Blaine Kinsey
GoSycamores.com
The Indiana State softball team (12-19, 3-8 MVC) will take a three-game break from Missouri Valley Conference play when they host the Jaguars of IUPUI Wednesday at Price Field in a double header. The Sycamores will then travel to face the Hoosiers of Indiana University on Thursday, April 14 for a game that was originally scheduled for March 30 but postponed due to weather. Wednesday's double header is set to begin at 3 p.m. and can be heard live on www.ustream.tv/channel/sycamore-softball as Eli Van Sickel will have the call. Thursday's game is also set to begin at 3 p.m. at the IU Softball Field and will have live stats available on GoSycamores.com. All three mid-week games will set up another three-game MVC series this weekend at Price Field in Terre Haute, Ind. against Southern Illinois beginning with a double header on Saturday and the finale on Sunday.
Last Time Out
The Sycamores last saw the field on Sunday, April 10 when they dropped the series finale 14-4 to the Purple Aces of Evansville in the fifth inning due to the eight-run rule. The loss also gave the Aces the series 2-1 over the Sycamores. Evansville won the first game of the series 5-2 before the Sycamores won the second game 5-1. Junior second baseman Stephanie Robinson led the Sycamores offensively, batting .500 while freshman short stop Shelby Wilson and junior first baseman Bailey Wittenauer led the team with three RBI's and four total bases.
A Little History - IUPUI
This will be the 27th overall meeting between the Jaguars and Sycamores with the Sycamores holding the 20-6 series lead. The last time the two teams met was in 2009 when the Sycamores swept the Jaguars in a double header at Price Field. The in-state rivals first met during the 1978-79 season where the Sycamores defeated the Jaguars 14-4 and 12-10 in a double header in Terre Haute, Ind.
Scouting The Jaguars
So far in the 2011 season the Jaguars hold a 10-23 record overall and are 5-7 in Summit League play. IUPUI last saw the field on April 6, 2011 when they dropped both games of a double header to Purdue University in Indianapolis, Ind. The Jaguars are led offensively this season by junior outfielder Joy Perry who batting a team high .313. Freshman first baseman/outfielder Brandi Lawson has also been a big lift for the Jaguars with a .308 average, 20 hits, 15 RBI's and four home runs on the season.
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 decision 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. Thursday's game was originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 30 but was postponed due to cold temperatures in Bloomington, Ind.
Scouting The Hoosiers
The Hoosiers enter Thursday's game with a 22-15 overall record and are 4-2 in Big 10 conference play. IU last saw the field on April 10 when they defeated the Nittany Lions of Penn State 1-0. The Hoosiers will also play on Wednesday April, 13 when they host the Buckeyes of Ohio State for a double header. The Hoosiers are led so far this season by senior pitcher/ utility player Sara Olson who is batting a team high .364 and also leads the team in doubles (7), home runs (7), RBI's (27), total bases (67), slugging percentage (.626) and walks (10). On the mound the Hoosiers are led by senior Morgan Melloh who has a 1.93 ERA over her 203 innings of work.
Weather Issues
Along with many other teams, the Sycamores have had a particularly rough time with the weather this season. With the March 30 game against Indiana being postponed, the Sycamores have now had six games cancelled or postponed due to either rain or cold temperatures this season. The Sycamores have also had four games delayed due to poor weather conditions.
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 four games and are 9-4 on the season when they are the first team to have a run cross home plate. The Sycamores are also 9-0 when they lead their opponents after the conclusion of the fifth inning.
Freshman Baumgart Leads The Way
Now 31 games into the 2011 season, the Sycamores find themselves being led offensively by their lead off hitter, freshman center fielder Alex Baumgart, who has a team leading .333 batting average and 28 hits and 18 runs scored with six RBI's. Baumgart is also second on the team in total bases with 30.
Using The Long Ball
As the Sycamores are now 31 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 four home runs on the season including a grand slam against SEMO, which makes 12 total home runs for the junior in a Sycamore uniform including a grand slam last season which puts her third in the ISU record book for career home runs and in a tie for sixth on the single season list. As a team the Sycamores have hit eight home runs which is a tie for 9th 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 at www.facebook.com/SycamoreSoftball
Whats Yet To Come
Following this Thursday's game the Sycamores will return to action on Saturday, April 16 when the team returns home to face Missouri Valley Conference rival Southern Illinois. The two teams will play a double header on Saturday beginning at noon before finishing the series wtih a single game on Sunday also starting at noon.
