The Indiana softball team has had a monumental season for the program. They are currently second place in the BigTen and have set single-season records for home runs, RBIs, and runs scored. Along with that, the Hoosiers have also set a new record for the most wins in a season.
Outside of team awards, there have been some standout players on the Hoosiers. Freshman Taryn Kern recently won BigTen Freshman of the Week. Kern currently leads the NCAA in HRs. “Her hitting IQ is superior and her confident and selective approach at the plate separates herself from most hitters,” said Head Coach Shonda Stanton. Kern is just one piece of the puzzle for the Hoosiers success this season.
The culture on the team this year has also played a considerable part in the team’s success this season. “We have a culture of love and respect, a culture of winning the day, a culture of response, and a culture of enjoyment,” said Stanton. On the 50th anniversary of IU softball, Team 50 has clearly showcased that this season. Even after some tough losses, they have answered back with some big wins. “With a 56-game schedule, we have the ability to quickly respond after a win or a loss to continue momentum or to create sudden change and improve,“ said Stanton. That hasn’t gone unnoticed for the team.
This season the team’s hitting has done them wonders in winning games. Besides Taryn Kern, other Hoosiers on the team have put up some impressive batting statistics. Sara Stone put up 9 RBIs in the win versus Rutgers, and she is currently second in the BigTen for RBIs. Freshman Avery Parker also had the honor of Big Freshman of the Week after she hit .500 in series wins over Butler and Purdue. Sophomore Taylor Minnick and Senior Abby Meeks have also been making offensive moves for the Hoosiers. The Hoosiers don’t have a single gap in their line-up. “Our ability to pass the bat to the next hitter in the line-up is effective (in) breaking records like the most home runs or RBIs,” said Stanton. Team 50’s success isn’t limited to the regular season. They have big hopes as they look ahead.
The 50th season has been one for the books. The lady Hoosiers have been on a roll, and they don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. They are looking to finish out the regular season strong and do well in the postseason. “Our hopes for the postseason revolve around trusting the process, believing we belong, and staying super present,” said Stanton. The Hoosiers have high hopes, and it will be interesting to see what they do. No matter what happens this season this team has something special going on.
