Despite outscoring its opponents 19-6 during the first half of the weekend, Indiana softball scored just two runs in its final two games to drop to 10-3 on the 2025 season.
After falling short in its season opener to Florida International University on Feb. 6, the Hoosiers rode an eight-game winning streak heading into the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic in Lubbock, Texas. The Hoosiers’ offense was a consistent piece of their hot streak, contributing at least nine hits per game while scoring 10 or more runs in four of those games.
In their first matchup of the weekend against the University of Illinois Chicago, the Cream and Crimson took the field swinging. Senior outfielder Taylor Minnick and junior catcher Avery Parker each hit a home run as the Hoosiers collected six runs across the first five innings. Minnick added a single in the sixth inning to defeat the Flames 7-4.
The Indiana offense stayed ready for its second matchup of the weekend against the University of Texas at El Paso on Saturday. The Hoosiers hit their way to an explosive third inning with sophomore utility player Alex Cooper, redshirt junior outfielder Melina Wilkison and Parker each delivering a home run. In an offensive clinic, the Hoosiers scored a season-high 12 runs in five innings to improve to 10-1.
Riding high after pushing their win streak to 10, the Hoosiers prepared to face their first ranked opponent of the season with No. 12 Texas Tech University on deck. Prior to facing Indiana, TTU had already generated six shutouts on the season.
Wilkison got the Hoosiers started early with a lined single in the top of the first inning. However, that would be their only hit of the game –– their lowest mark of the season. Junior pitcher NiJaree Canady piled up 10 strikeouts through five innings for the Red Raiders, securing their seventh shutout win of the season and ending the Hoosiers’ win streak in the process.
Before their matchup against Texas Tech, it had been almost a year since the Hoosiers last got shutout. On March 17, 2024, they suffered a 10-0 loss to then-No. 10 University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.
Indiana earned a shot for redemption Sunday as it took on Texas Tech for the second straight day. The Hoosiers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning after Wilkison roped a double to left field and paved the way for freshman shortstop Madalyn Strader to cross home plate.
The Cream and Crimson earned six hits throughout the game but only recorded two runs. Both scores came off the bat of Wilkison as she drove in her second RBI double of the game during the seventh inning. Canady had another dominant outing, racking up nine strikeouts across seven innings as Texas Tech defeated Indiana 7-2.
Following a dominant start to the classic that included a season-high 12 runs scored against UTEP, the Indiana offense went cold as it generated just seven hits across its final two games while being outscored 15-2.
Sitting at 10-3 on the season, the Hoosiers hope to correct the offensive inconsistencies that stung them during the classic when they travel to Clemson, South Carolina, to compete in the Tiger Invitational next weekend.
