After suffering two close losses to Iowa over the weekend, Indiana softball will catch a short break from Big Ten play with a mid-week matchup with University of Notre Dame on Tuesday.
The Fighting Irish are headed into the matchup on a two-game losing streak with their 12-15 overall record. Notre Dame has played six ranked teams, resulting in a 2-4 record against those opponents.
In addition to beating two ranked opponents in University of Missouri and San Diego State University, Notre Dame had a notably tough loss to University of Louisville in a game that went back and forth for 14 innings.
So far this season the Hoosiers are 0-2 against ranked opponents, with an overall record of 19-7. While Indiana has yet to play in extra innings, 14 of its games have finished in fewer innings due to the run rule.
Notre Dame has a talented roster as three players were awarded preseason accolades, including sophomore infielder Addison Amaral, freshman infielder Kaia Cortes and freshman pitcher Brianna Weiss.
Amaral was named to the Softball America Preseason Top 100 List after her impressive freshman year. In her first year, Amaral was named second team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after finishing second on the team with a .340 batting average, leading the team in doubles, home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage.
This season, Amaral leads the team in RBIs with 23, is in a four-way tie for most home runs with three and has a .368 batting average.
Cortes and Weiss were both named to the D1 Softball D100 Freshman Watch List. This season, Cortes has accumulated three home runs and a .210 batting average. Weiss has accumulated an earned run average of 3.29.
As a team, Notre Dame has a .274 batting average, while Indiana is batting .394.
The Hoosiers have five players hitting over .400, led by senior outfielder Taylor Minnick, who is batting an impressive .507.
Statistically, the Hoosiers’ offense is more potent than the Irish, however the Irish have played tougher competition throughout the season so far.
Both teams will look to snap their respective two-game losing streaks and get back in the win column in Tuesday’s matchup. The Irish and Hoosiers are 11-11 in all-time matchups.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Melissa Cook Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. The game can be streamed on the ACC Network.
