Indiana University Athletics
IU Hoping Series Sweep Sparks Momentum
3/27/2016 8:14:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Softball head coach Michelle Gardner didn't have much to be upset about postgame Sunday after completing a three-game sweep of the Iowa Hawkeyes. There wasn't reason to be.
The results—wins of 5-3, 9-3 and 10-5—were all she said she could ask for.
"It's phenomenal," Gardner said. "To finally be able to put a whole game together back-to-back-to-back, that's fantastic."
By sweeping the Hawkeyes, the Hoosiers (20-10, 3-0) won their first opening Big Ten series since taking three games against Penn State in 1997. That statistic is partially skewed because the conference played two-game sets requiring sweeps to take series wins from 2000 to 2011.
Friday's 5-3 win was historic in its own right because it was the program's first win on the Big Ten's opening day since 2006. The Hoosiers will head into next weekend's home series against Michigan three games over .500 in conference for the first time since the end of 2012.
"It's so exciting because from where we were last year to now, it's just everything coming together," sophomore center fielder Rebecca Blitz said. "We're just really excited to open Big Ten with a good start and show everyone we're back."
Indiana can credit a resurging offense for its strong play as of late.
The Hoosiers plated 24 total runs against the Hawkeyes and are averaging eight runs per game over their last six outings. During that same stretch, Indiana's staff is allowing opponents to score a little over 4.5 runs per game.
"We've just tried to break everything down, keep it simple and try not to do too much, and it's really working for us," said Blitz, who had seven hits, three RBIs and scored four runs against Iowa from the top of the order.
Blitz continues to pace Indiana with a .389 batting average and a .473 on base percentage, but it's been the bottom of the order's resurgence that's helped the Hoosiers lately.
Indiana had seven hits from the bottom four players in the lineup in Sunday's 10-5 win, setting the table for Blitz and the core of the lineup at the top to drive them in. Freshman shortstop Sarah Galovich drove in two runs and scored two more herself out of the ninth spot in the order to highlight the third win of the series.
The production at the bottom of the lineup is a welcoming trend for the Hoosiers now that the Big Ten portion of their schedule is in full swing.
"They've really found a way to put the ball in play and make things happen," Gardner said. "I'm just excited because we've needed them to get some things done, and now they're getting it done."
The road doesn't get any easier for Indiana with national powerhouse Michigan coming to Bloomington for three games next weekend, but the Hoosiers appear to be stringing momentum together at the right time.
Gardner said that's even more so the case because they're doing it at home where IU plays three of its four first conference series.
"It's really nice just to show everyone that we're ready to play," Blitz said," and we're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten this year."
