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Arizona softball sweeps Indiana, Marshall to stay perfect in Hillenbrand Invitational

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Arizona softball sweeps Indiana, Marshall to stay perfect in Hillenbrand Invitational


Arizona softball’s high-powered offense kept it perfect in the Hillenbrand Invitational, sweeping a doubleheader against Indiana and Marshall on Friday.

The 22nd-ranked Wildcats beat Indiana 6-3 and then knocked off Marshall 12-4 in six innings

UA’s bats started slow in both of the games but when the second and third at bats came around the offense got going.

“Definitely think our hitters are taking the adjustments that they need to be making during the games and we’d like to see it earlier than the second or third at bat,” coach Caitlin Lowe said. “Usually when they have a good first at bat but don’t have the result, they’re pretty excited about their second and third. Just a huge credit to them.”

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Here’s what happened in the wins against Indiana and Marshall.

Game One

Miranda Stoddard got her second start of the season and pitched 3.0 innings, allowed four hits, allowed three earned runs and struck out one in 53 pitches (34 strikes).

Aissa Silva came in for relief in the top of the fourth inning and earned her sixth win of the season (6-0), she pitched 4.0 innings, allowed two hits, struck out four in 65 pitches (42 strikes).

Stoddard came out firing in the top of the first, picking up the first two outs in three pitches but after two straight walks Indiana looked to capitalize with a runner in scoring position. A single allowed a runner to score from second, 1-0.

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UA didn’t wait long to respond, Dakota Kennedy singled through the left side of the infield and advanced to second base on a wild pitch bringing up power hitter Carlie Scupin. Scupin drove a two-run shot over the batter’s eye for her sixth home run of the year, 2-1.

In the bottom of the third inning UA had a chance to add some insurance runs with the bases loaded and one out but two pop-ups got Indiana out of the inning clean.

After a single to the pitcher to start the top of the fourth for the Hoosiers, Indiana’s Sarah Stone hit a two-run shot over right center to give Indiana the lead back, 3-2.

Arizona responded as they had all season adding another three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

After a lead-off walk by Biehl, back-to-back perfect bunts by Jasmine Perezchica and Regan Shockey resulted in singles but back-to-back throwing errors on their hits by Indiana allowed two runs to come home for UA, 4-3.

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Arizona continued to be over aggressive on the bases when Shockey got waved home from second base on a wild pitch and beat the tag, 5-3.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, with runners on second and third bae Olivia DiNardo hit a SAC fly to left field which brought home Shockey, 6-3.

Game Two

After pitching four innings in relief in the game before, sophomore Silva got the start on the mound. She pitched 1.2 innings, allowed three hits, gave up one earned run, struckout three in 31 pitches (20 strikes).

“Just in a doubleheader, like that Aissa (Silva) was hot to finish the game,” Lowe said. “So, we felt like rolling her into that game was the smartest decision with that 20 minute break. They came out swinging and I think just needed a change of pace after that.”

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In the top of the second inning with a runner on second Arizona turned to game one starter Stoddard for relief. She pitched 2.2 innings, allowed three hits, gave up three earned runs, struckout one in 32 pitches (23 strikes).

Brooke Mannon came in for relief in the top of the fifth inning with a runner on third and picked up the win (4-0). She pitched 1.2 innings, allowed one hit, struck out one in 21 pitches (15 strikes).

In the top of the first inning, Marshall got its offense started with a solo home run to left field, 1-0.

After Emily Schepp walked in the bottom of the second inning, Tayler Biehl hit her first career home run when she hit a two-run shot to center field putting UA up 2-1.

Marshall didn’t wait long to strike back, Brooklyn Ulrich hit a two-run home run to center field, 3-2.

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In the bottom of the fourth inning after two walks and a bunt, Arizona had runners on second and third base. Shockey hit an infield single and had to use all of her speed to beat out the throw to allow Allie Skaggs to score, 3-3.

Marshall looked to take advantage of a leadoff triple to start the top of the fifth inning and hit a single through the right side of the infield bringing home another run, 4-3.

After back-to-back walks for Arizona in the bottom of the fifth Arizona added a seven-run fifth inning.

With two outs Paige Dimler came up to pinch hit and drove a double to left field and two runs came home, 5-4. The very next batter Biehl added onto her night and hit a double to left center which brought home another run and added a run for UA, 6-4. Arizona’s two out rally didn’t stop there when Shockey hit a single through the right infield and brought home another two runs for Arizona, 8-4. After Kennedy singled up the middle, Scupin hit a double off the right wall and extended UA’s lead to 10-4.

In the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded for UA, Perezchica added her first RBI of the game when she drove home Blaise Biringer, 11-4. The very next batter Shockey hit a single up the middle to score the game ending run, 12-4.

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UA’s run-rule win over Marshall was its tenth game run-ruling an opponent.

Next up

Arizona’s next games are a double-header on Saturday against Indiana at 4 p.m. MT and Marshall at 6 p.m.



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Indiana

Where is Indiana basketball ranked going into the Battle 4 Atlantis?

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Where is Indiana basketball ranked going into the Battle 4 Atlantis?


BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball heads to the Bahamas as a top 15 team.

The undefeated Hoosiers (4-0; 0-0) jumped three spots in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll to No. 15 and two spots in the latest AP Poll to No. 14. They spent nine weeks ranked in the top 15 of the AP Poll during the 2022-23 season.

Indiana will compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis this week starting with a game at noon on Wednesday against Louisville. No. 4 Gonzaga and West Virginia are on the same side of the bracket and No. 23 Arizona is also among the teams in the field.

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The tournament is IU’s only chance to pick up any wins away from Assembly Hall during its non-conference schedule.

Indiana beat Louisville, 74-66, in last year’s Empire Classic. The Cardinals parted ways with Kenny Payne and hired Pat Kelsey as his replacement. They head into the event 3-1 this season — they suffered a 22-point loss to a Tennessee team that IU defeated in a pre-season exhibition — without a single returning player in their starting lineup.

The Hoosiers have won all four of their games by double-digits and averaging more than 80 points per game with four of their five starters — Mackenzie Mgbako (18.8 points per game), Myles Rice (14.8), Malik Reneau (13.5 points) and Oumar Ballo — averaging in the double-digits.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

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How to Watch: Louisville Cardinals vs. Indiana Hoosiers

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How to Watch: Louisville Cardinals vs. Indiana Hoosiers


LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Following a four-game home stand to open up the 2024-25 season, the Louisville men’s basketball program is heading back to The Bahamas to participate in the Battle 4 Atlantis, and will kick off the event against regional rival Indiana.

The Pat Kelsey era of the Cardinals is off to solid start, although they have played imperfect basketball during their 3-1 start to the season. They’re averaging 81.0 points per game and have a 18.3 scoring margin, but have shot just 29.4 percent from deep on the year, and lost by 22 to Tennessee in their lone game vs. a power conference team.

As for the Hoosiers, they’re off to an undefeated start in year four under head coach Mike Woodson. All of their games have been won by at least double figures, including an 87-71 victory over South Carolina. Mackenzie Mgbako is leading the charge for IU with 18.8 points per game.

This will be the 22nd all-time regular season meeting between Louisville and Indiana, with the Hoosiers owning a 12-9 advantage. IU has won the last two matchups against UofL, including a 74-66 decision back on Nov. 20, 2023 in their last matchup in the Empire Classic.

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(Photo of Chucky Hepburn: Jamie Rhodes – Imagn Images)

You can follow Louisville Cardinals On SI for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram:

Facebook – @LouisvilleOnSI
Twitter/X – @LouisvilleOnSI
Instagram – @louisvilleonsi

You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter/X





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New Orleans takes on Indiana, seeks to end 4-game slide

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New Orleans takes on Indiana, seeks to end 4-game slide


Associated Press

New Orleans Pelicans (4-13, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (7-10, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Indianapolis; Monday, 7 p.m. EST

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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pacers -5.5; over/under is 228

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans heads into the matchup against Indiana as losers of four straight games.

The Pacers are 5-2 in home games. Indiana ranks fifth in the league with 17.0 fast break points per game led by Bennedict Mathurin averaging 4.5.

The Pelicans have gone 1-7 away from home. New Orleans averages 14.2 turnovers per game and is 3-4 when turning the ball over less than opponents.

The Pacers are shooting 48.7% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points higher than the 48.5% the Pelicans allow to opponents. The Pacers average 103.8 points per game, 14.3 fewer points than the 118.1 the Pacers allow to opponents.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Pascal Siakam is averaging 20.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pacers.

Brandon Ingram is scoring 22.9 points per game and averaging 5.8 rebounds for the Pelicans.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 4-6, averaging 111.7 points, 38.9 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 9.0 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.5 points per game.

Pelicans: 1-9, averaging 100.2 points, 42.7 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.7 points.

INJURIES: Pacers: Aaron Nesmith: out (ankle), Andrew Nembhard: out (knee), Isaiah Jackson: out for season (calf), James Wiseman: out for season (calf), Ben Sheppard: out (oblique).

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Pelicans: Zion Williamson: out (hamstring), Yves Missi: day to day (shoulder), CJ McCollum: day to day (thigh), Herbert Jones: out (shoulder ), Dejounte Murray: day to day (hand), Jose Alvarado: out (hamstring).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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