Hoosiers dethrone No. 3 Michigan

The IU softball team was looking for its signature win of the season.

They got it Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich. 

The Hoosiers split a doubleheader against No. 3 Michigan, earning their first win against a ranked team this season and their first against the Wolverines since 1996 to improve their record to 20-14 (2-2).

After losing the first game 2-1, the Hoosiers won the second game 5-4 behind two home runs and five RBI from senior Sara Olson.

Olson said this was a huge win for the team’s confidence.

“We have confidence in ourselves to begin with but with a win over a team like this is absolutely outstanding,” Olson said. “It’s so exciting for our program, our team and just for the future.”

Olson said while this win is one that won’t soon be forgotten, they have bigger goals yet to accomplish.

“Our work has definitely paid off but we still have a lot of work to do and we still have a lot of season left to play and we can’t stop here,” Olson said.

Saturday’s win against the Wolverines was the first in eight tries against ranked opponents this season.

Coach Michelle Gardner said the win was a huge confidence booster and something that will help the Hoosiers be successful down the road.

“Anytime you can beat a team that is ranked that high, it definitely gives them a little confidence to feel like they can beat any team in the country,” Gardner said. “I just think it’s a huge win.

“Quite frankly we could have won both games but just to finally get a big, top-25 win is enormous.”

Senior pitcher Morgan Melloh once again carried the Hoosiers on the mound, striking out 21 batters in the two games while only allowing three earned runs.

Melloh said this win gives the team confidence against the nation’s elite and that this is a sign that the Hoosiers can play with anybody in the Big Ten.

“We always have to think that we need to win and once we do that we’re on a path to the Big Ten Championship,” Melloh said.

The Hoosiers had their mettle tested when the No. 3 Wolverines tied the score at four in the bottom of the seventh.

But Gardner put the onus on the players to pull out the upset victory with a simple message.

“You have to want it more than they do,” Gardner said. “We were going to out-battle them and that’s all there was.”

The main objective with this  emerging squad has been confidence, a theme Olson said was solidified by upsetting Michigan.

“We go out there hard every inning and we know that we can do it no matter what, and that was definitely perseverance on our team’s half and just an outstanding win all around,” the senior first baseman said. “The team was working together and it was absolutely the most thrilling game that I have ever played.”