubt Hooks was confident.
Confidence behind every pitch with an understanding that the veteran defense behind her is one of the many why she chose to play at Indiana.
“It's just a big accomplishment,” Hooks said. “My defense worked great and my catcher worked great.”
After a fast-paced three-and-a-half innings, the Hoosiers had a 1-0 lead without a single hit — then came the fourth.
Ellie Goins got the party started with the first hit of the game being a shot to the wall, and from there the Hoosiers had the Titans right where they wanted them. A bunt single from Cassidy Kettleman brought in the first run of the inning, and the well-executed baserunning from Indiana was too much for the Titans, causing an error adding a run to Indiana’s lead. Aly VanBrandt followed with a triple with a perfectly placed line drive directly down the left field line to stretch the lead. By the time Avery Parker lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, the Hoosiers had turned a close game into a 5-0 advantage, which eventually grew to an 8-0 victory.
It was the exact momentum shift that Indiana needed to change the game entirely.
And that shift didn’t come by accident.
“With this wind, you’re not getting anything out to left,” head coach Shonda Stanton said. “So we needed some stuff on the ground… our small ball came through in the clutch.”
And with Hooks not slowing down despite the frigid temperatures and high winds, that was more than enough.
The right-hander was in complete control from start to finish, retiring the first nine batters she faced and never allowing Detroit Mercy to get comfortable at the plate. The Titans were never able to threaten Hooks as she was able to dominate, not allowing any hits through six phenomenal innings of work — making it the Hoosiers’ first no-hitter of the season.
“It starts with great defense and a good battery,” Stanton said. “I thought she did an exceptional job today, especially in the elements.”
Indiana’s offense kept applying pressure in the fifth, using an RBI double from Alli Gavin and a wild pitch to extend the lead to seven.
By the sixth, the end felt near.
To start the inning, Parker blistered a ball up the middle for a single. Josie Bird followed with a hot-shot ground ball to the third baseman that was just too much to handle — a barrel so loud you could hear it in the press box. Two big time at-bats set up the dream scenario.
Madalyn Strader stepped up to the box feeding from the momentum her teammates fed her. Wasting no time, she poked a single right through the outstretched arms of both the first and second baseman to bring home the final run, sealing the 8-0 authoritative run-rule victory at home.
“Just knowing when the wind’s behaving like that, we had to make adjustments,” Strader said. “Hit the ball low, use small ball, and use all our tools to score.”
Once the Hoosiers found their rhythm, they couldn’t stop. What started as a slow paced, scoreless game quickly turned into a night to never forget.
Indiana will return to Andy Mohr Field on Saturday at 2 p.m. to wrap up their two-game series against Detroit Mercy.
