Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Set to Host IU Classic
3/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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March 22, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana softball team returns home to host the IU Classic on March 24-26 at the IU Softball Field. The Hoosiers welcome Michigan State, Western Kentucky and Wright State over the three-day event. MSU and Indiana will not face each other at the tournament. Indiana faces Western Kentucky on March 24 and 25 at 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. respectively, while the Hoosiers will square off against Wright State on March 25 at 9:30 a.m.
SPRING BREAK REVIEW
Indiana went 6-2 over spring break en route to their first tournament title since 2004 (IU Classic) at the Florida State Invitational on March 10-12. The Hoosiers posted a perfect 6-0 record at the FSU tournament to garner the crown, while junior Kim Richards was selected as the tournament Most Valuable Player. Senior right fielder Lauren Hines and senior pitcher Mariangee Bogado were also selected to the all-tournament team. At the FSU Invitational, Indiana defeated two ranked opponents (No. 15 Nebraska, No. 25 North Carolina), marking the first time the Hoosiers topped a nationally-ranked program since 1998 (UCLA, 6-2). IU concluded the break with a pair of losses to Stetson, 2-1, and Liberty, 3-1.
WESTERN KENTUCKY PREVIEW
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers come into the IU Classic with a 16-13 record on the season and have faced three opponent teams in the process.
Freshman second baseman Allie Miles leads WKU with a .326 batting average and 28 hits on the season, while sophomore catcher Shelby Smith is not far behind with a .295 clip and 23 hits.
Head coach Rachel Lawson is in her second season with the Hilltoppers and has accumulated a record of 49-37 with the program.
Western Kentucky leads the series 2-0 over Indiana, including a 3-1 victory in 2005.
WRIGHT STATE PREVIEW
Wright State comes into the matchup with the Hoosiers winless on the season with a 0-15 record. The Raiders have been out-scored 116-32 on the season.
Junior pitcher Amanda Cody leads the Raiders with a .405 batting average and a 6.15 ERA on the season. Sophomore infielder Bridget Henry also contributes to the offense with a .303 batting clip and 10 hits.
Second-year head coach Mike Larabee has led the Raiders to a 15-29 record while at the helm of the program.
Indiana leads the series over Wright State, 5-1, the most recent meeting going in favor of the Hoosiers 5-4 in 2004.
WHAT'S COMING UP
The Hoosiers conclude their tournament part of the 2006 schedule at the IU Classic on March 24-26, and have one more non-conference series with Illinois-Chicago on March 29 before beginning Big Ten action. IU opens Big Ten play on March 31-April 1, when they host Ohio State.
DON'T STOP NOW
Through 21 games, a total of eight Hoosiers have posted hitting streaks of three games or better this season. Of those Hoosiers, three IU ballplayers are currently on a two-or-more game hitting streak heading into the IU Classic March 24-26. Leading the pack is sophomore left fielder Julia Hamilton who is currently on a nine-game hitting streak, while freshman Sarah Padove (3) and senior pitcher Mariangee Bogado (2) round out the contingent.
TOURNAMENT HONORS
Junior Kim Richards earned Most Valuable Player honors at the FSU Invitational for her efforts in leading the Hoosiers to a 6-0 record en route to their first tournament title since 2004 at the invitational. The center fielder registered seven hits, two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI during the six-game stretch. Senior pitcher Mariangee Bogado and senior right fielder Lauren Hines also received selections to the all-tournament team.
Bogado proved instrumental in the Hoosier's title run, posting a 1.22 ERA while allowing only five earned runs through 28 2/3 innings of action. The senior also fanned 38 in the performance.
Hines led all Hoosiers' at the tournament with a .474 batting average, a .579 slugging percentage, nine hits, two doubles and two RBI.
BIG TEN HONORS
Senior pitcher Mariangee Bogado grabbed her first career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week accolade for the week ending March 12, the league office announced on March 14. Bogado helped lead the Hoosiers to their first tournament title since claiming the 2004 IU Classic crown.
Bogado led the Hoosiers from the hill with four wins en route to the FSU Invitational title in Tallahassee, Fla. Of Bogado's four wins, two came over top-25 opponents in No. 15 Nebraska, 2-1, and No. 25 North Carolina, 1-0.
In total, Bogado recorded 38 strikeouts at the tournament and 41 in seven games. Additionally, Bogado gave up only five earned runs in her 30 2/3 innings of pitching. The effort included three complete games.
