After five consecutive road nonconference tournaments, IU softball welcomed its return home to Andy Mohr Field.
The Hoosiers put their home-field advantage to good use and recorded a 3-1 record at the Hoosier Classic.
IU picked up a pair of wins against Bowling Green and went 1-1 against the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The weekend showing improved IU’s record to 14-14.
The Hoosiers now have a .500 record for the first time since Feb. 10.
“It gives us a lot of confidence in every aspect,” senior utility player Erin Lehman said. “Our pitching did amazing this weekend, and our defense was clean for the most part.”
Saturday started with an 11-3 win against Bowling Green in six innings.
Home runs from Lehman and junior infielder Taylor Uden highlighted the scoring for IU.
Lehman plated three runs with her homer and also had a two-run single. The five-RBI showing was a career high for the senior.
“Being at home, I can picture taking batting practice,” Lehman said. “I know the spots I like to hit on this field.”
However, it was sophomore pitcher Tara Trainer who controlled the tournament for IU.
Trainer pitched a total of 15.2 innings in three appearances while striking out 21 and allowing only three runs.
“I thought Tara threw extremely well,” IU Coach Michelle Gardner said. “It’s a luxury to be able to go back and forth between her and Emily Goodin.”
Trainer also pitched two complete games, against Bowling Green on Saturday and UIC on Sunday.
She picked up the win on each occasion.
Against the Falcons Saturday, Trainer struck out five batters while walking just one.
“Tara was able to win, but I didn’t think she was sharp,” Gardner said. “I think that had a lot to do with the cold conditions.”
It wasn’t a coincidence IU’s only loss of the weekend came in the only game in which Trainer didn’t pitch.
Despite trailing for most of Saturday’s game against UIC, IU forced extra innings thanks to a late comeback.
The Hoosiers scored seven runs in the final two innings to recover from a 9-2 deficit.
Junior outfielder Sarah Thompson and freshman catcher Bella Norton combined to drive in three runs in the seventh.
Ultimately, however, IU couldn’t recover from allowing two more runs in the eighth and lost 11-9.
“While I absolutely love the battle of my team, we left 17 runners on base,” Gardner said. “We really have to find a way to push some more runs across.”
Trainer’s dominance returned Sunday, though.
The Ohio native surrendered only two hits and struck out 10 batters in seven innings as part of a 4-0 IU win against UIC.
“We knew we should have beaten them on Saturday,” Lehman said. “We kind of got revenge on them and sent them home with a loss.”
While freshman pitcher Emily Goodin started Sunday’s finale against Bowling Green, Trainer pitched the final two and two thirds innings.
The two combined to pitch a shutout in a 1-0 IU win.
“I feel with good performances on the mound, we can win with one run,” Gardner said. “Today was one of the best performances Tara has had this season.”
IU has won eight of its last nine games as conference play approaches.
“I think just the little things are doing their job,” Lehman said. “I think that we’re ready to come out and play.”
