Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
University of Iowa
Indiana Opens Big Ten Play Against Iowa This Weekend
3/24/2016 2:41:00 PM | Softball
THE LINEUP
Friday, March 25 - 6 p.m. | Promo: IU water bottle to first 500 fans
Saturday, March 26 - 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 27 - Noon | Promo: Post-game Easter Egg Hunt
CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION
The Hawkeyes head into conference action with an 8-16 record. Iowa is coming off a trip to the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Honolulu, where the team went 2-3, picking up wins against Texas and Hawaii.
Iowa has five batters hitting above .300, led by a .359 average from Mallory Kilian. Kaitlyn Mullarkey leads the team with 17 RBI and four homers. while registering 22 hits and 21 runs.
The Hawkeyes pitching staff has seen outings from five different players. Elizabeth Wiegand (2.58 ERA, 4-3 record in 65,0 IP) and Shayla Starkenburg (3.44 ERA, 3-4 record in 40.2 IP) have seen the most time in the circle.
LAST TIME OUT
Indiana hosted in-state foe Indiana State in a midweek battle on Wednesday. The Hoosiers came away with a 12-5 win in the biggest offensive output of the year as the 12 runs scored and 10 RBI are the most this season.
Seniors Katelyn Conenna and Michelle Huber each hit a solo homer, while Huber plated three total runs and RBI. Conenna went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
TRAINER EARNS THIRD B1G AWARD
Pitcher Tara Trainer was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday for the second straight week and the third time this season.
Trainer also won the award on Feb. 29. Additionally, it's the fourth of the season for the Hoosiers as fellow pitcher Josie Wood was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week on Feb. 22.
The Lebanon, Ohio native registered an ERA of just 1.05 in 13.1 innings pitched during the Hoosier Classic, collecting 16 strikeouts.
Her most impressive performance came against Western Illinois on Sunday as she stepped into the circle in the first inning as the Hoosiers trailed 7-0 with a pair of outs. Trainer picked up the final out of the frame and went a total of 6.1 innings, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out five. Her dominance allowed the Indiana bats the opportunity to score 11 unanswered runs to win the game.
Trainer got the start against UIC on Friday and went 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out eight. Her final appearance of the weekend came in a 1.2 inning-relief appearance where she struck out three and did not allow a single hit against Wright State on Sunday.
On Wednesday, she went 2.0 hitless innings to help seal the win against the Sycamore.
The righty is third in the conference with an ERA of 1.85 and third with 112 strikeouts. Additionally, she is the top freshman in both of those categories. With an opposing batting average of .156, Trainer is best in the conference in that category.
On a national scale, Trainer ranks 18th in strikeouts – second most among freshmen – and 12th in hits allowed per seven innings – third-best among freshmen.
B1G TIME PITCHING
The Indiana pitching staff of Trainer, Wood and Emily Kirk ranks third in the conference in ERA (2.37), strikeouts (200), hits allowed (157 - tied with Iowa) and runs allowed (82). Additionally, IU sits at second with an opposing batting average of just .222.
Nationally, the IU pitching trio ranks 33rd with the 2.37 ERA.
BLITZ COVERING HER BASES
Sophomore Rebecca Blitz has plated at least one run in each of the last seven games, including a three-run showing against Western Illinois on Sunday. She also scored a pair of runs against Indiana State on Wednesday. Additionally, her five-game hitting streak leads the team, as does her eight-game reached base streak.
Once she reaches first, she rarely stays put as her 16 stolen bases is third in the Big Ten and ranks 41st nationally.
HUBER'S SURGE AT THE PLATE
Capped by her three-run effort on Wednesday, Huber has had an impressive week on offense. In the last four games, she is hitting .583 with a .917 slugging percentage, seven hits, five runs and four RBI. She collected two multi-hit games and two multi-run games in that stretch.
THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM
The Hoosiers have seen the most offensive production in the third frame this season, outscoring opponents 22-1 in the inning. The 22 runs is the most out of any frame, while the one run by opponents is also the best. The next-highest total comes in the fifth with the Hoosiers plating 20 runs.
WHAT ELSE IS ON TAP?
The Hoosiers continue conference play next weekend as they play host to No. 2 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.
