Indiana softball plays its best on the big stage, sweeps No. 22 Maryland

5 weeks in the past, Indiana softball participated within the ESPN Clearwater Invitational, one of many premiere softball tournaments yearly. The Hoosiers received the prospect to indicate their steel on a grand stage towards a number of the prime school softball packages within the nation. Group 50 desperately struggled, going 0-5 and ending with a run differential of -39 in these 5 video games.  

At that time, Indiana dropped to 0-5 towards top-25 groups after dropping a contest to No. 21 Auburn College within the NFCA Leadoff Basic on the primary weekend of the season. 

This previous weekend, Indiana received three extra probabilities to win towards a ranked opponent when No. 22 Maryland rolled into Bloomington for the primary Huge Ten collection. Each groups had been taking part in their finest softball getting into the collection, as Indiana was using a 12-game win streak and Maryland had received 13 of its previous 14 video games. 

Group 50 swept the Terrapins to increase its win streak to fifteen video games, the third longest in program historical past. 

Nevertheless, the win streak was hanging within the stability within the collection opener on Saturday after Friday’s sport received postponed as a consequence of inclement climate. Maryland was one out away from taking the convention opener 1-0, however Indiana walked it off within the backside of the seventh. Sophomore outfielder Taylor Minnick was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the sport and the following batter, sophomore utility participant Sarah Stone, hit a walk-off single to proper subject to win it for Indiana. 

The Hoosiers took that momentum into Sunday’s doubleheader, successful each video games by way more comfy scores of 15-7 and 11-4 to comb their opening Huge Ten collection for the primary time since 2016. 

Within the first sport of the dual invoice, Group 50 scored six runs within the backside of the primary, with three of them coming off the bat of Stone, who deposited a house run to left heart subject to offer the Hoosiers a fast 3-0 benefit. Freshmen Taryn Kern and Avery Parker additionally hit lengthy balls within the sport for Indiana to place the Hoosiers up 9-0 within the second inning. The Terrapins tried to claw their manner again into the competition, however sophomore utility participant Brianna Copeland ended the sport within the fifth inning with an infield single to finish the run-rule, as Indiana received 15-7 in 5 innings. 

The second sport Sunday noticed one other offensive explosion for Indiana, as Group 50 busted out the broomsticks with an 11-4 victory over the Terps. Stone once more hit a house run within the first inning and added one other within the fourth to pad Indiana’s lead. Maryland did take a 3-2 lead within the second inning, however Indiana responded with seven unanswered runs. Parker and Stone each went deep once more within the collection finale as Indiana closed out the weekend with a seven-run victory. 

Stone was the star of the present offensively for the Hoosiers, with three of her 5 hits on the weekend leaving the ballpark. Stone had 10 RBIs to extend her season complete in that class to 31. 

The combo of Parker and Kern mixed for a .556 batting common, 10 hits, three doubles, 4 residence runs, seven RBIs and 7 runs scored to enhance Stone within the lineup. 

Indiana, now winners of 15 straight, improves to 22-9 on the season and 3-0 in Huge Ten play. Group 50 continues its homestand with a midweek conflict with in-state foe Butler College on Tuesday earlier than Ohio State involves Andy Mohr Subject subsequent weekend for a three-game set starting Friday. First pitch towards the Bulldogs is scheduled for six p.m.

Observe reporters Dalton James (.@djames1824) and Austin Platt (.@AustinPlatter) for updates all through the Indiana softball season.