Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
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University of Texas-El Paso
Hoosiers Set for Texas A&M Invitational
2/25/2016 11:23:00 AM | Softball
THE LINEUP
Friday, Feb. 26
1:15 p.m. ET Indiana vs. UTEP - Stats | Listen
4 p.m. ET Indiana at No. 16 Texas A&M - Watch (SEC Network +) | Stats | Listen
Saturday, Feb. 27
1:15 p.m. ET Indiana vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi - Stats | Listen
6:15 p.m. ET Indiana at No. 16 Texas A&M - Watch (SEC Network +) | Stats | Listen
Sunday, Feb. 28
10 a.m. ET Indiana vs. UTEP - Stats | Listen
CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION
IU's first contest of the weekend comes against UTEP, who has started the year 4-6, picking up a pair of wins against Incarnate Word, as well as a win versus UNLV and Grand Canyon. Kaitlin Ryder paces the Miner offense with a .483 average, 14 hits, 8 runs and 7 RBI. Kiki Pepi is also a threat at the plate with four home runs in the young season. The teams will also square off Sunday morning.
Friday evening will see the Hoosiers face host Texas A&M, who is ranked 16th in the nation. The Aggies are 12-1, with the only loss coming against No. 7 UCLA. Texas A&M is on a nine-game winning streak and swept last weekend's Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, including wins against then-No. 16 UCF, No. 9 Washington and No. 10 Arizona. The Aggies have five players who have registered double-digits in both hits and runs, led by Keeli Milligan who has 20 hits and 11 runs. In the circle, A&M relies mainly on Trinity Harrington (3-0) and Samantha Show (8-1). The Hoosiers and Aggies will also face off Saturday evening. Both games will be broadcast on SEC Network +.
Indiana will play a single game against Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday afternoon. The Islanders sit at 7-3, with two early wins coming against fellow-Big Ten team Iowa. Dani Tefft has been a big producer on offense with a .333 average, 11 hits, 4 runs and 4 RBI. Colleen Bentke (3-0) and Liz Carter (4-2) have carried most of the pitching load this year.
LAST TIME OUT
Indiana went 3-1 over the weekend at the Panther Invitational, hosted by FIU. The Hoosiers dropped a 5-2 decision to the Panthers, but picked up two wins against Delaware and a victory in a 12-inning marathon versus Holy Cross.
WOOD IMPRESSES IN MIAMI
Over the weekend, freshman pitcher Josie Wood picked up two wins in three games, including winning both games she started (both complete games). Against Delaware, she allowed just one earned run on six hits in the effort and tossed five shutout innings until the Blue Hens got on the board in the sixth frame. She threw a complete game in IU's 12-inning win against Holy Cross. The 12 innings pitched by Wood ties the fifth-most for a single pitcher at Indiana and the most since Monica Wright tossed 12 on May 14, 2010. In the game, Wood faced 44 batters, giving up just one run with 10 strikeouts and no walks. Beginning in the ninth, she retired 11 batters in a row, including registering three straight 1-2-3 innings to keep the game tied up at 1-1. For her efforts, Wood was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week.
Wood and fellow freshman pitcher Tara Trainer are currently tied for six-most strikeouts in the Big Ten with 29.
STREAKING AT THE PLATE
• Senior Shannon Cawley is riding a nine-game hitting streak, having registered at least one knock in every game this year. Four of her 11 hits on the year have been for extra bases.
• Other Hoosiers on hitting streaks include senior Kelsey Dotson (7 games), who hit a walk-off three-run homer to defeat Holy Cross and Rebecca Blitz (6 games), who has reached safely in all nine games of the year. Sophomores Taylor Uden and Aimilia McDonough are also riding four-game hitting streaks.
MCDONOUGH'S BIG WEEKEND
Speaking of the sophomore transfer from Ole Miss, McDonough put up a huge weekend at FIU. She played in all four games of the weekend, starting the final three. McDonough went 4-for-10 at the plate, including an RBI double against Delaware on Sunday.
WHAT ELSE IS ON TAP?
On March 4, Indiana visits No. 3-ranked Auburn for the Wilson/DeMarini Classic and will also take on Georgia State for the second time this season, Murray State and Bryant.
Following a mid-week showdown in Lexington against Kentucky, the Hoosiers open up home play at Andy Mohr Field on March 12 with the IU Classic. The season features 24 games at Andy Mohr Field, including a stretch of 16 straight beginning March 12. The tournament will feature meetings against Ohio, Evansville and Drake (DH). The following weekend sees Indiana hosting the Hoosier Classic and playing UIC, Western Illinois and Wright State. After a mid-week game against Indiana State on March 23, Indiana begins Big Ten play with back-to-back weekend series against Iowa and currently No.2-ranked Michigan.
Other home Big Ten meetings include Penn State (April 8-10) and Ohio State (April 29-May 1). Remaining non-conference games include Louisville (April 12) and Ball State (April 20).
Road conference series for Indiana begins with a doubleheader against Purdue on April 5. The Hoosiers also travel to Michigan State (April 15-17), Rutgers (April 22-24) and Maryland (May 6-8). Penn State will play host to the Big Ten Tournament beginning on May 12.
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