The Indiana Hoosiers fell short in Monday’s softball match against the No. 16 Oregon Ducks, 24-12. This loss comes directly after a clean sweep by the Hoosiers this past weekend in College Park against Maryland. The bats were hot and heavy on both sides as it became another battle of the best of Big Ten offense. Indiana started off strong by earning seven runs in the first three innings.
The Hoosier bats were hot but Oregon’s bats were hotter. Oregon earned two grand slams in one game vs. Indiana’s one. The Ducks set a program record for runs scored in a single game.
While the Ducks’ offense was better Monday, Indiana’s offense continued to have success and remains one of the nation’s best. As of March 16, the Hoosiers are sitting just outside of the top 25 in the USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll and are 7-2 in the Big Ten conference. They are ranked No. 10 nationally in division 1 with a team batting average of .371.
“Offensively, I thought we were pretty locked in,” Indiana’s head coach Shonda Stanton said after the game. “I thought we had a great competitive at bats. A lot of multi-hit [games] from people.”
Josie Bird began the Hoosier home run hysteria with two runners on in the first inning. Bird cranked the first pitch she saw outside the park, bringing Alex Cooper and Avery Parker home and putting Indiana up 3-0. Bird’s home run was her second consecutive game with a home run, the first being this past Sunday against Maryland.
Bird’s home run marked the 50th home run of the Indiana Hoosiers this season.
The bottom of the third inning brought more hope for an upset as the Hoosier offense progressed. The Ducks struggled inside the circle in the beginning, causing Peyton Drummond, Avery Parker and Madalyn Strader to walk. Senior transfer from NC State, Ellie Goins knocked it out of the park with a grand slam, her fourth home run of the season. Indiana led 7-0, inching closer to not only defeating a ranked team but 10-run ruling them as well.
Oregon slowly started catching up in runs in the top of the fourth and changed the trajectory for both teams. Oregon senior Elon Butler hit a 2-RBI triple, and scored once Amari Harper singled after. Oregon’s Stefini Ma’Ake doubled to right center field to tie the game up.
However the Hoosiers didn’t cool their bats down or crack under pressure. Bird hit her second home run of the game, causing Cooper to score once more.
Oregon’s Kaylynn Jones responded by hitting a home run in the top of the fifth inning, sending two of her teammates home. The top of the sixth had Oregon earn two home runs in one inning.
The top of the sixth brought a grand slam for Oregon by Amari Harper, expanding the Ducks lead by seven runs. Indiana ended up using all six pitchers of the rotation, and still could not crack the code on catching up to the nationally ranked Oregon offense.
Stanton said she was pleased with the way IU hit the ball.
“I think one thing I’m proud of is it didn’t matter who they threw,” Stanton said. “We got six, were able to show up, and on the flip side of that, we weren’t able to find an answer.”
The Hoosiers look to bounce back with more than just their bats this Friday at Andy Mohr at 6 p.m. against Detroit Mercy.
