Softball ends year with loss

Since joining IU in 2010, IU senior shortstop Breanna Saucedo went 654 at-bats without sending one out of the park.

That changed in the top of the first inning Thursday, but it wasn’t enough to extend the Hoosiers’ season as they fell 4-2 to Purdue.

On a 1-0 offering from Purdue sophomore pitcher Lilly Fecho, Saucedo hit a shot just over the right field wall for her first career home run.

“When I made contact I knew it was going to be close,” Saucedo said. “When it went over the wall I was in a bit of shock. It felt amazing to finally hit a home run.”

Saucedo, who went 1-for-3 on the day, was also named to the Big Ten’s second All-Conference team during the week.

“It is a big honor, especially since I got the opportunity to come back for a fifth year,” she said. “I truly feel so honored to have earned that.”

IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she was thrilled when she learned that Saucedo had earned a spot on an All-Conference team.

“She’s very deserving of that honor,” Gardner said. “I’m very happy for her.”

IU (17-39-1, 5-18 conference) fell in the first game of the Big Ten tournament to in-state rival Purdue (27-27-1, 13-10 conference), ending their season.

The defining moment of the game came in the bottom of the fifth frame.

Purdue hit an RBI single to drive in senior outfielder Andie Varsho to take a 3-2 lead. On the following at-bat, the Boilermakers pushed another run across when junior infielder Ashley Burkhardt scored on an IU throwing error. Burkhardt’s run would be the final of the game.

Following Saucedo’s long ball to begin the game, freshman first baseman CaraMia Tsirigos made an attempt to cushion the Hoosier lead.

Facing a 2-0 count, Tsirigos hit her sixth home run of the season to right field.

In the home half of the third, Burkhardt hit a two-run home run over the right field wall to even the game at 2-2. That score would remain the same until Purdue officially put the game away two innings later.

Gardner said although she was happy with the way the team came out offensively in the early innings, they left runners on base in important situations.

“We didn’t have timely hits,” she said. “We had the tying run on base, and we struck out twice.”

IU junior pitcher Lora Olson got the start but finished with a no decision. She threw 2.2 innings while allowing six hits and two earned runs.

Senior pitcher Meaghan Murphy was credited with the loss after pitching 1.2 innings and allowing three hits and two runs, one of which was earned.

The team’s 39 losses matched the highest total since the 2009 season, which was in Gardner’s first season at IU.

“We improved throughout the season, and I loved how we competed,” Gardner said. “Even though we didn’t always end up on top, they played with tremendous heart.”