Indiana University Athletics
Saturday, February 10
Clearwater, Fla.
4:00 PM
Indiana University
2
vs
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Kansas
Benson’s Late Homer Lifts Indiana over Kansas
2/10/2024 9:16:00 PM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. ––– In a low-scoring and defensive battle, the bat of senior Brooke Benson gave Indiana (3-1) the separation it needed on a seventh inning home run for a 2-1 win over Kansas (1-2) in the second of a doubleheader at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
INDIANA 2, KANSAS 1
KEY MOMENTS
• The first two innings were defined by defense with both teams combining for two hits and a 0-0 score.
• In the bottom of the second, junior Brianna Copeland struck out the side, for a 1-2-3 inning.
• Kansas struck first with an RBI single to left field to go up 1-0 in the bottom of the third.
• Indiana got the game tied up at 1-1 in the top of the fifth by loading the bases.
• Benson was hit by a pitch to take first, which was followed by a double to deep right center from redshirt senior Cora Bassett. To follow, Copeland was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Junior Taylor Minnick grounded out but hit for the game-tying RBI to even the score.
• The score remained at 1-1 until the top of the seventh inning when Benson hit a solo home run over the left center field fence to make it a 2-1 score.
• Junior Kinsey Mitchell and sophomore Avery Parker prevented the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Mitchell connected with Parker on a throw from center field to home to tag out Kansas' Stafford.
NOTABLES
• Brooke Benson's home run was her first of the season and the third by a Hoosier this season. The other Hoosiers to do it in 2024 have been Brianna Copeland and Cora Bassett.
• Copeland tied her season-high in strikeouts in a game with eight.
• In her first start of the season, Copeland threw her first complete game of 2024.
• Minnick's RBI was her fifth of the season, the most of any Hoosier.
• It was Indiana's first win over Kansas since 1989.
UP NEXT
Indiana will close out play in the NFCA Leadoff Classic tomorrow morning against NC Central with a 10 a.m. ET start at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
INDIANA 2, KANSAS 1
KEY MOMENTS
• The first two innings were defined by defense with both teams combining for two hits and a 0-0 score.
• In the bottom of the second, junior Brianna Copeland struck out the side, for a 1-2-3 inning.
• Kansas struck first with an RBI single to left field to go up 1-0 in the bottom of the third.
• Indiana got the game tied up at 1-1 in the top of the fifth by loading the bases.
• Benson was hit by a pitch to take first, which was followed by a double to deep right center from redshirt senior Cora Bassett. To follow, Copeland was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Junior Taylor Minnick grounded out but hit for the game-tying RBI to even the score.
• The score remained at 1-1 until the top of the seventh inning when Benson hit a solo home run over the left center field fence to make it a 2-1 score.
• Junior Kinsey Mitchell and sophomore Avery Parker prevented the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Mitchell connected with Parker on a throw from center field to home to tag out Kansas' Stafford.
NOTABLES
• Brooke Benson's home run was her first of the season and the third by a Hoosier this season. The other Hoosiers to do it in 2024 have been Brianna Copeland and Cora Bassett.
• Copeland tied her season-high in strikeouts in a game with eight.
• In her first start of the season, Copeland threw her first complete game of 2024.
• Minnick's RBI was her fifth of the season, the most of any Hoosier.
• It was Indiana's first win over Kansas since 1989.
UP NEXT
Indiana will close out play in the NFCA Leadoff Classic tomorrow morning against NC Central with a 10 a.m. ET start at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
Players Mentioned
UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/UT
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