The last time the Indiana Hoosiers (21-5, 4-1) was on the field they were celebrating a game-ending home run by Avery Parker. On Saturday afternoon it was Parker and pitcher Ella Troutt who combined to push IU to their fifth-straight win.
After giving up a home run on the first pitch of the game Troutt settled in. Troutt allowed three hits the rest of the way. She struck out nine and walked one to pick up her fifth win of the season.
Parker blasted a three-run home run high off the score board in left field in the bottom of the first inning to give the Hoosiers a 3-1 lead. It was Parker’s 10th home run of the year and second three-run homer in as many games. Aly VanBrandt led off with a double and Alex Cooper drew a four pitch walk to set up the Parker home run.
The Hoosiers would add three more runs on a home run from Ellie Goins. The Hoosiers finished with six runs on seven hits. Brooke Mannon closed out the game with a scoreless seventh inning. The win moves IU to 21-5 (4-1) and sets them up for a sweep of the Scarlet Knights Sunday morning. (Sunday’s game was moved to 11am due to incoming bad weather).
Hoosiers Notables
• Troutt’s nine strikeouts are a career high.
• Her 6.0 innings of work gave her the win to improve her season record to 5-4.
• Parker’s 3-run home run marked her 10th home run of the season, to give her the team lead this season.
• Indiana’s win marks its second-consecutive series victory after defeating Minnesota in the Big Ten opening series, 2-1.
• The Hoosiers have won 11 games in a row over Rutgers and are currently on a five-game winning streak since March 7.
• Six different Hoosiers registered a hit with Madelyn Strader notching two.
Up Next For the Hoosiers
Indiana and Rutgers will close out the series with an 11 a.m. first pitch tomorrow (March 15) at Andy Mohr Field.