Indiana University Athletics
IU Hopes Series Win Sparks Something Bigger
5/2/2016 11:26:00 AM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – There was hardly room for doubt the moment Michelle Huber's bat met Lena Springer's pitch in the sixth inning—the ball was gone. And it was heading out quickly.
The bases were loaded when Huber smacked Springer's offering over the right field wall in the bottom of the sixth inning Sunday to give Indiana a 5-3 lead over Ohio State. That score would hold, clinching the Hoosiers (26-23, 8-12) their first series victory against the Buckeyes (30-14-1, 12-7-1) since 2011.
"I knew she was going to throw me one," Huber said. "I wasn't going to get out, I knew that for sure. I was just looking for a good pitch to drive, and she threw it out. I just went with it and yeah, it went over."
In the moment, Sunday's win gave Indiana's senior class something to celebrate after its final game at Andy Mohr Field. Their fingerprints were all over the game and the series, whether it be Huber's grand slam or fifth-year senior outfielder Shannon Cawley's 6-for-10, four runs and three RBI line across the three games.
Credit Cawley for helping spark IU's four-run sixth inning. After nearly hitting head coach Michelle Gardner with a line drive to foul territory down the left field line with junior Erin Lehman standing on first, Gardner motioned for her to place the ball a little further to right in fair territory.
The very next pitch, Cawley listened and roped a double into the left field corner. Junior CaraMia Tsirigos walked to load the bases and Huber did the rest of the damage with one swing of the bat.
"I kind of had an epiphany, if you will, over the last week or whenever it was," Cawley said. "I realized I have a finite number of games left, and the only person that can control how my career ends is myself, so I just want to have fun. I love this game too much not to."
Indiana's series couldn't have come at a more crucial time in the Hoosiers' schedule after being swept by Rutgers the week before. IU's eight Big Ten wins assure the program a place in the Big Ten Tournament, meaning all that's left to worry about is seeding in the final week of the regular season.
Knowing their place is assured in the postseason takes some of the stress off the final series of the year against Maryland, especially considering how tight the conference has been lately. Teams 7-through-11 in the standings have hardly any breathing room between them, but Gardner said it's best for her players to compartmentalize the big picture as much as they can.
A series win over Ohio State, a team that received votes in the Top-25, certainly makes that easier.
"You can't put too much into who you're playing now, especially in this conference," Cawley said. "It's just a matter of sometimes, some team comes out and wants it more. I'm confident we can beat any team on any given day."
Cawley isn't alone in thinking that, either.
After slumping through the middle of April, Indiana's players and Gardner both talked about a revitalized confidence heading into the closing stretch of the year. Sunday's game, Gardner said, was the most complete she's seen, and she's hoping it's only a sign of things to come in May.
"I think we could beat anybody in this conference," Gardner said. "Yes, there's a couple of teams that are going to be a really tall order, but you know what? If these kids come out and compete like they just did, we can beat anyone. I mean that whole-heartedly. We can beat anybody. So it's exciting.
"It's good stuff."
