IU hopes for successful follow-up to '06

The IU softball team begins its trek to what it hopes is a second-consecutive NCAA tournament bid when it kicks off the 2007 season at the Crowne Plaza Classic in Houston on Friday. \nThe Hoosiers hope to build upon last year's historic campaign in which the Hoosiers earned their first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 10 years. Head coach Stacey Phillips said she wants the hunger from last year to remain but was quick to warn that this is a brand new year.\n"Last year is last year and this is this year," Phillips said. "Last year we set the bar and for those who felt what it was like last year to do so, well they're hungry to do it again. They want to be able to feel that feeling again. As far as being a program, it's what we're hungry for."\nAfter smelling success in the 2006 campaign, the Hoosiers hope to bring it every single game.\n"Every game truly matters whether it's the first or 56th," Phillips said. "Every time we go out on the field and play our game and not be lax. That's the basis behind every game matters." \nThe Hoosiers have some big shoes to fill in the pitching staff after losing two key starters in last year's rotation, Mariangee Bogado and Megan Roark. The pitching duo combined to set the school record for most strikeouts in a season (461).\n"Anytime you lose pitchers that threw 95 percent of the game ... you have to fill that void that was left," Phillips said. "What they did was instill the attitude that will live for quite a long time in our program."\nIU will rely on a pair of transfers and an improved offense and defense to fill the void left by Bogado and Roark.\nJennifer Moore, a junior college transfer from Volunteer State Community College, owns a career ERA of 0.93 and struck out 620 batters in only two seasons in the circle.\nSophomore Monica Wright, a Northern Iowa transfer, recorded 91 strikeouts in 169.2 innings in her freshman season.\n"The two of them are going to take the load of pitching," Phillips said. "From day one to now, they've improved tremendously. They're in great shape and should throw a lot of innings. Their job is to keep the ball in the park and give us a chance to hit to win."\nAlong with the two transfers, the Hoosiers will rely on their blue-collar identity to propel them to national contention.\n"It's the hardworking team," Phillips said. "They know they won't get anything without hard work. It's the blue collar mentality of hard work and trying to take care of business and get it done."\nIU will be tested throughout the season as its faces some of the best teams in the country. The Hoosiers' schedule includes 13 games against teams that made the NCAA Division 1 Softball Championships. Six of IU's foes closed the year ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll, including opening weekend opponent LSU (No. 11), Big Ten rivals Northwestern (No. 2) and Michigan (No. 10).\nPhillips said the team is looking forward to playing the country's best because that is where it hopes to be one day.\n"Playing big games early and having the chance to take down the big dog will help us in the latter part of the season," Phillips said. "That will help us to prepare for the 'Northwesterns' of the Big Ten. That is where we expect to be overtime."\nThe Hoosiers will face Centenary College and Southern Illinois Friday, LSU and Houston Saturday and Missouri State on Sunday.