‘We Over Me’ – Hoosier Softball Has ‘em Believing
5/2/2018 4:35:00 PM | Softball
By: Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Taylor Uden feels the energy – for Indiana softball, for Big Ten title prospects, for a chance at NCAA Tournament opportunity.
Yes, NCAA tourney opportunity.
Repeat until you believe it.
The Hoosiers certainly do.
Welcome to the aftermath of a dramatic series with No. 15 Michigan. It didn't provide the crucial two wins needed for the Big Ten lead, but it did leave hope that the Hoosiers (24-27) can still win a once unlikely conference regular season crown and, perhaps, play their way into the NCAA tourney, losing overall record be darned.
"We have an opportunity to go 19-4 in the Big Ten," Uden says. "That's never happened for me."
Uden, a senior first baseman, has spent four years hoping this could happen.
Hope is now reality.
"I'm cherishing every moment," she says.
Uden is one of five seniors who have thrived in first-year coach Shonda Stanton's push-the-pace system like few expected.
"Every day we're breaking records," Uden says. "Our goals are still very much ahead of us."
This is the last week of the regular season and the Hoosiers are third in the Big Ten standings with a 16-4 record, trailing Michigan (15-2) and Minnesota (15-3).
IU ends with three games at Rutgers, which is last in the conference with a 2-15 record.
Michigan plays at Michigan State (7-11) and then hosts Ohio State (13-6) for three games. Minnesota hosts Penn State (4-16) for three games.
If the Hoosiers sweep Rutgers, and Michigan loses twice and Minnesota loses once, IU will win the Big Ten regular season title.
No matter what Michigan and Rutgers do, an IU sweep of Rutgers clinches a top-four seed in the Big Ten tourney next week at Wisconsin. That means a first-round bye, crucial to limiting the pitching load and potential postseason success.
"Our goals are all before us," Stanton says.
"We're still fighting for a top-4 bye. We're in position to do that. And we can still win the regular season title if we take care of business and get some help."
The Hoosiers, Uden insists, will take nothing for granted.
"Rutgers will battle. They won't hand it over to us. We'll come out and fight."
Darn right, Stanton says, in so many words.
"We know what's ahead of us, and we don't want any slip up. You want to feel good going into the Big Ten Tournament, so we have to get the job done (at Rutgers)."
IU went 1-2 against Michigan last weekend, and just missed going 2-1. On Sunday it lost 2-0 in nine innings after winning 5-4 in nine innings on Saturday thanks to Uden's game-winning, walk-off home run, her sixth of the season.
"That was awesome," she says. "It was cool to get the job done when we needed it."
The series stirred enthusiasm the program has never seen before. The last two games each drew nearly 900 people, huge for an Andy Mohr Field facility that seats 500.
"It's awesome," Uden says. "We had a moment where we looked around and people had filled the stands, there were no empty seats, and people were in the outfield.
"What an incredible moment that our senior class has been able to build this team up. We bought into (Stanton's) system. We put everything on the line. People see the change. They see our goals are still ahead of us.
"It's a cool thing."
In fact, it's very cool given where the program has been in recent years – just two winning Big Ten records in the last 21 seasons.
Could the Michigan series jumpstart IU softball in the same way the WNIT championship run did for women's basketball in March?
Why not, Stanton asks.
"For those who came out, I don't know how you don't come back next season," she says. "With the way we competed and played, the opponents we're bringing in here, it's great softball.
"Before we weren't relevant. I'm excited for how (this team) has changed the face of this program."
Playing so well against Michigan, a perennial national power that has won 19 Big Ten titles since 1995, has the Hoosiers looking for more.
"It was a confidence booster that we can play with the best," Uden says. "We're here to stay."
The Hoosiers can continue proving it at Rutgers. A huge key will be the performance of pitcher Tara Trainer, who threw well over 100 pitches in all three games against Michigan.
"She was competing and getting the job done," Stanton says. "She was a warrior. I see her believe in her ability to go the long game, to throw back to back to back days. That's what we're going to need (in the Big Ten tourney)."
Adds Uden: "I know she's thrown a lot of balls. She continues to fight every game. We'll get her ready for Rutgers and" – Uden smiles – "keep her arm attached to her body."
No matter what happens, the fact IU is in the hunt for a championship in the final week looms well for future success.
"This solidifies what we've been preaching," Stanton says. "It's amazing what you can do when you have the belief and take massive action.
"Massive action is that you work. It's a working culture. We're raising our level of work and focus and belief. It's always we over me."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Taylor Uden feels the energy – for Indiana softball, for Big Ten title prospects, for a chance at NCAA Tournament opportunity.
Yes, NCAA tourney opportunity.
Repeat until you believe it.
The Hoosiers certainly do.
Welcome to the aftermath of a dramatic series with No. 15 Michigan. It didn't provide the crucial two wins needed for the Big Ten lead, but it did leave hope that the Hoosiers (24-27) can still win a once unlikely conference regular season crown and, perhaps, play their way into the NCAA tourney, losing overall record be darned.
"We have an opportunity to go 19-4 in the Big Ten," Uden says. "That's never happened for me."
Uden, a senior first baseman, has spent four years hoping this could happen.
Hope is now reality.
"I'm cherishing every moment," she says.
Uden is one of five seniors who have thrived in first-year coach Shonda Stanton's push-the-pace system like few expected.
"Every day we're breaking records," Uden says. "Our goals are still very much ahead of us."
This is the last week of the regular season and the Hoosiers are third in the Big Ten standings with a 16-4 record, trailing Michigan (15-2) and Minnesota (15-3).
IU ends with three games at Rutgers, which is last in the conference with a 2-15 record.
Michigan plays at Michigan State (7-11) and then hosts Ohio State (13-6) for three games. Minnesota hosts Penn State (4-16) for three games.
If the Hoosiers sweep Rutgers, and Michigan loses twice and Minnesota loses once, IU will win the Big Ten regular season title.
No matter what Michigan and Rutgers do, an IU sweep of Rutgers clinches a top-four seed in the Big Ten tourney next week at Wisconsin. That means a first-round bye, crucial to limiting the pitching load and potential postseason success.
"Our goals are all before us," Stanton says.
"We're still fighting for a top-4 bye. We're in position to do that. And we can still win the regular season title if we take care of business and get some help."
The Hoosiers, Uden insists, will take nothing for granted.
"Rutgers will battle. They won't hand it over to us. We'll come out and fight."
Darn right, Stanton says, in so many words.
"We know what's ahead of us, and we don't want any slip up. You want to feel good going into the Big Ten Tournament, so we have to get the job done (at Rutgers)."
IU went 1-2 against Michigan last weekend, and just missed going 2-1. On Sunday it lost 2-0 in nine innings after winning 5-4 in nine innings on Saturday thanks to Uden's game-winning, walk-off home run, her sixth of the season.
"That was awesome," she says. "It was cool to get the job done when we needed it."
The series stirred enthusiasm the program has never seen before. The last two games each drew nearly 900 people, huge for an Andy Mohr Field facility that seats 500.
"It's awesome," Uden says. "We had a moment where we looked around and people had filled the stands, there were no empty seats, and people were in the outfield.
"What an incredible moment that our senior class has been able to build this team up. We bought into (Stanton's) system. We put everything on the line. People see the change. They see our goals are still ahead of us.
"It's a cool thing."
In fact, it's very cool given where the program has been in recent years – just two winning Big Ten records in the last 21 seasons.
Could the Michigan series jumpstart IU softball in the same way the WNIT championship run did for women's basketball in March?
Why not, Stanton asks.
"For those who came out, I don't know how you don't come back next season," she says. "With the way we competed and played, the opponents we're bringing in here, it's great softball.
"Before we weren't relevant. I'm excited for how (this team) has changed the face of this program."
Playing so well against Michigan, a perennial national power that has won 19 Big Ten titles since 1995, has the Hoosiers looking for more.
"It was a confidence booster that we can play with the best," Uden says. "We're here to stay."
The Hoosiers can continue proving it at Rutgers. A huge key will be the performance of pitcher Tara Trainer, who threw well over 100 pitches in all three games against Michigan.
"She was competing and getting the job done," Stanton says. "She was a warrior. I see her believe in her ability to go the long game, to throw back to back to back days. That's what we're going to need (in the Big Ten tourney)."
Adds Uden: "I know she's thrown a lot of balls. She continues to fight every game. We'll get her ready for Rutgers and" – Uden smiles – "keep her arm attached to her body."
No matter what happens, the fact IU is in the hunt for a championship in the final week looms well for future success.
"This solidifies what we've been preaching," Stanton says. "It's amazing what you can do when you have the belief and take massive action.
"Massive action is that you work. It's a working culture. We're raising our level of work and focus and belief. It's always we over me."
Players Mentioned
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