Indiana University Athletics
2015 Indiana Softball Season Preview
1/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The Returners
Shannon Cawley, Sr., Outfield, Brookfield, Ill.
Katelyn Conenna, Jr., Utility, Addison, Ill.
Kelsey Dotson, Jr., Catcher/Third Base, Silver Lake, Ind.
Kassi Farmer, Jr., Catcher/Infield, Columbia, Ill.
Michelle Huber, Jr., Utility, Carmel, Ind.
Maria Latimer, So., Catcher, Leesburg, Va.
Erin Lehman, So., Utility, New Palestine, Ind.
Kayla Mathewson, So., Outfield, Lakewood, Colo.
Brianna Meyer, Sr., Outfield, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Lora Olson, Sr., Pitcher, Orland Park, Ill.
Alyssa Rosati, Jr., Outfield, Clearwater, Fla.
Miranda Tamayo, Sr., Pitcher, Huntington Beach, Calif.
CaraMia Tsirigos, So., Catcher/Infield, Atlanta, Ga.
Indiana will look to fill the loss of Breanna Saucedo, who led the team with a .335 batting average, 65 hits and 30 runs before graduating in 2014. However, Indiana does have much of its 2014 offensive firepower back this year, including senior Brianna Meyer and junior Kassi Farmer. Last season, the duo combined for 49 runs and 80 hits to be two of the top three scoring leaders. Farmer led the team with seven home runs, while Meyer tied with junior Kelsey Dotson for a team-high 23 runs batted in.
Sophomore CaraMia Tsirigos is looking to follow-up a big freshman campaign that saw the Atlanta, Ga. native hit six home runs, while earning an on-base percentage of .364. Erin Lehman is another sophomore coming off a productive season after scoring 16 runs on 24 hits last season.
After being sidelined in 2014 with an injury, senior Shannon Cawley is primed for a big year. In her first two seasons in Cream and Crimson, Cawley hit .301 while combining for 93 hits, 44 runs and 47 RBI, including a team-best 26 in 2013.
For a complete look at the 2014 stats, click here.
The Freshmen
Rebecca Blitz, Fr., Outfield, Birmingham, Ala.
Denisa Brooks, Fr., Infield, Columbus, Ind.
Kennedy Cribbs, Fr., San Gabriel, Calif.
Mena Fulton, Fr., Utility, Bloomington, Ind.
Emily Kirk, Fr., Pitcher, Round Rock, Texas
Rachel O'Malley, Fr., Infield, Elk Grove Village, Calif.
Sarah Thompson, Fr., Outfield, Greenwood, Ind.
Taylor Uden, Fr., Infield, Glendale, Ariz.
Indiana has a dynamic crop of freshmen joining the squad this season as eight new faces will suit up for the Hoosiers in 2015.
Here's a look at the freshmen class:
Hailing from Birmingham, Ala., Rebecca Blitz led her high school to a winning-tradition, while hitting .583 and swiping 34 bases in her senior campaign.
Named Columbus North's Team MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Team Captain, Denisa Brooks recorded a career batting average of .482, while earning a fielding percentage of .945.
San Gabriel, Calif. - native Kennedy Cribbs hit .417 last season, which ranks 12th in her high school's history. For her efforts, Cribbs picked up First Team All-League, First Team All-Area and Team MVP honors.
Bloomington's own Mena Fulton, who led South to its first-even State Championship appearance last season is a four-time All-Conference selection and was named the Bloomington Herald-Times Player of the Year.
During her senior season, Rachel O'Malley hit a school-record 11 home runs and 47 RBI, while picking up numerous accolades, including Chicago Sun-Times All-Area.
Named the Top Female Athlete at Center Grove in 2014, Sarah Thompson hit .372 with 35 hits, 28 runs and 17 RBI in her senior season. In addition, the Greenwood, Ind. native is a multiple All-District selection.
Also named the Female Athlete of the Year at her high school after her senior year, Taylor Uden knocked in 38 runs, while hitting .473 with nine home runs. She was named First Team All-Section in both her junior and seniors seasons.
Pitching
Senior Lora Olson is gearing up for her senior campaign. The right-handed pitcher made 36 appearances and a team-high 26 starts in 2014 and finished the year with a 3.98 ERA and eight wins.
Fellow senior Miranda Tamayo, who is returning to the Hoosiers after not playing last year, joins Olson in the circle this season. Tamayo has made three career appearances for the Hoosiers, two in 2012 and one in 2013.
Freshman Emily Kirk, a Round Rock, Texas native, is set for her Indiana debut. Kirk was a three-time First Team All-District selection and recorded 253 strikeouts her senior season, while helping her high school to a Co-District Championship.
The Schedule
This season, Indiana will face eight teams that played in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, including three teams that advanced to the Super Regionals. Six Indiana opponents - Kentucky (No. 6), UCLA (No. 7), Michigan (No. 8), Georgia (No. 12), Arizona State (No. 16) and Notre Dame (No. 22) - rank in the Top 25 USA Today/NFCA Coaches Preseason Poll.
The Hoosiers open the season with four straight roads trips, starting with the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe. Indiana will then host the Indiana Classic and the Hoosier Classic on back-to-back weekends at Andy Mohr Field.
Other non-conference matchups for Indiana include Kentucky (March 18), Louisville (March 25), Ball State (April 21) and Indiana State (April 28).
Indiana opens up Big Ten play at home on March 20 against Rutgers. Other home Big Ten battles include Maryland, Purdue and Michigan State. The Hoosiers will face Illinois, Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State on the road.
Media Contact: Caitlin Davis, davis288@indiana.edu
