Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Visits Purdue for a Tuesday Doubleheader
4/4/2016 2:57:00 PM | Softball
CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION
The Boilermakers are coming off a three-game set with Iowa, which saw Purdue take the first two games before falling in the finale, 10-3. In the first weekend of conference play, Purdue was swept by No. 22 Minnesota.
Kristen Hoppman (.354 average, 40 hits, 23 runs) and Lauren Stewart (.324 average, 34 hits, 29 runs) have paced Purdue offensively.
In the circle, Lilly Fecho (1.80 ERA, 15-6) has been Purdue's ace this season. Her ERA is tops in the Big Ten, as is her 139.2 innings pitched.
Last time these two teams played, a Bloomington thunderstorm halted game one of the doubleheader in the first inning. The teams resumed the games a couple weeks later but due to the timing of the reschedule, they did not count towards either team's conference record.
LAST TIME OUT
Indiana dropped all three games to No. 2 Michigan over the weekend.
The Hoosiers opened Big Ten play with a sweep of Iowa at Andy Mohr Field March 25-27. Indiana staged a comeback in every game to walk away with 5-3, 9-3 and 10-5 victories.
IU's sweep of the Hawkeyes to start Big Ten play marked the first time since 1997 Indiana has opened conference play with a sweep. Additionally, it's also the first time since 1997 that IU started Big Ten season with a series victory. Despite this weekend's setback against Michigan, at 20-13, the Hoosiers are off to their best start in Gardner's tenure and the best since 1997, a year that saw Indiana sit at a 21- record through the first 33 games.
MOHR GAMES AT HOME
Indiana sees its 14-game homestand end as the Hoosiers head to Purdue. IU went 9-5 in that stretch and has played more overall home games than anyone else in the Big Ten with the next being Penn State with nine home games. After Indiana travels to Purdue, they head back to Andy Mohr Field for a four-game stand in Bloomington.
IU BATS TRENDING UP
Indiana has seen a strong increase in its offense as of late. Since the March 20 game against Western Illinois, IU has put together a team average of .344. Prior to the game against Western Illinois, IU had been hitting .231 as a team.
The Hoosiers did hit strongly against Michigan with a .303 average. Additionally, Indiana outhit the Wolvervines on Sunday, 11-8, but could not overcome a pair of Michigan grand slams.
CALLING ON CAWLEY
A big part of Indiana's offensive surge as of late can be credited to redshirt senior Shannon Calwey, who has hit .467 with seven base knocks and a team-best .667 slugging percentage in that stretch since March 20. Over the weekend, Cawley led the team with a .571 average with four hits, including a pair of doubles, and is currently riding a five-game hitting streak.
BLITZ COVERING HER BASES
In the last 13 games, sophomore Rebecca Blitz has plated 17 runs, including two over the weekend against Michigan. She has registered 10 multi-hit games this year. Additionally, her 11-game hitting streak leads the team, as does her 14-game reached base streak. Her .396 average is ninth in the conference, while her 42 hits is tied for seventh.
Once she reaches first, she rarely stays put as her 20 stolen bases is tied for second in the Big Ten and ranks 38th nationally.
THIRD INNING'S THE CHARM
Indiana continues to see the third inning as its most productive, both offensively and defensively. The Hoosiers have put up 26 runs in the third inning this season while giving up just six.
YOUNG PITCHING STAFF PUTTING UP IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS
The Indiana pitching staff of freshmen Tara Trainer, Josie Wood and sophomore Emily Kirk continues to put up big numbers. The trio ranks fifth in the Big Ten in ERA (3.08) and second in opposing batting average (.231), while ranking third in strikeouts (229) and hits allowed (200). Indiana has already surpassed last year's strikeout total (174 in 56 games).
Trainer is tied for second in the Big Ten with an opposing batting average of .181 and fifth with 131 strikeouts, including being the top freshman. Meanwhile, Wood ranks fourth in the conference with 108.0 innings pitched, most amongst freshmen.
On a national scale, Trainer ranks 26th in strikeouts – third-most among any freshmen – and 18th in strikeouts per seven innings. She also is 32nd in hits allowed per seven innings.
WHAT ELSE IS ON TAP?
Indiana returns to Andy Mohr Field this weekend for a meeting with Penn State. The final Big Ten home series of the season will be against Ohio State (April 29-May 1). Remaining non-conference home games include Louisville (April 12) and Ball State (April 20).
The rest of the Hoosiers' conference road series includes 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.
