The Indiana Hoosiers (20-5, 3-1) pushed their winning streak to four games when captain Avery Parker blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning for an 12-2 run-rule win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Parker drove in four runs on the night, but was held hitless until the fifth when she ended the game with a long home run to right center field.
The Hoosiers received a great start in the circle from Taylor Hess (6-1) as she went 4.1 innings allowing just two runs (one earned) on two hits. Hess struck out four batters and walked just one. Rutgers only runs came on a two-run home run in the fifth by Samantha Delhoyo. Brooke Mannon got the final two outs of the fifth for IU,
The Hoosiers started quickly on offense as Aly VanBrandt led off the bottom of the first by lacing a double down the left field line. VanBrandt continued her hot streak with three more hits and drove in two more runs. She would score on a Parker sacrifice fly.
The Hoosiers would score two more in the second inning to push the lead to 3-0. IU’s first run in the inning came on some great base running as Hannah Haberstroh and pinch runner Navaeh Nash pulled off a double steal.
Ellie Goins blasted a three-run home run in the third inning to open up a 6-0 lead for the Hoosiers and really put an early evening in range for IU.
Rutgers would creep back in the game with Delhoyo’s two-run blast in the top of the fifth, but IU would use a six-run sixth to end the game.
NOTABLES
• Indiana has won four games in a row dating back to the Saturday (March 7) won over Minnesota in their Big Ten opening series.
• Three Hoosiers had a multiple RBI game: VanBrandt (2), Parker (4), Goins (3).
• Ellie Goins’ home run marked her first in the cream and crimson. The longball was her third of the season and Goins’ career.
• Junior Taylor Hess improved her pitching record to 6-1.
UP NEXT
Indiana and Rutgers will face off for game two of the series on Saturday (March 14) for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
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