Indiana Softball to Host Minnesota for Weekend Series

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Indiana Softball will be back at home for its next Big Ten series against Minnesota this weekend.

The Hoosiers will play a three-game set against the Golden Gophers, with a game on each day from Friday through Sunday.

QUICK HITTERS:

Junior Sarah Stone earned herself Big Ten Player of the Week honors for her stellar play at Michigan State last weekend. Stone went 6-for-10 (.600) from the plate in the series with two home runs and five RBI.
Indiana's midweek doubleheader vs. Purdue was scheduled to be played on Wednesday but was postponed due to inclement weather. Both teams will look to play each other at a later date.
Five different Hoosiers in the lineup have posted 20-plus RBI on the season, including Taylor Minnick (38), Sarah Stone (31), Avery Parker (26), Brianna Copeland (24) and Cora Bassett (22).
Indiana leads the Big Ten in home runs (44) and stolen bases (87).
Three Hoosiers are hitting .350 or better from the plate: Aly VanBrandt (.363), Taylor Minnick (.362) and Brianna Copeland (.350).

LAST TIME OUT:

Last weekend, Indiana went to East Lansing, Mich. and earned a three-game sweep over Michigan State. No game was decided by less than four runs.
In addition to Sarah Stone's big-time performance in the Friday win, junior Brianna Copeland also had an impressive series against the Spartans, particularly in the 7-2 win on Sunday.
Copeland did a little bit of everything on Sunday, including hitting a lead-off home run in the top of the first inning to start the game and then turned in one of her best pitching performances of her career. Copeland had a career-high 12 strikeouts while only allowing four hits and two runs. She threw a complete game, as well.
Taylor Minnick hit .385 for the Michigan State series with three doubles and two RBI. Two of her three doubles came in the Sunday win and both were nearly home runs.
In her return to her home state, freshman Aly VanBrandt hit .300 on the weekend with two RBI.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:

Minnesota enters the weekend with a 21-15 overall record and a 7-2 mark in Big Ten play. The Gophers are also winners of their last six, sweeping Ohio State and Illinois.
In the non-conference the Golden Gophers own notable wins over No. 24 San Diego State, Georgia Tech, No. 10 Clemson and N.C. State.
Minnesota boasts strong hitting as a team with six hitters who have a .300 or better batting average, including Jess Oakland who is hitting .479 with 11 doubles, 14 home runs and 42 RBI. Morgan DeBord is also posting a .392 batting average with seven doubles, three home runs and 22 RBI.
Bri Enter is Minnesota's top arm, owning a 12-5 record with 61 strikeouts in 25 appearances. She currently has a 2.85 ERA.
Macy Richardson and Jacie Hambrick are also consistent starters for Minnesota (4.74 & 5.76 ERA, respectively).

SERIES NOTES:

Minnesota leads the all-time series against Indiana, 45-56. The teams are 2-2 in the last four games.
Indiana won most recently, defeating them in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal last year.

Indiana University Athletics

Indiana Softball to Host Minnesota for Weekend Series

Players Mentioned

Cora Bassett

Brianna Copeland

Taylor Minnick

Avery Parker

Sarah Stone

Aly VanBrandt

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