Friday, March 24
6:00 PM ET
Indiana University
16-14, 0
23
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2
Rutgers University
7-21, 0
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3
4
5
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H
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Rutgers
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Indiana
6
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11
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23
20
0
Explosive Hitting Twice Powers Indiana Past Rutgers
3/24/2017 10:31:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Softball (16-14, 2-0 Big Ten) exploded offensively as the Hoosiers picked up a pair of wins against Rutgers (7-21, 0-2 Big Ten) on Friday to secure the series. IU defeated the Scarlet Knights 9-2 in the first game before a record-setting performance in the second contest for a 23-2 win in five innings.
The 23 runs scored by the Hoosiers in the day's finale are the most in Big Ten play in program history while being the most in a single game since a 40-0 win against Danville Junior College in 1978. In 1976, Indiana plated 46 runs against IPFW for its most ever in a game. Additionally, the Hoosiers' 20 hits are the most in head coach Michelle Gardner's tenure.
Indiana 9, Rutgers 2
The first game of the day saw multi-hit performances from five Hoosiers, led by a 3-for-4, four RBI outing from senior CaraMia Tsirigos, who knocked a three-run homer in the game. Freshman Katie Lacefield also collected a trio of hits, adding a run and RBI. Senior Erin Lehman, junior Rebecca Blitz and freshman Gabbi Jenkins each picked up a pair of hits in the win. Jenkins also scored a career-best four runs in the contest.
Sophomore Tara Trainer earned the win for Indiana, going 4.0 scoreless innings before a combined relief effort from freshman Emily Goodin and redshirt sophomore Emily Kirk.
The Hoosiers got on the board early, starting with an RBI groundout by Tsirigos in the first inning to score Jenkins. A two-run single by Blitz brought in Jenkins and Blitz in the third before Indiana pushed the lead to 5-0 on a pair of singles by Lacefield and junior Taylor Uden in the fourth.
Rutgers got a pair of runs back in the sixth on an RBI triple by Rebecca Hall and a one-run single from Nicolette Anico.
However, the Hoosiers put up a four-spot in the bottom of the sixth thanks a Scarlet Knight throwing error and Tsirigos' three-run shot to left center.
Indiana 23, Rutgers 2
The Hoosiers clinched the series in the next game as 14 different Hoosiers scored a run and 13 picked up at least one hit. Tsirigos knocked her third career grand slam, leading the way as four Hoosiers went yard, the most in a single game under Coach Gardner. Uden, junior Rachel O'Malley and sophomore Nicole Lawvere also homered in the record-setting win.
Trainer earned her second victory of the day, going 3.0 innings before once again being relieved by Goodin and Kirk. The Hoosier pitching staff didn't register a strikeout in the win, but allowed just five hits in the game.
Indiana scored in every inning, including an 11-run fourth frame to break the game open.
Tsirigos knocked her grand slam in the first innings, the first for the Atlanta native since hitting one at No. 3 Auburn in 2016. Three batters later, O'Malley went the distance on her first homer of the season and her first since hitting three in her freshman campaign.
IU put up four more runs in the second inning on a bases-loaded walk to junior Aimilia McDonough, a two-run single by O'Malley and an RBI single from freshman Bella Norton. O'Malley set her career high in RBI on Friday, bringing in four runs.
Rutgers scored its first run of the game in the third as Taryn Atlee doubled to plate Meaghan Wells. However, Indiana quickly answered with Lawvere's two-run homer to right center to make it 12-1. It was just Lawvere's second hit of the season with her other base knock also being a home run. The Upland, Ind. native would go on to collect a second hit on Friday.
In the fourth, the Hoosiers used eight hits to jump to a 23-1 advantage with 10 of the 11 runs coming with two outs. Lacefield, junior Sarah Thompson, Blitz and Lawvere each reached base twice in the fourth frame alone.
Blitz got the scoring started as she singled to right to plate Lacefield. A bases-loaded walk to senior Kayla Mathewson made it 14-1 before four straight base knocks pushed Indiana's lead to 20-1. Three of those hits came on three consecutive RBI doubles by junior Shayna Gamm, Lacefield and Thompson. Gamm's double cleared the bases as she tied her career high with three RBI. Indiana's scoring was capped by reining Big Ten Co-Player of the Week Uden, as her three-run shot to center made it 23-1.
A double by Nicole Bowman scored Atlee to make it 23-2 before Kirk forced a groundout to end the game.
The Hoosiers and Scarlet Knight close out the series on Saturday at Andy Mohr Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. and the game will be shown on BTN Plus. Admission to all Indiana home games is free of charge.
For the latest on Indiana Softball, be sure to follow #IUSoftball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
The 23 runs scored by the Hoosiers in the day's finale are the most in Big Ten play in program history while being the most in a single game since a 40-0 win against Danville Junior College in 1978. In 1976, Indiana plated 46 runs against IPFW for its most ever in a game. Additionally, the Hoosiers' 20 hits are the most in head coach Michelle Gardner's tenure.
Indiana 9, Rutgers 2
The first game of the day saw multi-hit performances from five Hoosiers, led by a 3-for-4, four RBI outing from senior CaraMia Tsirigos, who knocked a three-run homer in the game. Freshman Katie Lacefield also collected a trio of hits, adding a run and RBI. Senior Erin Lehman, junior Rebecca Blitz and freshman Gabbi Jenkins each picked up a pair of hits in the win. Jenkins also scored a career-best four runs in the contest.
Sophomore Tara Trainer earned the win for Indiana, going 4.0 scoreless innings before a combined relief effort from freshman Emily Goodin and redshirt sophomore Emily Kirk.
The Hoosiers got on the board early, starting with an RBI groundout by Tsirigos in the first inning to score Jenkins. A two-run single by Blitz brought in Jenkins and Blitz in the third before Indiana pushed the lead to 5-0 on a pair of singles by Lacefield and junior Taylor Uden in the fourth.
Rutgers got a pair of runs back in the sixth on an RBI triple by Rebecca Hall and a one-run single from Nicolette Anico.
However, the Hoosiers put up a four-spot in the bottom of the sixth thanks a Scarlet Knight throwing error and Tsirigos' three-run shot to left center.
Indiana 23, Rutgers 2
The Hoosiers clinched the series in the next game as 14 different Hoosiers scored a run and 13 picked up at least one hit. Tsirigos knocked her third career grand slam, leading the way as four Hoosiers went yard, the most in a single game under Coach Gardner. Uden, junior Rachel O'Malley and sophomore Nicole Lawvere also homered in the record-setting win.
Trainer earned her second victory of the day, going 3.0 innings before once again being relieved by Goodin and Kirk. The Hoosier pitching staff didn't register a strikeout in the win, but allowed just five hits in the game.
Indiana scored in every inning, including an 11-run fourth frame to break the game open.
Tsirigos knocked her grand slam in the first innings, the first for the Atlanta native since hitting one at No. 3 Auburn in 2016. Three batters later, O'Malley went the distance on her first homer of the season and her first since hitting three in her freshman campaign.
IU put up four more runs in the second inning on a bases-loaded walk to junior Aimilia McDonough, a two-run single by O'Malley and an RBI single from freshman Bella Norton. O'Malley set her career high in RBI on Friday, bringing in four runs.
Rutgers scored its first run of the game in the third as Taryn Atlee doubled to plate Meaghan Wells. However, Indiana quickly answered with Lawvere's two-run homer to right center to make it 12-1. It was just Lawvere's second hit of the season with her other base knock also being a home run. The Upland, Ind. native would go on to collect a second hit on Friday.
In the fourth, the Hoosiers used eight hits to jump to a 23-1 advantage with 10 of the 11 runs coming with two outs. Lacefield, junior Sarah Thompson, Blitz and Lawvere each reached base twice in the fourth frame alone.
Blitz got the scoring started as she singled to right to plate Lacefield. A bases-loaded walk to senior Kayla Mathewson made it 14-1 before four straight base knocks pushed Indiana's lead to 20-1. Three of those hits came on three consecutive RBI doubles by junior Shayna Gamm, Lacefield and Thompson. Gamm's double cleared the bases as she tied her career high with three RBI. Indiana's scoring was capped by reining Big Ten Co-Player of the Week Uden, as her three-run shot to center made it 23-1.
A double by Nicole Bowman scored Atlee to make it 23-2 before Kirk forced a groundout to end the game.
The Hoosiers and Scarlet Knight close out the series on Saturday at Andy Mohr Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. and the game will be shown on BTN Plus. Admission to all Indiana home games is free of charge.
For the latest on Indiana Softball, be sure to follow #IUSoftball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Trainer, Tara (8-7)
L: Whitney Jones (1-7)
Batting:
2B: Taryn Atlee 1 ; Nicole Bowman 1 ; Meaghan Wells 1
RBI: Taryn Atlee 1 ; Nicole Bowman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Taryn Atlee 1 ; Meaghan Wells 1
Batting:
2B: Thompson, Sarah 1 ; Uden, Taylor 1 ; McDonough, Aimilia 1 ; Gamm, Shayna 1 ; Lacefield, Katie 1
HR: Uden, Taylor 1 ; Tsirigos, CaraMia 1 ; Lawvere, Nicole 1 ; O'Malley, Rachel 1
RBI: Thompson, Sarah 1 ; Blitz, Rebecca 1 ; Uden, Taylor 3 ; Tsirigos, CaraMia 4 ; Lawvere, Nicole 2 ; McDonough, Aimilia 1 ; Mathewson, Kayla 1 ; O'Malley, Rachel 4 ; Galovich, Sarah 1 ; Norton, Bella 1 ; Gamm, Shayna 3 ; Lacefield, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenkins, Gabbi 1 ; Thompson, Sarah 1 ; Blitz, Rebecca 3 ; Uden, Taylor 4 ; Tsirigos, CaraMia 2 ; Lawvere, Nicole 2 ; Lehman, Erin 1 ; Hester, Sydney 1 ; McDonough, Aimilia 2 ; Mathewson, Kayla 1 ; O'Malley, Rachel 1 ; Galovich, Sarah 1 ; Gamm, Shayna 1 ; Lacefield, Katie 2
SB: Blitz, Rebecca 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
4
H
2
RBI
3
ph/dh
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
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IF
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