Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Rutgers University
Hoosiers Visit Rutgers This Weekend
4/21/2016 1:17:00 PM | Softball
THE LINEUP
Friday, April 22 - 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 23 - 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 24 - Noon
CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION
Rutgers ended a six-game skid on Wednesday as the Scarlet Knights took both games of a doubleheader against Maryland. The team's other Big Ten wins came in a series victory against Illinois the first weekend of April. The Scarlet Knights have struggled at home this season, going 2-9 thus far at the Rutgers Softball Complex.
Stephanie Huang is leading the offense with a .374 average, 55 hits, 30 runs and 20 RBI. Jordan Whitley is also hitting above .300 with a .307 average, 42 hits, 24 runs and 18 RBI.
In the circle, Rutgers has utilized four pitchers this season, with most of the workload coming from Dresden Maddox (4.47 ERA, 8-10, 29 app.), Whitney Jones (4.84 ERA, 5-5, 27 app,) and Shayla Sweeney (4.87 ERA, 6-6, 23 app.).
These teams last met for a three-game series in Bloomington in March 2015. Rutgers took the first game, but in game two, Indiana stormed back from a 7-0 fifth-inning deficit to score eight unanswered and win game two. Erin Lehman hit a walk-off RBI single to seal the win for the Hoosiers as it matched the biggest comeback for Indiana in 20 years. In the series finale, Rutgers led 8-2 and the Hoosiers looked for another comeback as they scored four runs in the fifth. After the Scarlet Knights added a pair of runs in the sixth, the game was called in the bottom of the frame to accommodate the Scarlet Knights' travel plans as Rutgers walked away with a 10-6 win.
LAST TIME OUT
Indiana hosted Ball State on Wednesday in a midweek battle, picking up a 7-1 victory. Sophomore Emily Kirk earned the win for the Hoosiers, going 6.0 innings with only one run. Sophomore Rebecca Blitz knocked three hits, while sophomore Rachel O'Malley scored three runs to lend run support to Kirk.
The Hoosiers traveled to East Lansing, Mich. over the weekend for a three-game set with Michigan State. The Spartans took the first two games before Indiana rallied to take the finale on Sunday, 2-1.
NON-CONFERENCE WRAP-UP
Wednesday's meeting with Ball State marked the final non-conference game of the year for Indiana. The Hoosiers end the non-conference portion of the schedule with a 18-11 mark, including going 7-3 at home and 11-3 in neutral site locations.
EMILY KIRK IN THE CIRCLE
With Wednesday's win against Ball State, Kirk has now picked up a win in her last three starts, dating back to April 10 against Penn State. In the win against Nittany Lions and Sunday's victory against Michigan State, Kirk tossed a complete game. Kirk made appearances in all three games of the series against the Spartans. On Friday she went 2.2 innings in relief, allowing one run. Saturday's game saw her throw 1.0 hitless inning, Going back to IU's April 9 meeting with Penn State, Kirk has appeared in seven straight games. In that time frame, she leads the Indiana pitchers with a 3-0 mark and a 1.70 ERA in 24.2 innings pitched.
For the season, she is currently sitting at a team-best 3.31 ERA in 19 appearances. In addition, the Hoosiers are 5-0 in games in which she has started.
1-2 PUNCH
The duo of sophomore Rebecca Blitz and junior Erin Lehman have been successful in getting the Hoosier offense going in the 1-2 lineups slots this season. Blitz, who has hit leadoff in every game this year, has an on-base percentage of .461 when she leads off an inning. She is currently riding an eight-game reached-base streak. Once she makes it to first, she rarely stays put as she has 27 stolen bags on the year, good for third-most in a single season at Indiana. She is tied for the lead in stolen bases in the Big Ten.
Lehman has been second in the lineup for 33 games this year and is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak, with four of those games including multi-hit efforts. She collected six hits over the weekend while hitting .545 and knocked three hits in the finale on Sunday. In the last seven games, Lehman is batting .522 with 12 hits, six runs and four RBI. Additionally, she has six stolen bags in that time.
DOTSON MAKING HER PRESENCE KNOWN
After missing the last month with an injury, catcher Kelsey Dotson returned to the lineup this weekend. The senior drew a walk in each of the first two games, but truly made her presence felt in the finale as she belted a two-run double in the fifth inning to score Blitz and Lehman and put the Hoosiers ahead of the Spartans, 2-1.
Against Ball State, Dotson picked up a pair of hits, including an RBI single. For contests in which she has played, she currently has a reached-base streak of 23 games.
SHUTTING THE DOOR
Behind Indiana's strong pitching and defense, the Hoosiers have not given opponents opportunities for late comebacks as they are 19-0 when leading after the sixth inning. Additionally, Indiana is 19-1 when leading after five innings.
WHAT ELSE IS ON TAP?
The final Big Ten home series of the season will be against Ohio State (April 29-May 1). Indiana will wrap up the regular season portion of the schedule with a visit to Maryland (May 6-8). Penn State will play host to the Big Ten Tournament beginning on May 12.
RANKINGS IN THE BIG TEN
BATTING
Stolen bases:
- T-1st - Rebecca Blitz (27)
- T-9th - Erin Lehman (12)
Hits:
- T-3rd - Rebecca Blitz (54)
Average:
- 12th - Rebecca Blitz (.380)
Plate appearances:
- T-10th - Rebecca Blitz (158)
Sacrifice bunts:
- T-3rd - Erin Lehman (7)
PITCHING
ERA:
- 12th - Tara Trainer (3.42)
Opposing BA:
- 4th - Tara Trainer (.193)
- 11th - Josie Wood (.258)
Innings pitched:
- 8th - Josie Wood (124.1)
- 9th - Tara Trainer (122.2)
Strikeouts:
- 5th - Tara Trainer (153)*
*tied for 11th most in a single season at Indiana
- 8th - Josie Wood (103)
