Knoxville, TN. – The number 2-seeded Indiana Hoosiers softball team edged out the number 3-seeded Louisville Cardinals in the first game of the NCAA Knoxville Regionals. It was a hard-fought 4-3 victory and the Cardinals threatened in the 7th inning but couldn’t get the tying run.
The game started with the Cardinals Korbe Otis putting the first pitch of the game over the center field wall to give her team an early 1-0 lead. For the Hoosiers, Taryn Kern reached base on a hit by pitch, while sophomore outfielder Taylor Minnick advanced her to second on a single up the left side. Sophomore utility Sarah Stone collected her first RBI of the day on a single to left center to give her team a 2-1 lead.
It was a pitchers’ duel for both teams but in the bottom of the third Stone and starting pitcher Briana Copeland went back-to-back for solo home runs in the bottom of the third to increase Indiana’s lead, 4-1.
The Hoosiers threatened several times throughout the game but the Cardinal were able to escape including a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth. Louisville (35-19) made a final push in the sixth and seventh innings with a Taylor Roby homer to start off the top of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, the Cardinal closed the lead to one run after Vanessa Miller sent another shot to right field to make it a 4-3 game. With only one out and a runner on first, The Hoosiers made a pitching change bringing in junior pitcher Macy Montgomery and she retired the next two batters.
Copeland went yard for the 14th time this season and picked up her 22nd. She had five strikeouts in 6.1 innings.
The Hoosiers will face top-ranked Tennessee tomorrow at 1 P.M.
