Indiana University Athletics
Hitting Hoosiers – No Softball Team in America Does It Better
4/25/2025 11:00:00 AM | Softball
Hitting Hoosiers – No Softball Team in America Does It Better
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sunshine blazes upon Andy Mohr Field and the Indiana Hoosiers work. Five hours before a mid-week softball game against Ball State and players prepare for a huge regular-season-ending 10-day stretch with this acclaim:
No team in America hits better.
No team prepares harder.
With the Big Ten tourney looming in a couple of weeks, and a potential third straight trip to the NCAA tourney after that, that could make all the difference.
"Recruiting and player development, that's what it comes down to -- hitters hit and we recruit great hitters," coach Shonda Stanton says from her office in explaining IU's hitting prowess.
She pauses because success at the Power 4 level goes deeper than that. "We do have a great player development system in terms of our training."
IU's offensive numbers are almost comic-book good -- national team leaders in batting average (.386), doubles per game (2.14) and on-base percentage (.477). Five Hoosiers hit better than .400 -- left fielder Taylor Minnick (.508), third baseman Madalyn Strader (.449), catcher Avery Parker (.432), right fielder Kinsey Mitchel (.407) and second baseman Aly VanBrandt (.402). Nine Hoosiers who have played at least 36 games hit at least .316, including pitcher/first baseman Brianna Copeland (.341).
Minnick is second nationally in batting average behind Boise State's Sophia Knight (.520).
She is one double away from breaking IU's single season (19) and career (54) records.
Copeland and Minnick also are in a home run duel. Copeland has 13 homers this season and 43 for her career. Minnick has 14 and 41. Parker is in the season mix with 10.
This hitting success isn't a surprise. Last year, the Hoosiers led the Big Ten in runs (364), hits (495), home runs (69), runs batted in (325), batting average (.311), slugging percentage (.903), stolen bases (107) and total bases (804).
What's the secret to their success?
"It's confidence at the plate," Minnick says. "If you watch any of us go to the plate, we could be 0-for-10 and still approach every at-bat like we'd just hit a home run.
"We have confidence in the people in the lineup. I get to hit behind Bri (Copeland). Avery hits behind me. It helps when you see someone be successful in front of you. It tallies down the lineup."
It certainly did against Ball State. Leadoff-hitter Copeland had a home run and a run batted in. Minnick had three hits with a three-run home run batting second. Parker had two hits and an RBI batting third. Overall, the Hoosiers had 15 hits, including seven for extra bases.
"I don't think there's one specific reason (for the hitting success)," Parker says. "For a few of us, it's confidence from preparation. We know we prepared for it. I know when I'm hitting behind Taylor, she usually hits a double every at bat. That's not going to let me lose my confidence."
Don't forget pitch selection, Minnick adds.
"It's knowing what pitch you need to hit to be great. Also, having confidence no matter how down you are, going up there knowing that you're better than the pitcher you're facing."
Stanton says IU's strength training program is a big factor.
"It helps that we stay in the weight room during the season. For a lot of teams, it's tough with as much as you play and travel. We make that a priority. If we're going to go light on a Monday after we travel, we'll hit the weight room and then hit. That's been our focus. Keep the main thing the main thing."
That main thing, Stanton adds, involves "movement over mechanics."
"I don't care as much about mechanically what they look like (swinging a bat). I don't care what they look like mechanically as a young hitter if they're getting barrel on the ball. We're looking for kids who can barrel the ball."
While recruiting, Stanton and her staff focus on mindset, ball approach and pitch adjustment.
"Can they lay off the change up if they're looking for a fastball, and if they are looking for a change up, can they barrel it?" Stanton asks.
Let other coaches change a player's swing. Stanton and her staff focus on the preparation that leads to the swing, such as hand adjustments and base strengthening.
Beyond that, Stanton says, "A big thing is, can they move well? Are they athletes? If they're athletes, we can get them in position to hit."
*****
IU is getting pitching healthy, defense focused and oh, so dangerous. It split a two-game series at No. 22 Nebraska last weekend. It also has a win over then No. 18 Ohio State.
On Wednesday, it hammered a 28-12 Ball State team 14-1 in five innings.
The result -- the Hoosiers are 30-13, 8-8 in the Big Ten and looking to rock the college softball world when they host No. 7 Oregon (41-5, 14-2) in a potentially defining three-game series starting Friday.
"It's three games of opportunity," Minnick says. "It doesn't matter what happens. We can go in with a chip on our shoulders. The pressure is on them. They're expected to win all three. We can go in and have fun. We know we can win. We have that confidence."
Confidence is boosted by Copeland, the pitching workhorse with a 14-6 record and 122 strikeouts in 109.2 innings. She has a 4.79 earned run average.
Jenae Berry, who is 9-4 with a 3.93 ERA, has just returned from injury. Jasmine Reyes is 6-3 with a 4.33 ERA. Taylor Hess is 1-0 with a team-leading 3.25 ERA, but has only appeared in 13 games for 23.2 innings.
"We were down to two pitchers when we started Big Ten play," Stanton says. "It hurts when you don't have a full staff."
The Hoosiers have one now. Stanton points to the 6-2 win over Nebraska, when Berry and Copeland combined to shut down the Cornhuskers.
"When you can go one speed and a different type kid to power and then to finesse, we weren't able to do that the first part of our conference. Not until we got Jenae back.
"Down the stretch, it looks like we'll have all four (pitchers) available."
Then there's defense. IU didn't commit an error against Ball State. It only committed one in the Nebraska victory.
"Where we were not good enough was taking care of the ball on the defensive side," Stanton says. "With the way we were hitting, if we had had defense, that could have helped us through our struggles with an unhealthy pitching staff.
"Now we have a healthy pitching staff, but we have to take care of the ball. When you have all three phases of the game (hitting, pitching, defense) like we did against Nebraska, that's how you get a top-25 win. If you have two of the three phases, and one of them is hitting like we have, you'll be darn good."
*****
The Beatles sing "Help" from Andy Mohr Field speakers, not that the Hoosiers need it with a 6-0 second-inning lead over Ball State. Center fielder Melina Wilkinson, hitting near the bottom of the batting order, rips a triple, then steals home to extend the advantage. It's another example of the impressive lineup depth that makes IU a postseason threat.
"It is top to bottom, on any given day, we can count on any kid," Stanton says. "There are no gap traps. They pass the bat well. If it's in the middle of our lineup or the bottom of the lineup, they act like leadoffs and get it going.
"Our two-out hitting has been super impressive. We're never down an out as long as we have swings."
That could matter against Oregon. It leads the Big Ten with a 14-2 record behind the conference's best pitching with a 1.97 team ERA.
Pitcher Lyndsey Grein leads the way with a 25-1 record, a 1.15 earned run average and 170 strikeouts in 134.1 innings. Teammate Elise Sokolsky is 11-2 with a 2.03 ERA.
The bottom line -- can IU's dominant hitting overcome Oregon's elite pitching?
"Lyndsey is a great pitcher," Minnick says. "I know they also have a great pitching staff. We have a great offensive team. We always perform under pressure. When we're going against one of the best pitchers in the nation, we'll go at it in a more confident way. "
Parker considers the series a "fun challenge," which is exactly what Stanton wants to hear. The coach finds optimism from last season's 7-5 win over the Ducks.
"Just play the game," Stanton says. "We're good. Expect victory. That way, you can play free and loose. There's no pressure on us. We're not expected to win. We're the only ones who do.
"We won't back down from anybody on our schedule. We're excited Oregon is in the Big ten. They're having an incredible year. We're excited to have three opportunities against them."
Excitement also comes with this bonus – Oregon's high ranking means losing to the Ducks won't hurt the Hoosiers' NCAA tourney at-large-bid prospects.
"When you play them, whether you win or lose," Stanton says, "your RPI gets better because of where their RPI is."
These are IU's last three home games of the season, which provides plenty of win-for-the-seniors motivation.
"Playing as underdogs is easier," Parker says. "You can play more freely and not be afraid to make mistakes.
"This is also the last home weekend for the seniors, so it's a special thing all around. The vibes around the clubhouse will be more fun. We're there for each other."
Stanton, in her eighth Hoosier season after 18 successful years at Marshall, has built the program for this opportunity. IU has gone 44-18 and 40-20 in the previous two seasons with consecutive NCAA tourney appearances.
"What our seniors have done has been pivotal," Stanton says. "They've really raised the bar of what Indiana softball is about. They've won a lot.
"We're not looking at this as David vs. Goliath. We expect good things to happen. We expect to play well and expect to win. That's a good feeling to have. That was not the case when we took over this program. Back then, it was encouraging them to what we could become.
"These players are seeing they can become an All-American here and can play beyond if they want to. They can get a premier education. They can be in a beautiful town like Bloomington and know they can get after it at a high level."
How high? It starts, but certainly doesn't end, with the best-in-the nation hitting.
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sunshine blazes upon Andy Mohr Field and the Indiana Hoosiers work. Five hours before a mid-week softball game against Ball State and players prepare for a huge regular-season-ending 10-day stretch with this acclaim:
No team in America hits better.
No team prepares harder.
With the Big Ten tourney looming in a couple of weeks, and a potential third straight trip to the NCAA tourney after that, that could make all the difference.
"Recruiting and player development, that's what it comes down to -- hitters hit and we recruit great hitters," coach Shonda Stanton says from her office in explaining IU's hitting prowess.
She pauses because success at the Power 4 level goes deeper than that. "We do have a great player development system in terms of our training."
IU's offensive numbers are almost comic-book good -- national team leaders in batting average (.386), doubles per game (2.14) and on-base percentage (.477). Five Hoosiers hit better than .400 -- left fielder Taylor Minnick (.508), third baseman Madalyn Strader (.449), catcher Avery Parker (.432), right fielder Kinsey Mitchel (.407) and second baseman Aly VanBrandt (.402). Nine Hoosiers who have played at least 36 games hit at least .316, including pitcher/first baseman Brianna Copeland (.341).
Minnick is second nationally in batting average behind Boise State's Sophia Knight (.520).
She is one double away from breaking IU's single season (19) and career (54) records.
Copeland and Minnick also are in a home run duel. Copeland has 13 homers this season and 43 for her career. Minnick has 14 and 41. Parker is in the season mix with 10.
This hitting success isn't a surprise. Last year, the Hoosiers led the Big Ten in runs (364), hits (495), home runs (69), runs batted in (325), batting average (.311), slugging percentage (.903), stolen bases (107) and total bases (804).
What's the secret to their success?
"It's confidence at the plate," Minnick says. "If you watch any of us go to the plate, we could be 0-for-10 and still approach every at-bat like we'd just hit a home run.
"We have confidence in the people in the lineup. I get to hit behind Bri (Copeland). Avery hits behind me. It helps when you see someone be successful in front of you. It tallies down the lineup."
It certainly did against Ball State. Leadoff-hitter Copeland had a home run and a run batted in. Minnick had three hits with a three-run home run batting second. Parker had two hits and an RBI batting third. Overall, the Hoosiers had 15 hits, including seven for extra bases.
"I don't think there's one specific reason (for the hitting success)," Parker says. "For a few of us, it's confidence from preparation. We know we prepared for it. I know when I'm hitting behind Taylor, she usually hits a double every at bat. That's not going to let me lose my confidence."
Don't forget pitch selection, Minnick adds.
"It's knowing what pitch you need to hit to be great. Also, having confidence no matter how down you are, going up there knowing that you're better than the pitcher you're facing."
Stanton says IU's strength training program is a big factor.
"It helps that we stay in the weight room during the season. For a lot of teams, it's tough with as much as you play and travel. We make that a priority. If we're going to go light on a Monday after we travel, we'll hit the weight room and then hit. That's been our focus. Keep the main thing the main thing."
That main thing, Stanton adds, involves "movement over mechanics."
"I don't care as much about mechanically what they look like (swinging a bat). I don't care what they look like mechanically as a young hitter if they're getting barrel on the ball. We're looking for kids who can barrel the ball."
While recruiting, Stanton and her staff focus on mindset, ball approach and pitch adjustment.
"Can they lay off the change up if they're looking for a fastball, and if they are looking for a change up, can they barrel it?" Stanton asks.
Let other coaches change a player's swing. Stanton and her staff focus on the preparation that leads to the swing, such as hand adjustments and base strengthening.
Beyond that, Stanton says, "A big thing is, can they move well? Are they athletes? If they're athletes, we can get them in position to hit."
*****
IU is getting pitching healthy, defense focused and oh, so dangerous. It split a two-game series at No. 22 Nebraska last weekend. It also has a win over then No. 18 Ohio State.
On Wednesday, it hammered a 28-12 Ball State team 14-1 in five innings.
The result -- the Hoosiers are 30-13, 8-8 in the Big Ten and looking to rock the college softball world when they host No. 7 Oregon (41-5, 14-2) in a potentially defining three-game series starting Friday.
"It's three games of opportunity," Minnick says. "It doesn't matter what happens. We can go in with a chip on our shoulders. The pressure is on them. They're expected to win all three. We can go in and have fun. We know we can win. We have that confidence."
Confidence is boosted by Copeland, the pitching workhorse with a 14-6 record and 122 strikeouts in 109.2 innings. She has a 4.79 earned run average.
Jenae Berry, who is 9-4 with a 3.93 ERA, has just returned from injury. Jasmine Reyes is 6-3 with a 4.33 ERA. Taylor Hess is 1-0 with a team-leading 3.25 ERA, but has only appeared in 13 games for 23.2 innings.
"We were down to two pitchers when we started Big Ten play," Stanton says. "It hurts when you don't have a full staff."
The Hoosiers have one now. Stanton points to the 6-2 win over Nebraska, when Berry and Copeland combined to shut down the Cornhuskers.
"When you can go one speed and a different type kid to power and then to finesse, we weren't able to do that the first part of our conference. Not until we got Jenae back.
"Down the stretch, it looks like we'll have all four (pitchers) available."
Then there's defense. IU didn't commit an error against Ball State. It only committed one in the Nebraska victory.
"Where we were not good enough was taking care of the ball on the defensive side," Stanton says. "With the way we were hitting, if we had had defense, that could have helped us through our struggles with an unhealthy pitching staff.
"Now we have a healthy pitching staff, but we have to take care of the ball. When you have all three phases of the game (hitting, pitching, defense) like we did against Nebraska, that's how you get a top-25 win. If you have two of the three phases, and one of them is hitting like we have, you'll be darn good."
*****
The Beatles sing "Help" from Andy Mohr Field speakers, not that the Hoosiers need it with a 6-0 second-inning lead over Ball State. Center fielder Melina Wilkinson, hitting near the bottom of the batting order, rips a triple, then steals home to extend the advantage. It's another example of the impressive lineup depth that makes IU a postseason threat.
"It is top to bottom, on any given day, we can count on any kid," Stanton says. "There are no gap traps. They pass the bat well. If it's in the middle of our lineup or the bottom of the lineup, they act like leadoffs and get it going.
"Our two-out hitting has been super impressive. We're never down an out as long as we have swings."
That could matter against Oregon. It leads the Big Ten with a 14-2 record behind the conference's best pitching with a 1.97 team ERA.
Pitcher Lyndsey Grein leads the way with a 25-1 record, a 1.15 earned run average and 170 strikeouts in 134.1 innings. Teammate Elise Sokolsky is 11-2 with a 2.03 ERA.
The bottom line -- can IU's dominant hitting overcome Oregon's elite pitching?
"Lyndsey is a great pitcher," Minnick says. "I know they also have a great pitching staff. We have a great offensive team. We always perform under pressure. When we're going against one of the best pitchers in the nation, we'll go at it in a more confident way. "
Parker considers the series a "fun challenge," which is exactly what Stanton wants to hear. The coach finds optimism from last season's 7-5 win over the Ducks.
"Just play the game," Stanton says. "We're good. Expect victory. That way, you can play free and loose. There's no pressure on us. We're not expected to win. We're the only ones who do.
"We won't back down from anybody on our schedule. We're excited Oregon is in the Big ten. They're having an incredible year. We're excited to have three opportunities against them."
Excitement also comes with this bonus – Oregon's high ranking means losing to the Ducks won't hurt the Hoosiers' NCAA tourney at-large-bid prospects.
"When you play them, whether you win or lose," Stanton says, "your RPI gets better because of where their RPI is."
These are IU's last three home games of the season, which provides plenty of win-for-the-seniors motivation.
"Playing as underdogs is easier," Parker says. "You can play more freely and not be afraid to make mistakes.
"This is also the last home weekend for the seniors, so it's a special thing all around. The vibes around the clubhouse will be more fun. We're there for each other."
Stanton, in her eighth Hoosier season after 18 successful years at Marshall, has built the program for this opportunity. IU has gone 44-18 and 40-20 in the previous two seasons with consecutive NCAA tourney appearances.
"What our seniors have done has been pivotal," Stanton says. "They've really raised the bar of what Indiana softball is about. They've won a lot.
"We're not looking at this as David vs. Goliath. We expect good things to happen. We expect to play well and expect to win. That's a good feeling to have. That was not the case when we took over this program. Back then, it was encouraging them to what we could become.
"These players are seeing they can become an All-American here and can play beyond if they want to. They can get a premier education. They can be in a beautiful town like Bloomington and know they can get after it at a high level."
How high? It starts, but certainly doesn't end, with the best-in-the nation hitting.
Players Mentioned
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