Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
University of Kentucky
IU Heads to No. 17 Kentucky for Midweek Showdown
3/8/2016 2:17:00 PM | Softball
THE LINEUP
Wednesday, March 9
Indiana at No. 17 Kentucky
Watch ($) | Listen | Stats
CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION
Kentucky has started its season 18-3, including winning 11 of the last 12, for its best start in program history through 21 games. The Wildcats have picked up wins against four ranked teams this season, including No. 6 Oregon on Feb. 13. Losses for UK include Oregon State, No. 22 California, an opponent the Hoosiers faced on Feb. 14, and Charlotte. Wednesday's game will serve as the home opener for the Wildcats.
In last year's matchup, IU surrendered three first-inning runs to the Wildcats before holding them to just one in the final six innings. Kelsey Dotson collected the lone RBI of the game for Indiana as she brought in Bri Meyer on a single in the first inning. Kentucky's Erin Rethlake threw a complete game in the victory.
Freshman Katie Reed leads the team with a .460 average, registering 29 hits with 22 runs and 12 RBI. Another freshman, Abbey Cheek, earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after going 7-of-13 on the weekend with a team-high eight RBIs and five runs scored to help lead UK to the 2016 Winthrop Invitational Championship. She has drove in a team-high 30 runs, while scoring 18 of her own.
Kelsey Nunley (6-1, 0.82 ERA) and Meaghan Prince (8-0, 1.97 ERA) have carried the majority of the pitching load this season.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hoosiers traveled to Auburn, Ala. over the weekend for the Wilson/DeMarini Classic. Indiana picked up a pair of wins against Murray State, as well as a single game against Georgia State in the second meeting of the year between the two teams. IU went toe-to-toe with No. 3 Auburn as a grand slam from Cara Tsirigos sparked the Hoosiers to a 7-0 lead. However, the Tigers responded and scored eight unanswered to win the game in eight innings, 8-7.
TSIRIGOS' BIG WEEKEND
The junior registered a team-best six RBI over the weekend, including five against No. 3 Auburn, tied for third-most in a single game in IU history. Following her second career grand slam against the Tigers, Tsirigos picked up another RBI on a double down the left field line in the third inning. The following day, Tsirigos recorded her sixth RBI of the weekend on a single en route to Indiana's 5-1 win against Murray State.
For the season, Tsirigos is second on the team with a .367 average and leads with her .667 slugging percentage and 11 RBI. Additionally, her two home runs are tied for the lead.
CIRCLE THIS
Once again, the Indiana pitching staff but up impressive performances over the weekend. Freshman Josie Wood went 2-0 in Alabama with a 1.34 ERA. Against Georgia State, Wood one-hit the Panthers on the way to a 3-0 shutout. It was her second career one-hitter. Wood also picked up a shutout against Murray State on Sunday. Including those two games, Wood has now tossed three complete game shutouts. Fellow freshman Tara Trainer posted a 2.40 ERA over the weekend, pitching solidly against No. 3 Auburn and then racking up 10 strikeouts in six innings against Murray State on Saturday. The Indiana pitching staff has now registered seven games on the year with at least 10 strikeouts, which is the most in a single season since 2011.
For the season, Trainer sits at third in the conference with an opposing batting average of just .186. In addition, she's fifth in the Big Ten with 70 strikeouts on the year. Wood is also near the top as her 59 strikeouts is good for sixth in the conference. In addition, her 64.1 innings pitched is third in the Big Ten. Trainer has put up 10 strikeouts in three games this season, while Wood has registered one 10-K game.
GETTING ON BASE
Sophomore Rebecca Blitz saw her 17 on-base streak snapped against Murray State on Sunday. Blitz's on-base percentage of .478 is currently 13th in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, senior Kelsey Dotson is currently riding a 16-game streak and is tied for fourth in the conference with nine walks on the year.
TUNE IN
For the first time, every Indiana Softball home game will be available for streaming, starting with this weekend's home-opening Indiana Classic.
Each home contest will be streamed through BTN Plus, a web-only streaming service that is available for a small monthly fee. Of the 23 home games, 11 will be streamed through a full broadcast, while the other 12 will be filmed using a one-camera setup.
Indiana's away series at Michigan State (April 15-17) and Maryland (May 6-8) will also be available on BTN Plus.
Additionally, the Hoosiers will play a pair of games on Big Ten Network, as both games of the April 5 doubleheader at Purdue will be carried on the network.
WHAT ELSE IS ON TAP?
The Hoosiers open up home play at Andy Mohr Field on March 12 with the Indiana 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.
