After playing two of their scheduled three games in the first home Missouri Valley Conference series of the season this past weekend, the Indiana State softball team will now turn their attention toward the Hoosiers of in-state rival Indiana University. The Sycamores will travel east on highway 46 to Bloomington, Ind. on Wednesday, March 30 with the first pitch between the Sycamores and Hoosiers set for 3:00 p.m.
Last time out
The Sycamores last saw the field on Sunday, March 27 where they dropped their second consecutive game by a score of 6-1 to Missouri Valley Conference foe Missouri State. The Bears also beat the Sycamores 6-1 on Saturday after the first game of the series was called off due to the cold termperatures in Terre Haute, Ind. The Sycamores tried to make a rally late in both games but fell short in both contests.
A Little History - Indiana
This will be the 65th overall meeting between the Sycamores and the Hoosiers with the last meeting coming last season in Terre Haute, Ind. when the Hoosiers took a 2-1 decsion from over the Sycamores. The Hoosiers own the all-time series record against the Sycamores at 51-13. The two teams have also played each other in all but three of the Sycamores 34 seasons of softball.
Scouting The Hoosiers
The Hoosiers enter Wednesday's game with an overall record of 19-13 and are 1-1 in Big 10 Conference play. The Hoosiers last saw the field on Sunday, March 27 when they defeated the Golden Gophers of Minnesota 4-2 in Bloomington. The Hoosiers are led by sophomore infielder Breanna Saucedo who is batting .349 with 37 hits 14 runs scored and five runs batted in.
Off To A Quick Start
So far this season it has been a battle to get on the scoreboard first for the Sycamores. The Sycamores have only lost one game and are 8-2 on the season when they are the first team to have a run cross home plate. The Sycamores are also 8-1 when leading after the fourth inning of play.
Freshman Baumgart Leads The Way
Now 23 games into the 2011 season, the Sycamores find themselves being led offensively by freshman out fielder Alex Baumgart who has a team leading .379 batting average and a team leading 22 hits and 13 runs scored with four RBI's.
Using The Long Ball
As the Sycamores are just 23 games into the season, Junior first baseman Bailey Wittenauer has been swinging the bat with power as she leads the team with home runs. Wittenauer already has two home runs on the seasons which makes eight total home runs for the junior in a Sycamore uniform including a grand slam last season. As a team the Sycamores have hit seven home runs which is a tie for 10th place in the ISU record book.
Felker Named MVC Pitcher Of The Week
Indiana State softball picked up its first Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week award for the 2011 season on March 7th with the selection of sophomore right-handed pitcher Kristen Felker.
Felker pitched a complete game Sunday giving up no earned runs and struck out nine batters to get the win for Indiana State over Holy Cross at the Rebel Games Classic in Orlando, Fla. Felker, a native of Defiance, Mo. and a physical education major, now has 20 strikeouts in her four games of the 2011 season.
Follow ISU Softball Online
Keep up to date with Sycamore softball all over the web this season. Full stats, box scores and recaps will continue to be available on www.GoSycamores.com. However, you can also follow the Sycamores on Facebook at with the Indiana State University Softball fan page.
Whats Yet To Come
Following this Wednesday''s game the Sycamores will return to action on Saturday, April 2 when the team hits the road to travel to face Missouri Valley conference rival Wichita State.. The two teams will play a double header on Saturday before finishing the series wtih a single game on Sunday.
