Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Opens up B1G Play Against Rutgers
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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| Rutgers (10-7) at Indiana (9-20) - Bloomington, Ind. | |
| Date | March 20-22 |
| Location | Andy Mohr Field • Bloomington, Ind. |
| Game 1 (Friday) | 6 p.m. | GameTracker | Water Bottle Giveaway |
| Game 2 (Saturday) | 1 p.m. | GameTracker | Social Media Giveaway |
| Game 3 (Sunday) | 1 p.m. | GameTracker | Post-Game Clinic |
| Radio | Listen Live |
| Game Notes | Indiana | Rutgers |
| Social Media | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Hoosiers open up Big Ten play this weekend with a three-game set against Rutgers, who is playing in their first-ever Big Ten series as a member of the conference.
In addition to welcoming the Scarlet Knights to the Big Ten, Indiana will also welcome back several alumni as part of Alumni Weekend celebrations.
Stay tuned to IUHoosiers.com and @IUSoftball for all the latest news and info from Andy Mohr Field.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hoosiers traveled to Lexington, Ky. on Wednesday for a mid-week battle with No. 13 Kentucky. Indiana got on the board first with an RBI single by Kelsey Dotson in the first inning before Kentucky responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. The Hoosiers matched the Wildcats hit-for-hit with seven base knocks and allowed only one more run in the final five innings, but ultimately dropped the game to Kentucky, 4-1.
Prior to the showdown with the Wildcats, Indiana finally was able to open up play at Andy Mohr Field last weekend by hosting the Hoosier Classic, which saw the team go 4-1.
Indiana defeated Bowling Green on Thursday in the 2015 home opener. Four different Hoosiers recorded multi-hit efforts while senior pitcher Lora Olson tossed a complete game, allowing just two runs and striking out five. Indiana picked up two victories on Saturday, defeating Wright State, 7-2, before earning their second win against Bowling Green, 5-2. On Sunday, the Hoosiers picked up a 9-2 victory over IPFW in a game that saw seven different players score at least one run. The finale to the Classic saw Indiana take on North Dakota State in a game that was rained out on Friday. The Bison jumped to a 9-0 lead before a grand slam by Shannon Cawley and solo homer by Mena Fulton cut the deficit to 9-5.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers has started their first season as a Big Ten program with a 10-7 record and recently had a five-game winning streak snapped by Iowa State. The Scarlet Knights split a two-game set with New Mexico, whom Indiana faced a few weeks ago in Henderson, Nev.
Rutgers has four players hitting .300 or better, including Jackie Bates (.439) and Jordan Whitley (.415). Bates leads the team with 25 hits, 21 runs and six homers.
LEHMAN LIGHTING `EM UP
Sophomore Erin Lehman earned her sixth consecutive game with a hit against No. 13 Kentucky, following up an impressive weekend in the Hoosier Classic. During the Hoosier Classic, Lehman batted .563 with nine hits, six runs and four RBI while starting all five games of the tournament.
In addition to her six game hitting streak, Lehman has picked up at least one hit in 11 of the last 13 games. She has recorded at least two hits in seven of those games, including three 3-hit efforts. Since a Feb. 27 game against No. 8 Georgia, Lehman is hitting .550 with 22 hits - including six doubles - 12 runs scored and eight RBI.
O'MALLEY AND FULTON MAKE THEIR MARK
Indiana freshmen Rachel O'Malley and Mena Fulton also had a big weekend at the Hoosier Classic. O'Malley hit. 417 with five hits, four runs and three RBI. The Elk Grove Village native turned in her first career homer against IPFW, a two-run shot. Against IPFW, O'Malley picked up two hits, two runs and three RBI.
Fulton started three games as a designated player, hitting .444 with four hits, two runs and two RBI. Against IPFW Fulton went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run and an RBI. She recorded a solo shot on Monday against NDSU.
PITCHING SHINES
Through the first four games of the Hoosier Classic, Indiana pitchers Lora Olson and Miranda Tamayo held opponents to just two runs each. The pair both picked up a pair of wins on the weekend, with Olson earning a 3.96 ERA and Tamayo tossing a 1.17 ERA.
After allowing three early runs in the first inning against Kentucky, Olson settled in to pitch a complete game, giving up only one more run in the contest.
Olson currently ranks first in the conference in games started with 20, while the Hoosier pitching staff ranks second in the Big Ten with 148 strikeouts on the year. Olson (68) and Tamayo (47) both rank in the top 13 in the conference in Ks.
#HOMERINGHOOSIERS
The Hoosiers racked up five home runs in the Hoosier Classic, including two against IPFW and North Dakota State, marking the ninth time this year Indiana has recorded multiple homers in a game.
The Hoosiers are fourth in the Big Ten with 27 homers on the year, led by Shannon Cawley (7) and Kelsey Dotson (6). For comparison, last season Indiana hit 30 home runs all season and Kassi Farmer led the way with seven.
Cawley's grand slam against NDSU was the first of her career and the second grand slam of the season after Dotson hit one on Feb. 27 against Lehigh. Nine different Hoosiers have gone yard so far this season.
1,000 PROGRAM WINS
Indiana's 9-2 win against IPFW on Sunday marked the 1,000th program win for the Hoosiers. Since the program began in 1974, Indiana has an all-time record of 1000-987-8.
TV TIME
Both games of Indiana's doubleheader with Purdue on April 8 will be shown on the Big Ten Network. In addition, seven Hoosier games will be available live on BTN Plus, a subscription-based web platform.
TUNE IN AND LISTEN UP
Every 2015 Indiana softball game will be broadcasted LIVE on IUHoosiers.com with Will Chukerman on the call. In addition, fans can also follow along with GameTracker, just click on the appropriate link in the schedule.
WHAT ELSE IS ON TAP FOR 2015?
Indiana will make another mid-week trip to the Bluegrass State next week to face Louisville on March 25.
Remaining non-conference matchups for the Hoosiers include Ball State (April 21) and Indiana State (April 28).
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.
The 2015 Big Ten Tournament will take place May 7-10 in Columbus, Ohio.
Media Contact: Caitlin Davis, davis288@indiana.edu
