In the first game of the two-game slate, senior pitcher and utility player Brianna Copeland started in the circle for Indiana softball against No. 18 Ohio State for the first time since a shutout performance against Penn State on February 22.
Copeland faced a Buckeyes team that led the nation in total home runs so far this season. Early on, Copeland struggled as Ohio State hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of third inning, adding another in the fourth. That gave Ohio State a 5-1 lead over the Hoosiers and took Copeland out of the game.
Indiana would go onto surrender 19 total runs to Ohio State in the first two games of the series. However, after falling in the first two games of the series, Copeland experienced a career day in the circle and at the plate to propel the Cream and Crimson to a series finale victory.
Going into the weekend, Ohio State's 80 home runs led the nation by a margin of 16. The Buckeyes’ power was on full display as the Hoosiers struggled to slow them down in a doubleheader Saturday.
Ohio State's offense added to its strong totals, tallying three home runs against Copeland to secure a 7-1 victory in the first game of the series.
The Buckeyes continued their dominance in the second leg of the doubleheader with Indiana freshman pitcher Jenae Berry starting in the circle. Berry allowed seven earned runs — the most in her Indiana career so far — as the Buckeyes scored eight total runs through just the second inning.
Copeland made a relief appearance in the second inning. She surrendered four earned runs across three innings before freshman pitcher Jasmine Reyes gave up the game-ending home run in the fifth inning as they suffered a 12-4, run-rule loss in game two of the series.
Through the first two games of the series, Copeland allowed nine runs across seven total innings.
With a chance to finish the series strong and gain some momentum in conference play, the Hoosiers needed an improved performance with Copeland starting in the circle.
Copeland stepped up to the challenge while also working as the Hoosiers’ lead-off hitter.
In the first at-bat of the game, the Pelham, Alabama, native skied the ball over the left field wall for a solo home run to grant the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead.
After Copeland’s solo shot, junior catcher and utility player picked up two RBIs, while redshirt junior outfielder Melina Wilkison scored on a fielding error to give the Hoosiers a 5-1 advantage.
The two teams traded runs in the third inning, moving the score to 7-4 before Copeland launched her second home run of the game in the fourth inning.
Holding a commanding 12-7 lead going into the final frame, Copeland earned a shot at program history. Leading off in the top of the seventh inning, she hit the ball out past the center field wall— her third home run of the game.
With her big hit, Copeland made Indiana history — tying the Indiana program record of 40 career home runs, while also tying the school record of three home runs in a single game.
After allowing nine earned runs across her last seven innings, Copeland also put together a career day in the circle.
Facing one of the most explosive lineups in the nation, Copeland pitched her way to a complete game and generated 13 strikeouts — a career high.
The righty led Indiana to a bounce-back 13-7 victory and picked up her eighth win of the season — tying Berry for the team-lead.
After the weekend, the Hoosiers sit at a 23-10 overall record and a 3-5 conference record.
They will look to string together multiple conference wins and build on their momentum next weekend when they host Maryland for a three-game set.
The first game of the series is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday and can be streamed on Big Ten+, with the second game following it at 7 p.m. Sunday on Big Ten Network. The weekend will conclude with a matchup at noon Monday on Big Ten+.
