Indiana University
University of Louisville
IU Visits Louisville for a Midweek Matchup
3/28/2017 3:08:00 PM | Softball
The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra while a live radio broadcast will be available on IUHoosiers.com
SCOUTING LOUISVILLE
The Cardinals have opened up ACC play 4-0 after sweeping Pittsburgh and picking up a win at Syracuse last weekend. Louisville is 10-2 at Ulmer Stadium with the only losses coming against Indiana State and Wisconsin.
Louisville is hitting .303 as a team with nine different players batting .300 or better on the year. Sidney Melton leads the way with a .364 average, and Nicole Pufahl is hitting .359 with 28 hits, 24 RBI and 17 runs.
Maryssa Becker (14-5, 1.77 ERA, 115.0 IP) and Megan Hensley (5-3, 2.25 ERA, 53.0 IP) have split the most time in the circle this season. Becker's 105 strikeouts is 36th in the nation and second in the ACC.
LAST TIME OUT
Indiana opened Big Ten play last weekend at Andy Mohr Field taking the series against Rutgers by going 2-1. The Hoosiers swept both games of Friday's doubleheader, 9-2 and 23-2, before falling in the finale, 7-5.
HOOSIERS SET RECORDS IN 23-2 WIN
The Indiana offense exploded for a 23-2 win against Rutgers on Friday. The game set numerous records for the Hoosiers such as:
• 23 runs is the most scored ever in a Big Ten game in IU history and the most in any game since 1978 when Indiana scored 40 runs.
• 20 hits is the most in head coach Michelle Gardner's nine-year tenure
• 23 RBI is the most in a single game under Coach Gardner
• Four home runs is the most under Coach Gardner as CaraMia Tsirigos, Taylor Uden, Rachel O'Malley and Nicole Lawvere all went yard in the win.
• 14 different Hoosiers scored at least one run and 13 picked up at least one hit
1-2 PUNCH
• Freshman Gabbi Jenkins has an 11-game hitting streak going, dating back to the March 10 game against Lipscomb. In those games, Jenkins has collected has 20 hits, scored 11 runs and added nine RBI while hitting .465 in the leadoff spot.
• Junior Rebecca Blitz, who has been hitting behind Jenkins as of late, is also riding an impressive hitting streak, having collected at least one base knock in 10 straight games going back to the March 11 game against Oakland. Blitz has 20 hits, 14 runs and eight RBI with a .556 average in that time frame. During the weekend series at Rutgers, Blitz hit .700 with seven base knocks, five runs four RBI and three walks.
TSIRIGOS KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK
• Senior CaraMia Tsirigos collected a homer in each of Indiana's win against Rutgers. After hitting a three-run home run in the first game, she knocked her third career grand slam in Indiana's 23-2 win. For the weekend, she batted .500 with four hits, three runs and eight RBI. Tsirigos is tied with junior Taylor Uden for the team lead in homers with four on the year.
TRAINER'S STRIKEOUT RANKINGS
Tara Trainer has 117 strikeouts on the year, good for 27th nationally and second in the Big Ten. In addition, her 8.4 strikeouts per seven innings is 37th in the country and third in the conference.
A season ago, the righty, who was named No. 21 on Fastpitch News' Preseason Top 50 NCAA Softball Pitchers List, set the Indiana freshman strikeout record with 183.
WHAT'S AHEAD IN 2017
The Hoosiers have 53 games on tap in 2017, including 16 to be played at Andy Mohr Field. Of Indiana's 32 opponents in 2017, six are ranked in this week's USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll. Another four opponents received votes in this week's poll.
Home Big Ten battles for Indiana includes Rutgers, Purdue, Maryland and Michigan State. IU will travel to Penn State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Michigan. The 2017 Big Ten Tournament will be hosted by Michigan in Ann Arbor May 11-13.
