The Indiana Hoosiers held leads of 3-0, 5-3 and 7-5, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Virginia Cavaliers in the Knoxville Regional. The Cavaliers battled back each time and eventually won 8-7 on a walk-off double by catcher Reagan Hickey in extra innings. The loss negated a heroic effort from IU centerfielder Ellie Goins, who blasted two home runs and threw the potential winning run out at the plate to force extras.
The Hoosiers will take on the Northern Kentucky Norse in an elimination game tomorrow at 5:30 pm.
The Hoosiers got off to a fast start as catcher Avery Parker blasted a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. IU would add a third run when Madalyn Strader reached on an error and scored after her steal attempt of second base caused two throwing errors on the Cavaliers.
The Hoosiers started freshman Aubree Hooks who pitched out of trouble in the first inning, but was not as fortunate in the second. Virginia would tie the game in the second inning on a Jade Hylton three-run home run, her first of two on the night.
Indiana found some two-out thunder when Goins blasted her first of two home runs to put the Hoosiers ahead 5-3 in the top of the third, but the lead would not last long.
The Hoosiers failed to tack on to their lead in the top of the fourth inning, a theme that would come back to haunt them. In the bottom of the inning, Virginia found its power stroke again.
Madison Greene chased Hooks from the circle with a one-out solo home run to cut the Hoosiers lead to 5-4. That’s when Indiana head coach Shonda Stanton went to her bullpen and brought in Taylor Hess.
Hess was greeted rudely as Hylton blasted her second home run of the night to tie the game at 5-5. Hess eventually settled in and retired the next five hitters.
The Hoosiers would retake the lead for a third time in the top of the fifth inning when Parker led off the inning, getting hit by a pitch. After a fielder’s choice and a strikeout, Goins hit her second two-run home run to put the Hoosiers ahead 7-5.
The Hoosiers and Cavaliers combined for a scoreless fifth inning. The Hoosiers had a chance to break open the game in the sixth inning when IU put runners on first and second, thanks to a walk to Cassidy Kettleman and Aly VanBrandt getting hit by a pitch. Kettleman stole third base with a slick slide into the bag, but the Hoosiers failed to capitalize on the first-and-third one-out situation. Alex Cooper grounded into a fielder’s choice and Kettleman was out at home. Parker would strike out swinging against Virginia reliever Taylor Smith.
After striking out Alex Call to start the first out of the sixth inning, Hess allowed a double and a walk and was lifted for Ella Troutt.
Troutt struggled with control in relief. Jaiden Griffith roped a single into center field to load the bases for Virginia. Troutt unraveled from there. Hylton drove in her fifth run of the game with a four-pitch walk and UVA tied the score at seven on an RBI groundout from Macee Eaton. After reloading the bases, Troutt got a groundout to end the inning.
After two quick outs to start the top of the seventh inning, Indiana loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter. However, IU would fail to score when Kettleman struck out swinging.
Virginia nearly won it in the bottom of the seventh on a single by Griffith, but an excellent throw from Goins and a great tag by Parker nailed the runner at the plate.
Indiana went down in order in the top of the eighth inning.
Stanton went to her bullpen again as she brought in Brooke Mannon. Mannon faced one batter, Hylton, and walked her. Hooks re-entered the circle for the third time and nearly got out of trouble. Hooks got two outs before Hickey hit a line drive off the right-center field wall to score the winning run.
The Hoosiers left eight runners on base. They will take on the Northern Kentucky Norse on Saturday at 5:30 pm