Indiana softball fans were up on their feet cheering, while the rest of the team sprinted out of the dugout to gather around home plate and embrace Brianna Copeland as she stepped across home plate. A strong leadoff hit flew deep and beyond the fences, giving the Hoosiers their first run of the day in the top of the third inning Wednesday at Andy Mohr Field.
The homerun, hit by the senior pitcher and utility player, set a new program record and gave Copeland the title of record home run leader with 41.
Copeland was previously tied with Tory Yamaguchi for the program record of 40 home runs in the Hoosiers' defeat of then No.18 ranked Ohio State on March 31.
In addition to Copeland’s record-breaking home run, she had another complete game on the mound, tallying six strikeouts and holding the University of Louisville to just three hits on the day to aid in the Hoosiers 8-3 victory over the Cardinals.
“She is just a difference maker, a game changer, she’s a joy to be around,” head coach Shona Stanton said postgame. “We’re proud that she’s a Hoosier and we’re proud of her.”
Not only did Copeland’s homerun give the Hoosiers their first run of the day, but it also gave them a boost and swayed the momentum in their favor.
The Cardinals took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and were able to hold onto the lead until the bottom of the third. In that inning, the Hoosiers tied up the score thanks to Copeland’s record-breaking home run and a single up the middle from senior outfielder Kinsey Mitchell that brought in junior catcher Avery Parker.
The Cardinals made another push of their own in the fourth inning after a leadoff home run from freshman catcher and utility player Madison Pickens. However, the Hoosiers responded in explosive fashion in the fourth inning, scoring four runs to pull away and take a 6-3 lead.
The Hoosiers carried their momentum into the remainder of the game, holding the Cardinals to zero additional runs and scoring two more of their own en route to the 8-3 victory.
Indiana outhit Louisville on the night 12-3, with five different Hoosiers registering an RBI. That list included Copeland, Mitchell, Parker and sophomore utility players Alex Cooper and Aly VanBrandt.
As the regular season soon comes to an end and post-game season approaches, Stanton says the Hoosiers treat each game with an “every game’s the championship game” mindset.
After being named to USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year Top 53 Watchlist in January, it was clear Copeland would be a factor in the success of the Hoosiers. So far this season, she has come up big when the team needed her and did so again Wednesday against a tough non-conference opponent.
"Just glad to get the win,” Copeland said. “That’s going to matter in the long run for our postseason run.”
After a short break from conference play and extending their win streak to five games, the Hoosiers will play Wisconsin in a three-game series April 11-13 at the Goodman Softball Complex in Madison, Wisconsin.
