Indiana University Athletics
'Get the Job Done' -- Softball Prospects Remain Promising
4/30/2024 1:30:00 PM | Softball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––– Setback comes and Indiana's softball team prepares to regroup. So much is possible. So much is at stake.
The Hoosiers have learned that lesson in this 36-15 season -- get knocked down, get up, bounce back hard.
Senior shortstop Brooke Benson embraces it. Four years of success and defeat have steeled her for the latest challenge; it's fueled her and fellow seniors Cora Bassett, Macy Montgomery and Aaliyah Andrews to set the tone and not let the latest disappointment define them.
"I'm very optimistic, and I know the team is, about what we can do," Benson says. "We know we're a powerhouse. When our pitching and hitting and defense are all working together, no one can beat us."
Friday night's dramatic comeback at Andy Mohr Field victory over Wisconsin -- freshman Alexis Cooper delivered a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning -- was followed by consecutive defeats that slowed the momentum from a 13-of-14 surge (11 of 12 in the Big Ten), but didn't end it.
All things are possible heading into this weekend's regular-season-ending three-game series at Big Ten-leading Northwestern. Coach Shonda Stanton pushes that message with the force of a Brianna Copeland fastball, and you'd better believe the Hoosiers are receptive.
"I'm excited for where this team will go," Benson says. "Our senior class helped develop the team where it is today. All of us are buying into what Coach teaches us. It's helped develop us."
IU's 0-6 Big Ten start became an 11-7 recovery before the Wisconsin setback.
No matter. The focus remains the same -- earn a top four seed in the upcoming Big Ten tourney at Iowa, get to 40 victories, win the conference tourney title and earn an NCAA tourney berth.
"For most freshmen and sophomores," Bassett says, "all their focus is on accolades or results. Freshmen come in and just want to see the field. Sophomores want the accolades. Juniors want the team to win. Seniors want championships. I've felt that in my four years here.
"As a freshman, I wasn't thinking about a Big Ten championship. Now that's all I can think about. What can I do to help the team win a championship? That's my focus."
This is what Stanton wants to hear.
"We talk to them about just being in the moment. Every game is a championship game. You have to be super present."
Even in Sunday's 7-1 loss to Wisconsin, senior leadership surfaced with Andrews' spectacular late-game diving catch. It didn't alter the outcome, but it showed the veteran toughness crucial to winning at Northwestern and beyond.
It wasn't a surprise. Andrews has risen to the outfield challenge since replacing Kinsey Mitchell, lost for the season with an injury. She also had a spectacular diving catch the previous weekend at Iowa. She's hitting .344.
"You talk about what a job she has done," Stanton says. "When Kinsey went down, we felt that. Aaliyah has stepped up over the last few weeks. I've been really pleased at what she's given us."
Then there's Benson, a do-it-all senior. Stanton calls her a five-tool player. Benson is hitting .302 with 42 runs scored while batting ninth. She's also 13-for-14 on stolen bases and plays exceptional defense at a key position.
"She's not the flashy kid who gets all the numbers or accolades," Stanton says, "but we don't do what we're doing without Brooke Benson. As a shortstop, she locks it down. She's got the feet. She throws 70 mph so she makes everything look easy.
"Offensively, she's in the 9 hole. At any point in her career, she could have been moved up in the lineup, but it's so nice when you're late in the game and you have to roll that lineup over. She provides that ability to get us back to the top of the lineup, and also do damage in that part of the lineup. She's a heck of a player who sometimes can fly under the radar because we're so potent as a team, but she is the glue in terms of performance."
Bassett has had yet another impressive season for the Hoosiers, logging 44 hits, including eight doubles and nine home runs, with 26 RBI and recording 40 runs scored.
"She has power at the plate," Stanton says. "We moved her to the 6 hole. That's where she's been huge. To have someone like her there shows the strength of our lineup. We want her to swing free and do damage."
IU also has gotten consistent production from Montgomery in the circle. She has posted a 4-1 record, thrown 35 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .254 batting average.
Despite the rough weekend, the Hoosiers are poised for another run. They lead the Big Ten in batting average (.318), runs (323) and stolen bases (106). Their 11-9 conference records puts them sixth in the standings. Northwestern (17-2) and Michigan (17-3) top the field. Every other team has at least eight Big Ten losses.
"We're getting back to our identity of hitting the ball well," Stanton says. "We're getting the power of contribution up and down the lineup. When that bottom half of the lineup turns things over and are sparks, you see such good things. That's when we put up seven to 10 runs. We're in the driver's seat when that happens.
"We need everybody. Nobody has to be the star, just star in your role. That's all we need. Then we'll have a shot in the Big Ten Tournament.
"This is a talented group that should play in the postseason. Hopefully, we finish strong and get the job done."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––– Setback comes and Indiana's softball team prepares to regroup. So much is possible. So much is at stake.
The Hoosiers have learned that lesson in this 36-15 season -- get knocked down, get up, bounce back hard.
Senior shortstop Brooke Benson embraces it. Four years of success and defeat have steeled her for the latest challenge; it's fueled her and fellow seniors Cora Bassett, Macy Montgomery and Aaliyah Andrews to set the tone and not let the latest disappointment define them.
"I'm very optimistic, and I know the team is, about what we can do," Benson says. "We know we're a powerhouse. When our pitching and hitting and defense are all working together, no one can beat us."
Friday night's dramatic comeback at Andy Mohr Field victory over Wisconsin -- freshman Alexis Cooper delivered a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning -- was followed by consecutive defeats that slowed the momentum from a 13-of-14 surge (11 of 12 in the Big Ten), but didn't end it.
All things are possible heading into this weekend's regular-season-ending three-game series at Big Ten-leading Northwestern. Coach Shonda Stanton pushes that message with the force of a Brianna Copeland fastball, and you'd better believe the Hoosiers are receptive.
"I'm excited for where this team will go," Benson says. "Our senior class helped develop the team where it is today. All of us are buying into what Coach teaches us. It's helped develop us."
IU's 0-6 Big Ten start became an 11-7 recovery before the Wisconsin setback.
No matter. The focus remains the same -- earn a top four seed in the upcoming Big Ten tourney at Iowa, get to 40 victories, win the conference tourney title and earn an NCAA tourney berth.
"For most freshmen and sophomores," Bassett says, "all their focus is on accolades or results. Freshmen come in and just want to see the field. Sophomores want the accolades. Juniors want the team to win. Seniors want championships. I've felt that in my four years here.
"As a freshman, I wasn't thinking about a Big Ten championship. Now that's all I can think about. What can I do to help the team win a championship? That's my focus."
This is what Stanton wants to hear.
"We talk to them about just being in the moment. Every game is a championship game. You have to be super present."
Even in Sunday's 7-1 loss to Wisconsin, senior leadership surfaced with Andrews' spectacular late-game diving catch. It didn't alter the outcome, but it showed the veteran toughness crucial to winning at Northwestern and beyond.
It wasn't a surprise. Andrews has risen to the outfield challenge since replacing Kinsey Mitchell, lost for the season with an injury. She also had a spectacular diving catch the previous weekend at Iowa. She's hitting .344.
"You talk about what a job she has done," Stanton says. "When Kinsey went down, we felt that. Aaliyah has stepped up over the last few weeks. I've been really pleased at what she's given us."
Then there's Benson, a do-it-all senior. Stanton calls her a five-tool player. Benson is hitting .302 with 42 runs scored while batting ninth. She's also 13-for-14 on stolen bases and plays exceptional defense at a key position.
"She's not the flashy kid who gets all the numbers or accolades," Stanton says, "but we don't do what we're doing without Brooke Benson. As a shortstop, she locks it down. She's got the feet. She throws 70 mph so she makes everything look easy.
"Offensively, she's in the 9 hole. At any point in her career, she could have been moved up in the lineup, but it's so nice when you're late in the game and you have to roll that lineup over. She provides that ability to get us back to the top of the lineup, and also do damage in that part of the lineup. She's a heck of a player who sometimes can fly under the radar because we're so potent as a team, but she is the glue in terms of performance."
Bassett has had yet another impressive season for the Hoosiers, logging 44 hits, including eight doubles and nine home runs, with 26 RBI and recording 40 runs scored.
"She has power at the plate," Stanton says. "We moved her to the 6 hole. That's where she's been huge. To have someone like her there shows the strength of our lineup. We want her to swing free and do damage."
IU also has gotten consistent production from Montgomery in the circle. She has posted a 4-1 record, thrown 35 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .254 batting average.
Despite the rough weekend, the Hoosiers are poised for another run. They lead the Big Ten in batting average (.318), runs (323) and stolen bases (106). Their 11-9 conference records puts them sixth in the standings. Northwestern (17-2) and Michigan (17-3) top the field. Every other team has at least eight Big Ten losses.
"We're getting back to our identity of hitting the ball well," Stanton says. "We're getting the power of contribution up and down the lineup. When that bottom half of the lineup turns things over and are sparks, you see such good things. That's when we put up seven to 10 runs. We're in the driver's seat when that happens.
"We need everybody. Nobody has to be the star, just star in your role. That's all we need. Then we'll have a shot in the Big Ten Tournament.
"This is a talented group that should play in the postseason. Hopefully, we finish strong and get the job done."
Players Mentioned
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