Wilkison’s Speed, Versatility Fuel the Hoosiers
Logan LeGrett | IUHoosiers.com Student Staff Writer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — As Indiana softball continues its pursuit of three-straight NCAA Tournament berths, senior outfielder Melina Wilkison has emerged as a key contributor at the top of the lineup.
The transfer from Ohio State has helped the Hoosiers to a 23-10 record and is batting .360, but it’s her impact on the basepaths that has been the biggest threat to opposing defenses. Through 33 games, Wilkison has recorded 16 stolen bases to rank No. 4 in the Big Ten.
For Indiana head coach Shonda Stanton, having Wilkison at the top of the lineup this season has been a game-changer.
“I give her the green light—I don’t have to give her the steal sign, she can go when she wants,” Stanton said. “It almost doesn’t seem fair sometimes. She just gets in there with ease. She’s a competitor, she’s a ballplayer, and we’re glad she’s on our team.”
Wilkison’s journey to Indiana was unconventional. She began her collegiate career at Ohio State and made an immediate impact with the Buckeyes, earning Big Ten All-Freshman honors and later a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore. However, an injury sidelined her last season, leading to her decision to return to her home state.
“I kind of knew that I wanted to go home for my senior year, and this is where it led me,” Wilkison said. “I’m so thankful for the opportunity and everything that came with it.”
Despite the setback, Wilkison used the time away to develop both as a player and a person.
“The [injury] was really hard at the time,” said Wilkison, “but I learned a lot about the game and the people around me. Taking what I learned from that year off has really helped me.”
The Greensburg, Indiana, native didn’t get the opportunity out of high school to represent her home state, but that is something that fueled her – and ultimately led to her decision to enter the transfer portal in 2024.
“Doing what I did, and being able to come back—it’s been great,” Wilkison said.
That motivation was evident in her 2023 performances against Indiana while at Ohio State, including a series where Wilkison posted six hits, scored seven runs and homered twice. Indiana swept the series, but Wilkison showed her abilities.
“My sophomore year, I had two home runs against [Indiana] and went crazy,” . “That definitely lit a fire under me, and I’ve just brought that energy with me in my time at Indiana.”
Now, wearing the cream and crimson, Wilkison has been a spark plug for a team with championship aspirations. The Hoosiers started the season strong, going 9-1 in their first 10 game, which included a 4-0 start in the Puerto Vallarta Challenge in Mexico.
“We’re a really close team, and we do a lot together,” she said. “The Mexico trip was a great way for us to bond—we literally couldn’t leave each other. That [trip] helped us come together even more.”
With the season progressing, Wilkison and the Hoosiers have their sights set on one goal: winning a Big Ten title.
“We want to win the Big Ten,” Wilkison said.
Away from softball, Wilkison has a unique connection to her home in Indiana that helped shape the hard-working person she is today.
“Oh, you have to talk about the pigs back home!” Wilkison quipped. “I live on a show pig farm, and my brother is taking care of everything right now. But when I go home, that’s where you’ll find me.”
Wilkison’s childhood home may have been on the farm, but for now, she’s found a comfortable place atop the Indiana softball lineup.