New arrivals pave way for Hoosier softball team to recover from offseason losses

The heat was not the only thing rising in Bloomington last week. The hearts of the Hoosier softball team rose with the hopes of another successful season to match 2011’s 37-18 performance.

With the increase in temperature, the Hoosiers took to the IU Softball Field for the first time this year, getting ready for their season opener against the University of Illinois-Chicago on Friday in the Hotel Encanto Tournament in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Hoosiers will have their fair share of traveling completed within the next month, as they will play a total of five away tournaments before returning to Bloomington during spring break for the Hoosier Classic.

The first four tournaments feature fresh faces, compared to last season. However, the Hoosiers will face tough competition against Brigham Young University on Feb. 18 in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas. They will also open the DeMarini Invitational facing No. 9 Stanford on March 2 in Fullerton, Calif. The Oklahoma Spring Festival is the Hoosiers’ next destination for the second year in a row. This will feature a rematch against No. 5 Oklahoma after a 9-0 loss in last year’s Festival.

The Hoosier Classic will feature a rematch with the University of Illinois-Chicago and Central Michigan. Last season, Central Michigan was Indiana’s first victim at home.
After tournament time, Big Ten play will kick into full effect with a road trip to Ohio State on March 24 to 25. The Hoosiers then return home to face No. 15 Michigan on March 31 and April 1.

During the 2011 season, the Hoosiers recorded wins against the next seven opponents in this spring’s season: Purdue, Indiana State, Penn State, Ball State, Northwestern and Iowa.

May 5 to 6 will feature Nebraska’s first visit to Bloomington as a Big Ten contender. The Cornhuskers are placed at No. 21 in the preseason poll.

The schedule features a group of new competition and returnees alike. Of the 11 teams returning on the schedule this year, nine were defeated by IU.

The 2011 season will most likely serve as a benchmark for the Hoosiers this year. After finishing second in the Big Ten last season, the Hoosiers marked their best finish in 17 years and their most wins in 15 years. While racking up a 14-game win streak, the Hoosiers defeated Michigan for the first time since 1996.

In that game, the duo of seniors Morgan Melloh and Sara Olson played important roles, as Melloh struck out 14 in eight innings and Olson recorded a pair of home runs to win the game.

These two will be playing a slightly different role this season. After finishing their senior years last season, they have stayed on staff as student assistant coaches to help the girls with another season.

The Hoosiers retain seven starters from last season’s team, including sophomore Meaghan Murphy and junior Amanda Wagner. Murphy had 28 starts last season, while pitching a shutout in her first start in the circle. Wagner recorded six home runs, including a grand slam against Big Ten champion Wisconsin.

The Hoosiers also feature a new cast of freshmen, including Olson’s sister Lora Olson, who is taking her sister’s No. 7 jersey.

Jena Malmen, a sophomore transfer from Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, joined the Hoosiers, as well. While at Kirkwood, Malmen led the country with 28 home runs.

Hoosier fans will just have to wait until early March to witness in person the addition of new players, a core group of returnees and two new assistant coaches helping fourth-year IU Coach Michelle Gardner.