Offense Guides Hoosiers to Sunday Split of the Hoosier Classic

Sunday, March 18

Bloomington, Ind.

11:00 AM ET

Indiana University

6-21

Wisconsin - Green Bay

3-14

Green Bay

Indiana

Offense Guides Hoosiers to Sunday Split of the Hoosier Classic

3/18/2018 6:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (PDF) - Green Bay Box Score (PDF) - UIC Video: Coach Stanton Photo Gallery

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Softball wrapped up play in the Hoosier Classic Sunday, falling to Green Bay, 5-2, before bouncing back for an 8-4 victory against UIC.

"After 23 on the road, it was great to be home," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "I felt we started the weekend really strong and we finished strong. We didn't play so well in the middle but I was really pleased with putting a great day of softball together Friday and in today's win."

Green Bay 5, Indiana 2
A three-run sixth inning for the Phoenix proved to be the difference maker in the first game of the day as Green Bay used an RBI double and two-run homer to seal the win.

At the plate for Indiana, freshman Mykayla Ferrari went 2-for-2 with a walk while freshman Maddie Westmoreland brought in a run on an RBI single.

The Hoosiers jumped out to an early lead in the first after senior Rebecca Blitz reached on a perfectly laid down bunt single and junior Sarah Galovich was hit by a pitch. Blitz moved to third on a flyout by Westmoreland and came home as she and Galovich worked a double steal.

However, the Phoenix responded in the following inning as a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt brought in Sonia Schubert before a bases-loaded walk scored Crystal Guzman.

IU got one back in the third on Westmoreland's RBI single up the middle to bring in sophomore Gabbi Jenkins, who had reached on a leadoff walk.

Green Bay would take the lead for good in the sixth after a Hoosier fielding error with two outs extended the frame to set things up for an RBI double by Olivia Magaldi and a two-run homer by Chyanne Onstad.

Indiana 8, UIC 4
In a back and forth contest with the Flames, the Hoosiers saw offensive production from numerous sources, including a perfect 4-for-4 outing from Jenkins, who also scored three runs and stole three bases. The four hits ties her career high, which she has previously set twice.

Another career outing came from Westmoreland, who went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI, a single-game high for the freshman. Seniors Rachel O'Malley and Blitz each picked a pair of hits in the win as Blitz collected career hit No. 200 in the first inning. With the knock, she became just the sixth Hoosier in program history to record at least 200 hits.

Westmoreland started the scoring in the third inning on her three-run homer to center, bringing in Jenkins and Blitz. Jenkins reached on a single back to UIC pitcher Karissa Frazier while Blitz reached on a walk after an illegal pitch was called on Frazier. The home run was the third of Westmoreland's career, all of which have come in the last two weekends.

The Flames responded by using five consecutive singles followed by a two-out bases loaded walk to take a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning.

But the Hoosiers would answer immediately, plating four runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. After freshman Taylor Lambert drew a leadoff walk, a single by Jenkins and a fielder's choice moved both runners into scoring position. Westmoreland then sent a chop single back to the pitcher, allowing Lambert to come home. Jenkins scored to take a 5-4 lead on a fielder's choice by Ferrari before O'Malley sent a two-run double to left to push the advantage to 7-4.

"It was outstanding offensively for us to just stay the course," said Stanton. "Blitz getting her 200^th career hit today, staying the course and coming up clutch with the RBI. I think we have her and Gabbi working well together. Gabbi going 4-for-4 with three runs and three stolen bases, that was great to see. It was multiple kids getting multiple hits. Maddie with the big hit and O'Malley going 2-for-3. It was really nice to see up and down the lineup, we were getting the production. That's what it's about in this game – quality at bats and doing the little things well and passing the bat. I thought we did a great job of that in this game."

The final run of the game came in the fifth as Blitz sent a single up the middle to score Jenkins, who reached on her fourth hit of the day.

Sophomore Emily Goodin earned the win in the circle, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out five.

Indiana returns to action Tuesday as the Hoosiers play host to Louisville in the final non-conference game before opening up Big Ten play next weekend against Ohio State.