The struggle for IU softball this season has been run production. But the emergence of freshman catcher Maddie Westmoreland has given the Hoosiers another bat to rely on.
Westmoreland is now second on the team with a .333 batting average and leads IU with three home runs, including a three-run shot that sparked the 8-4 victory over University of Illinois-Chicago last weekend in the Hoosier Classic.
She’ll look to continue her success this weekend when the Hoosiers face No. 18 Ohio State to open Big Ten play at Andy Mohr Field.
“She’s hitting the ball hard, attacking early in the count,” IU Coach Shonda Stanton said. “I think once you get that early success, you’re more confident at the plate. That’s been how she’s performing, and it’s been a big bright spot for us.”
With the Louisville game postponed, IU will look to ride the momentum that was found last weekend with the 3-2 showing for the home opening Hoosier Classic. Even though Westmoreland came up big in the final game, sophomore outfielder Gabbi Jenkins also stood out against UIC, batting 4-4 at the plate and scoring three of the eight IU runs.
The Buckeyes come into this weekend 19-4 overall but were shutout 5-0 to No. 3 Oklahoma in their last game. IU faced the Sooners earlier this season but was able to score just three runs in the loss.
IU holds a 61-45-1 advantage over Ohio State all-time including a 3-1-win last season that was the Hoosiers only win over a ranked team in 2017.
“I think it’s about celebrating and executing the little things,” Westmoreland said. “I think we can compete with some of the bigger teams.”
For IU to find success against the Buckeyes, it’ll start at trying to slow down junior shortstop Lilli Piper. Piper was named Big Ten Player of the Week this week for the second time this season after a .565 BA, 13 hits, nine RBI, eight runs, three home runs, 1.043 slugging percentage, .577 on-base percentage and 1.000 fielding percentage.
Piper is fourth in the country with 12 home runs while also leading the Big Ten with a .452 BA and 29 runs scored. Overall, the Buckeyes lead the Big Ten with 29 home runs as four other players have at least two homers.
“She’s a beast, but the other day, she went 4-4 in a game and they lose,” Stanton said. “And how they lose is the team stayed the course and outscored them. She’s going to get hers, but you have to minimize the damage, so she doesn’t have runners on ahead of her. “
The Buckeyes also have a strong pitching rotation that features junior Morgan Ray, who sits seventh in the Big Ten with a 1.49 ERA and went 11-3 to this point.
Despite a .300 BA and five home runs, senior Shelby McCombs also has the second most appearances in the circle for the Buckeyes and has a 2.68 ERA.
IU won’t get any easy runs this weekend as Ohio State has given up two or fewer runs in 14 of the 23 games played.
“It’s just about taking it one inning at a time and focusing at every at-bat,” Westmoreland said. “Once we take advantage of something and see the door open, we kick it down and we don’t stop until we win every single inning and every single play.”
All season long, IU has talked about the process instead of the result. But, with the Big Ten opener against Ohio State being at home this weekend, the Hoosiers won’t find a better opportunity to prove that the process has been worth it.
“Every matchup is different,” Stanton said. “Ohio State is a great ball club. They’re rolling right now. They’ll be towards the top of the conference. What we want to do is minimize the damage and stay away from the big inning. If we do that, then it’ll be a great matchup. I’m excited about our first Big Ten series.”
