Since setting a program-record 23-game win streak on April 7, Indiana softball has lost six of its last seven games. After being swept by Nebraska on April 15, the Hoosiers go back on the road on Friday for a three-game series against Rutgers.
Rutgers is coming off a difficult weekend series against Penn State, totaling three runs in the three losses. Although scoring against the Nittany Lions was hard to come by, the Scarlet Knights are third in the Big Ten in total runs scored with 253.
Freshman Raimy Gamsby leads the Rutgers pitching staff with 94 1/3 innings pitched and enters the weekend with a 3.04 ERA. Gamsby struggled in the three-game set against Penn State, allowing seven runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched.
At the plate, junior shortstop Kyleigh Sand has been awarded Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season, leading the Scarlet Knights with a .382 batting average. Sand also has the second-most hits in the Big Ten with a total of 60 hits.
Against the Cornhuskers, sophomore utility player Brianna Copeland struggled in the circle, allowing seven runs in just 1 2/3 innings on April 14. In the second game of the twin bill on April 15, Copeland allowed one run in 4 1/3 innings.
Freshman second baseman Taryn Kern went 2-for-8 against Nebraska, bringing her batter average to .417. Kern continues to lead the Big Ten in on base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.
Kern launched a timely two-run homerun against the Cornhuskers on April 15, kickstarting an Indiana rally, but the Hoosiers wound up losing the game en route to a sweep.
The three-game series is shaping up to be an even matchup as the Hoosiers enter the weekend with an overall record of 31-15 and 9-5 conference, while the Scarlet Knights stand at 7-7 in conference play with a 30-17 overall record.
Team 50 will look to get back in the win column after losing six of seven with the first game of the series set for a 3 p.m. start on Friday. Saturday’s contest is also set for a 3 p.m. first pitch while the series finale is slated to begin at 1 p.m. Each of the three games this weekend will be available for viewing on B1G+.
Follow reporters Austin Platt (@AustinPlatter) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) for updates throughout the softball season.
