Indiana University Athletics
IU Looking for Offensive Push as the Hoosiers Continue Homestand
3/17/2016 10:03:00 AM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It wasn't the start Indiana wanted.
The Hoosiers began a 15-game homestand last weekend at the Indiana Classic, dropping their first game to Ohio, 6-0.
As has been the case at times this season, the team that a year ago broke numerous offensive records struggled to get things going at the plate.
Then, a breakthrough. The Hoosiers drove in eight runs in a shutout effort against Evansville on Saturday, propelling them to a sweep of their final three games of the Classic to tie their longest win streak of the season.
"We realized that this is our home," junior utility player Erin Lehman said. "We didn't want to lose here. This is our house. We don't let anyone else come in here and beat us on our own dirt."
Lehman's 20 RBI was a key on a 2015 squad that finished second all-time in RBIs, runs scored and walks. The same team also obliterated the program record for home runs, besting the previous mark of 40 by 11 long balls.
This season, Indiana returned eight of its nine most called-upon hitters and its top five hitters in terms of RBI, yet hasn't quite found its groove in 2016.
The Hoosiers know they can get the bats talking, though. They did it last year. They do it at practice. They've done it at times this season, such as their 8-0 win against Evansville on Saturday.
Now, it's just a matter of getting those efforts to translate.
"Our offense hasn't kicked into its full potential yet," Lehman said. "I think we all need to get into a rhythm. Hitting is contagious, so once we get some of our really good hitters at their full potential I think that everyone else will relax and start doing what we can do."
Indiana might not be hitting like it was last season, but as a whole, these Hoosiers comprise a more complete team than they did in 2015.
Before, head coach Michelle Gardner said her squad would have to rely on hitting to win games. Now, they have help on the mound from two Big Ten Freshman of the Week in pitchers Josie Wood and Tara Trainer, who tossed her first career no-hitter to lead the Hoosiers past the Purple Aces in five innings, the first such no-hit effort for Indiana since 2013.
Overall, the two complete-game shutouts and 20 strikeouts on the weekend earned Trainer her second conference nod of the season.
"We have a great pitching staff in myself, Josie and Emily Kirk," Trainer said. "We help each other. We have each other's backs."
Strong circles and a solid defense has helped Indiana secure 14 wins and remain five games above .500. But having that support also means a mentality shift at the plate, Gardner said.
The Hoosiers don't have the same pressure to produce as they did a season ago. What they need to do now, Gardner said, is relieve that pressure, relax and go hit.
And there's no place better to start than at Andy Mohr field.
"Now that we've been here a week, I think it will be much better," Gardner said. "It's embracing the fact that we are at home. I think we will thrive on that."
Indiana continues its home stand this weekend with the Hoosier Classic, beginning at 6:15 pm Friday against the University of Illinois Chicago.
By design, the Hoosiers will play three games in three days. With it being the last weekend before the start of Big Ten play, the set-up will simulate the structure of a conference series.
Lehman said she and her teammates will look to improve communication, work out a few kinks and of course, get the offense going. But overall, she feels they're ready for Big Ten play.
All that's left is to show that confidence at the plate.
"It's really just preparing to come out day after day and leave it all on the field in that three-game series," Gardner said. "That's what I'm looking for this weekend. I want to come out, be competitive and do things the way Indiana softball does them."
And what is the Indiana Softball way?
"We need to score runs."
