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Monday, May 5
The Indiana Daily Student

sports softball

Indiana softball set to take a break from conference play in contest against Louisville

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Following nine straight Big Ten games and amid a four-game win streak, Indiana softball takes a break from conference play as it hosts the University of Louisville, which is looking to snap its four-game losing streak, at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington.  

After ranking 10th in the Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the Cardinals have struggled in ACC play to start the season, holding a 3-9 conference record going into their matchup against the Hoosiers.  

However, the ACC has been a challenging conference so far this season, featuring five ranked teams in USA Softball’s Week 8 poll. Both teams have faced difficulties in matchups with ranked opponents, as Louisville has gone 0-6 against ranked opponents while Indiana is 1-4 against top 25 teams.  

The Cardinals hope to get their pitching staff back on track against the Hoosiers, as they have surrendered 35 runs across their last four games.  

Despite their struggles to start conference play, the Cardinals have been dangerous on the basepaths, ranking 19th in the nation with 78 stolen bases while their 20 triples rank fourth in Division I.  

Their offense is led by redshirt freshman outfielder Char Lorenz, who leads the team with 45 RBIs and six home runs. Lorenz was named the top freshman in the ACC in the Softball America Midseason Freshman Rankings on March 25. 

Junior pitcher Alyssa Zabala poses a threat in the circle for the Cardinals. Zabala holds a team-leading 3.50 ERA and 8-5 record on the season. The Miami native was named an ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week on February 18 — the first ACC weekly honor of her career.  

This season marks Louisville head coach Holly Aprile’s seventh year at the helm. Over her past six seasons with the Cardinals, Aprile’s team has amassed 156 wins and earned two NCAA Tournament regional appearances in 2019 and 2023.  

Meanwhile, the Hoosiers come into the matchup riding their first Big Ten series sweep over Maryland and on a four-game win streak –– their longest since a seven-game win streak ended March 15 against Iowa.  

The Hoosiers’ bats have been hot the last few games, notably hitting their way to a 15-run fourth inning in the first game of the weekend series against Maryland on Sunday.  

The Cream and Crimson’s offense has put up strong performances overall at the plate this season, earning a nation-leading .382 team batting average and 2.17 doubles per game. Senior outfielder Taylor Minnick has been a driving force behind these numbers, as her .500 batting average ranks sixth in the nation.  

Louisville and Indiana last faced off against each other on March 26, 2024, when Indiana earned an 11-6 victory. Despite Louisville owning a 20-7 record in games featuring the two squads, Indiana has won each of the last four matchups. 

The Hoosiers look to build upon this trend and add to their four-game win streak while the Cardinals hope to get back into the win column. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Andy Mohr Field and can be streamed on Big Ten+.

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