After loss to Louisville, IU looks to rebound against OSU

The IU softball team heads to Columbus, Ohio on Friday for its Big Ten opener with the Ohio State Buckeyes. The three-game weekend series starts off the team’s 23-game conference schedule.

The Hoosiers open their weekend of play against the 18-8 Buckeyes with a 3 p.m. game Friday, followed by a 2 p.m. game Saturday. The team closes out the weekend with a final matchup at 1 p.m. Sunday.

This weekend is the home opener for Ohio State, who is currently posting a .313 batting average, while outscoring their opponents 154-85 on this season. The Buckeyes are currently riding a six game winning streak.

IU goes into the matchup with a 15-14 record, after closing out non-conference play with a 4-1 loss to No. 11 Louisville.

“We need to make better adjustments at the plate,” IU Coach Michelle Gardner said of the team’s game plan going into this weekend. “I’d like to see those adjustments at the plate, and to continue making progress in the circle.”

IU is currently posting a .254 batting average, as well as a 2.96 earned run average.

“We definitely need to keep up pitching and defense, and then offense needs to be more productive and keep adding pressure to (other teams’) defense,” senior infielder Amanda Wagner said of the team’s plan for success against the Buckeyes.

This weekend’s matchup with Ohio State opens up the next seven consecutive weekends of Big Ten games for the Hoosiers. The team will play in three-game series each weekend, as well as one weeknight doubleheader.

“I think we just need to look at it as a new start, stick to our game plan, trust in our preparation, and just play our game and go out there and get our first conference win,” freshman catcher and first baseman Kassi Farmer said. “Our ultimate goal is to win the Big Ten Championship, but our smaller goal is to win every weekend, either sweeping or winning two out of three.”

The Hoosiers will move into the Big Ten Tournament on May 9 in Lincoln, Neb. The Big Ten Tournament is making its return for the first time since 2006, ending the tournament’s six-year hiatus. This will allow additional opportunities for Big Ten teams to play in the post season, with the winner of the conference tournament receiving an automatic bid into an NCAA Regional.

“We want to be Big Ten champs, but we also have to be aware of taking it one game at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves,” Wagner said.

The Hoosiers went 14-10 in last year’s conference schedule, tying for fourth in the final Big Ten standings.

IU goes into Friday’s game looking to improve upon its 3-2 away game record, as well as its 15-14 overall record.

“We have a tremendous amount of talent, and if we can find a way to execute and perform at the level that this team is capable of, I think we will have success,” Gardner said.