Hoosiers Rally, But Fall to Minnesota in Big Ten Tournament Semifinals

Saturday, May 12

Madison, Wis.

2:00 PM

Indiana University

26-30

Minnesota - Semifinals

38-15

Indiana

Minnesota

Hoosiers Rally, But Fall to Minnesota in Big Ten Tournament Semifinals

5/12/2018 10:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

MADISON, Wis. – Indiana Softball fell to No. 2-seeded Minnesota in Saturday's Big Ten Tournament Semifinal, 9-4. After a long rain delay, the Hoosiers took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning, but the Golden Gophers scored five unanswered to secure the win.

The Hoosiers end the year with a 26-30 mark, including a 17-6 Big Ten record, the most wins in a single conference season since 2011.

"What I really want to talk about is how proud I am of Team 45, in particular our five seniors," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "This group has completely changed the face of Indiana Softball in a matter of a month and a half. The way we started 4-19 and to get to this point that not only were we so competitive in Big Ten play and the Big Ten Tournament, but this group believed on the inside that we could come away with a title. When you have your mindset completely shift, that's incredible. We've got something special here and we have something fun. Everybody's energized around the community about Indiana Softball and it's only going to get better."

Indiana was led offensively by a pair of hits from sophomore Gabbi Jenkins and two RBI from sophomore Katie Lacefield.

Minnesota took advantage of walks in the second frame to jump to a 3-0 lead. A trio of free passes loaded the bases for the Golden Gophers with two away before a two-run single up the middle by MaKenna Partain put Minnesota on the board. A third run crossed for the Gophers on a passed ball with the bases loaded.

The Hoosiers looked to answer right away as senior Rebecca Blitz and Jenkins knocked back-to-back one-out singles in the third. But, a pair of strikeouts from Amber Fiser stranded both runners.

Sophomore Bella Norton led off the fifth with a single to left before freshman Taylor Lambert sent a single of her own through the right side. The game was then halted as rain began to steadily fall. After the hour and 43-minute delay, Jenkins reached on a Minnesota fielding error to load the bases with one out. Senior Taylor Uden and freshman Maddie Westmoreland then drew back-to-back walks to plate Lambert and Blitz to cut the Minnesota lead to 3-2. Lacefield put the Hoosiers on top as she sent a double down the left field line, bringing in Jenkins and Uden.

However, the Gophers answered right back to take a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth. After Danielle Parlich tied things up on an RBI single to shallow left field, Dani Wagner took advantage of an Indiana throwing error to jump back ahead.

Minnesota tacked on four runs on five hits in the sixth. A double by Kendyl Lindaman plated two before a pair of RBI singles from Maddie Houlihan and Parlich made it 9-4.

"It was a tough game," said Stanton. "We got down early with the freebies and they went up with a 3-0 lead. But again, this group was first up like we've been all year. We battled back in and took the 4-3 lead. Minnesota kept taking their hacks and we didn't make enough plays defensively."

Jenkins and Uden looked to start a rally in the seventh as they knocked back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. However, the Hoosiers couldn't take advantage.

The game marked the first appearance in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals since the 2006 season for the Hoosiers.