IU faces similar Ohio State team in Big Ten opener

It could not have been a better time to start heating up in the Midwest this week, as Big Ten play kicks into action for the Hoosier softball team this weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

Coming off a 4-0 sweep at the Hoosier Classic this past weekend, the Hoosiers (15-13) look to continue their winning ways heading into the next stage of their thus-far successful season.

“We just played well all weekend,” IU Coach Michelle Gardnersaid. “We are making adjustments, and that’s what I like to see. I’m thrilled now it’s time to go into Big Ten.”

The Hoosiers are red hot prior to facing the Buckeyes this weekend. In the past 10 games, Indiana went 7-3, with its only losses coming to No. 7 Oklahoma on Oklahoma’s home field.

This year’s pre-season featured a mix of different quality teams to prepare the Hoosiers for what they’ll face the rest of the season. Gardner said although the anticipation to get into conference play has been tough, it was good they got a chance to play out the pre-season schedule.

“I think we’ve kind of covered the gamut,” Gardner said. “I think we played top-level competition, medium competition and competition we should’ve beat. Really, that’s all we can do in preseason to get prepared for Big Ten, and now it’s time to go.”

Seven of Indiana’s starters are batting higher than .300 this season, and four players have at least three home runs in their columns. Sophomore Jenna Abraham has five already this season.

“(Junior) Samantha Heyman has stepped up. (Senior) Samantha Berenter has stepped up. (Junior) Amanda Wagner has been moved around the field a bit, and Jenna Abraham is tearing the cover off the ball,” Gardner said. “I think collectively we’ve done some real good things defensively and offensively.”

However, while the Hoosiers are in the top half of many Big Ten stat charts this season, the Buckeyes are right there with them.

Indiana will face an Ohio State (14-10) team that shares the same makeup this weekend: strong hitting in the beginning of the lineup mixed with standout pitching on the defensive end.

Most likely, the two pitchers Indiana will face are senior Oregon transfer Mikayla Endlcott and sophomore Melanie Nichols.

Endlcott has recorded a 1.85 ERA this season with eight wins in 19 appearances. She has struck out 99 batters in 94.2 innings pitched.

Nichols is coming off a season-ending injury that redshirted her this past year. Her freshman year, she was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. This season she has five wins in 12 appearances and allowed 66 hits in 48 innings pitched with a 4.38 ERA.

Indiana pitchers freshman Lora Olson and sophomore Meaghan Murphy will likely share the task of bringing down the Buckeyes’ hitting led by senior shortstop Alicia Herron.

Herron leads the team in hits with 27, runs with 22 and RBI with 29. She holds a .422 batting average and a whopping .969 slugging percentage.

No matter who the Hoosiers face in the Big Ten this year, Gardner is confident her players will get the job done.

“We’ve had to compete every weekend regardless of who was on the other side of the field,” Gardner said. “I don’t want to look at who’s on the other side of the field and make any judgments. I just want them to compete.”