IU softball has taken its share of big defeats through four tournaments this season.
Of IU’s 13 losses this season, six have come by five runs or more. A difficult early season schedule and cross-country road trips have played a role in IU’s results, as has the team’s inability to score consistently.
As the Hoosiers head into their fifth and final nonconference road tournament of the season, IU Coach Michelle Gardner said she wants her team to be on the other side of those lopsided scores.
“This weekend coming up is the perfect opportunity to take all the little lumps we’ve had and work them to our advantage,” Gardner said.
The Hoosiers will travel to Memphis, Tennessee, to participate in the UofM Softball Tournament, which the University of Memphis will be host to.
After last weekend’s 0-5 showing at the Judi Garman Classic, IU is focusing on being able to put games out of its opponents’ reach.
IU allowed late leads to slip twice in California in a pair of one-run losses to Fresno State and Long Beach State. However, had IU taken advantage of run-scoring situations earlier in those games, protecting a lead wouldn’t have been an issue.
“Not scoring in those situations puts a lot of pressure on the pitchers and defense,” Gardner said. “One missed play or pitch and we’re in trouble.”
Junior utility player Aimilia McDonough was one of the few Hoosiers who produced offensively last weekend, scoring four of IU’s 11 runs.
McDonough’s .433 batting average is .178 points higher than any other IU player, and she also leads the team in on-base percentage. While offensive support has been lacking at times, McDonough remains confident her teammates will come through at the plate.
“Everyone has a good attitude and is keeping their heads up,” McDonough said. “We just have to put it together. It’ll start clicking.”
IU will play doubleheaders Friday against Western Illinois and Lipscomb and Saturday against Oakland and Memphis as part of the UofM Tournament. IU will wrap up play Sunday against Buffalo.
The quality of IU’s opponents this weekend is a significant downgrade from those of last weekend. Buffalo is 2-13 and has only beaten one team, Hartford, this season, while Western Illinois enters the tournament with a 6-11 record.
However, two of IU’s opponents, Lipscomb and Memphis, bring winning streaks of five games or more into tournament play.
With Big Ten play only two weeks away, Gardner said the team’s season begins now.
“We need to learn from our mistakes and the things we did in the past,” Gardner said.
IU is currently riding a five-game losing streak, its longest since it closed the 2015 season with five straight defeats. This weekend presents a chance to gain confidence before returning home for the Hoosier Classic on March 18, something McDonough intends to do.
“I think our bats will start getting hot for sure,” McDonough said. “Five wins is what we’re shooting for and five wins is what we’re going to get.”
