Indiana University Athletics
Wednesday, April 18
Bloomington, Ind.
5:00 PM ET
Indiana University
18-25
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Louisville
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Errors Cost Hoosiers in Loss to Louisville
4/18/2018 10:08:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Softball dropped its final non-conference match-up of the regular season to Louisville on Wednesday at Andy Mohr Field, falling to the Cardinals, 11-7. The Cardinal lead was just 4-3 entering the final inning, but Louisville capitalized on a pair of IU errors and nine hits to break the game open in the seventh.
Senior Rebecca Blitz and sophomore Bella Norton each collected a pair of hits, while Norton also added four RBI. With Blitz's two base knocks, she moves into sole possession of third place in program history with 224 career hits. Indiana drew a season-high 10 walks against the Cardinals, led by four by Lacefield, the most for a Hoosier since Michelle Huber drew four on March 25, 2016.
"We were outplayed tonight," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "It's going to be tough to beat any team when you commit five errors. It starts with us taking care of the ball. As of late, offensively we can be in any ballgame with what we're doing. We drew 10 walks and that's incredible, but we weren't able to capitalize on it. Our mindset was off today – when it comes to pounding the strike zone, taking care of the ball and understanding the approach at the plate."
The Cardinals jumped to a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Nicole Pufahl with the bases loaded to score Sidney Melton, who reached on a Hoosier fielding error.
Louisville added three more runs in the following frame as Riley Schindler scored on a passed ball before Melton knocked a two-run single.
Indiana chipped away at the deficit in the fifth as freshman Maddie Westmoreland sent a two-run single up the middle, bringing in Blitz and sophomore Gabbi Jenkins.
Following lead-off walks to senior Rachel O'Malley and Lacefield in the sixth, junior Sarah Galovich moved both runners over on a sacrifice bunt. Norton then laid down a bunt, plating Lacefield to make it a one-run game at 4-3.
However, the Cardinals then put up a seven-run final frame to jump to an 11-3 advantage. After a two-run double by Blaire Bass, an RBI fielder's choice by Melton scored her. A fielding error on that play extended the inning as the runner at second was called safe when the ball was dropped. Louisville took advantage as four straight singles by the Cardinals plated four more runs.
IU had one final punch left as singles by Blitz and Jenkins and a walk to Lacefield loaded the bases with one out. O'Malley drew a bases-loaded walk to score Blitz before Norton cleared the bags on a double to right center. But, IU would get no closer.
The Hoosiers return to Big Ten play this weekend as they play host to Penn State. First pitch of the series is set for Friday at 6 p.m.
"At 10-2 in conference play, we're right where we want to be," said Stanton. "This will be an important series for us and I'm looking forward to returning home this weekend and getting back to Big Ten action."
Senior Rebecca Blitz and sophomore Bella Norton each collected a pair of hits, while Norton also added four RBI. With Blitz's two base knocks, she moves into sole possession of third place in program history with 224 career hits. Indiana drew a season-high 10 walks against the Cardinals, led by four by Lacefield, the most for a Hoosier since Michelle Huber drew four on March 25, 2016.
"We were outplayed tonight," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "It's going to be tough to beat any team when you commit five errors. It starts with us taking care of the ball. As of late, offensively we can be in any ballgame with what we're doing. We drew 10 walks and that's incredible, but we weren't able to capitalize on it. Our mindset was off today – when it comes to pounding the strike zone, taking care of the ball and understanding the approach at the plate."
The Cardinals jumped to a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Nicole Pufahl with the bases loaded to score Sidney Melton, who reached on a Hoosier fielding error.
Louisville added three more runs in the following frame as Riley Schindler scored on a passed ball before Melton knocked a two-run single.
Indiana chipped away at the deficit in the fifth as freshman Maddie Westmoreland sent a two-run single up the middle, bringing in Blitz and sophomore Gabbi Jenkins.
Following lead-off walks to senior Rachel O'Malley and Lacefield in the sixth, junior Sarah Galovich moved both runners over on a sacrifice bunt. Norton then laid down a bunt, plating Lacefield to make it a one-run game at 4-3.
However, the Cardinals then put up a seven-run final frame to jump to an 11-3 advantage. After a two-run double by Blaire Bass, an RBI fielder's choice by Melton scored her. A fielding error on that play extended the inning as the runner at second was called safe when the ball was dropped. Louisville took advantage as four straight singles by the Cardinals plated four more runs.
IU had one final punch left as singles by Blitz and Jenkins and a walk to Lacefield loaded the bases with one out. O'Malley drew a bases-loaded walk to score Blitz before Norton cleared the bags on a double to right center. But, IU would get no closer.
The Hoosiers return to Big Ten play this weekend as they play host to Penn State. First pitch of the series is set for Friday at 6 p.m.
"At 10-2 in conference play, we're right where we want to be," said Stanton. "This will be an important series for us and I'm looking forward to returning home this weekend and getting back to Big Ten action."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Danielle Watson (14-7)
L: Trainer, Tara (11-14)
S: Megan Hensley (3)
Batting:
2B: Jenna Jordan 1 ; Celene Funke 1 ; Blaire Bass 1
RBI: Sidney Melton 3 ; Megan Hensley 2 ; Nicole Pufahl 2 ; Jenna Jordan 1 ; Blaire Bass 2
SF: Nicole Pufahl 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sidney Melton 1 ; Alison Szydlowski 1 ; Megan Hensley 1 ; Nicole Pufahl 1 ; Jenna Jordan 1 ; Riley Schindler 1 ; Celene Funke 2 ; Blaire Bass 2 ; Caitlin Ferguson 1
SB: Sidney Melton 1
HBP: Blaire Bass 1
PO: Paige Schindler 1
Batting:
2B: Norton, Bella 1
RBI: Westmoreland, Maddie 2 ; O'Malley, Rachel 1 ; Norton, Bella 4
SH: Galovich, Sarah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Blitz, Rebecca 2 ; Jenkins, Gabbi 2 ; Lacefield, Katie 2 ; O'Malley, Rachel 1
SB: Kuhn, Carolyn 1 ; Uden, Taylor 1
CS: Ferrari, Makayla 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
dp/c
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ SoftballUT
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballC/IF
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