Indiana looked every bit like a team sharpening itself for the postseason on Wednesday afternoon.
Behind an early power surge, relentless pressure on the basepaths and another strong outing in the circle, the Hoosiers rolled past Evansville 8-0 in six innings at Andy Mohr Field, collecting their 21st run-rule victory of the season and improving to 38-13 overall.
The win also capped a perfect 8-0 mark against in-state opponents this season, owning the Hoosier state.
“We got the job done,” Indiana head coach Shonda Stanton said postgame. “Good midweek tune up heading into a very important series with Illinois this weekend.”
Indiana wasted no time setting the tone.
Junior leadoff hitter Aly VanBrandt got things going immediately, launching a tape measure solo shot to right field to begin the bottom of the first.
Two batters later, senior Avery Parker delivered an even louder swing, sending an absolute bomb to dead center for her 18th home run of the season and the 52nd of her career.
VanBrandt’s ability to spark the offense from the top of the order has become one of Indiana’s most reliable weapons.
“To be able to have a leadoff that can lace a double in the gap, go yard, I liked the walk she drew today too,” Stanton said. “She’s done a phenomenal job.”
Indiana kept the pressure on later in the inning when Madalyn Strader doubled to left-center before Brooke Mannon reached on an Evansville error that brought home another run, pushing the lead to 4-0 after one.
While the bats delivered early, the defense matched the tone.
After Evansville put its leadoff hitter aboard in the top of the first, shortstop Alex Cooper erased the threat by turning a double play herself, one of two double plays she was involved with in the afternoon.
That defensive sharpness, and confidence carried over into the circle, where Taylor Hess continued her recent stretch of strong performances.
Hess worked five shutout innings, allowing just three hits while repeatedly pitching out of the few trouble spots Evansville created. The Purple Aces’ best chance came in the second, when a hit batter and single put runners at the corners with one out, but Hess responded with a strikeout and induced a routine ground ball to end the inning.
The outing improved Hess to 10-2 on the season.
“I’m just trying to stay next-pitch focused,” Hess said. “I’m locked in every single pitch and not focused on the previous pitch or the pitch that’s coming. I’m just pitching pitch to pitch.”
Indiana’s simple use of speed created even more separation in the middle innings.
In the third, Strader singled to open the frame and later came around to score after a double steal sequence and another throwing error by the Evansville catcher, making it 5-0.
The Hoosiers were aggressive throughout, swiping eight bases and repeatedly forcing defensive mistakes.
“I think we had eight stolen bases on the day,” Stanton said. “That’s a lot. When you look at the power to go with that, that’s what you’re seeing — athletes out there.”
That combination of power and speed has become the focal point of the Hoosiers’ offensive identity.
The Hoosiers added another run in the fourth when Strader singled again and Ellie Goins drove her home with an RBI double to center, stretching the lead to 6-0.
Strader was one of Indiana’s most productive bats on the day, finishing with three hits and continuing a strong stretch heading into the final regular-season weekend.
“Strader continues to hit the ball well,” Stanton said.
Strader kept her approach simple.
“Ball over the plate, really,” she said postgame. “That was my mindset, attack the ball if it’s over the plate.”
Ella Troutt entered in relief for the sixth and needed just four batters to dispatch Evansville in the top half, preserving the shutout and setting the stage for Indiana to end it early.
The Hoosiers did exactly that in the bottom of the sixth.
Cooper led off with her second double of the afternoon before pinch-runner Peyton Drummond moved to third on Parker’s flyout. After Josie Bird drew a walk and pinch-runner Jada Ellison stole second, Strader lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 7-0.
Moments later, Goins chopped a single to shortstop that scored Ellison, triggering the run rule, ending the game in six innings.
Indiana finished with eight runs on 10 hits and continued its trend of handling midweek opponents with little drama.
“Sometimes you can stub your toe in those midweeks,” Stanton said. “We have not done that. This felt good.”
With another run-rule win secured and a lineup that continues to pair power with pressure on the bases, Indiana now turns its focus to Illinois for its final regular-season series at Andy Mohr Field, starting at 6 p.m. Friday.
