Three Observations From IU Softball's Win Over Top-Seeded Northwestern In The Big Ten Tourney Quarterfinals

The Hoosiers Have Likely Punched A Ticket To Their Second Straight NCAA Tournament With The Victory

Andy Mohr Field Where IU Softball Plays Its Home Games

Hoosiers Grit And Northwestern Mistakes Help IU Come Out On Top Over Legendary Program

Northwestern (along with Michigan) has been far and away the best team in the Big Ten for many years in softball. In 23 seasons under legendary head coach Katie Drohan, the Wildcats have won five Big Ten championships (including in 2024), made 17 NCAA Tournaments, participated in seven Super Regionals, and been to the College World Series three times.

The Hoosiers by contrast have had very few up cycles, other than a brief time in the 1980’s and now. Despite this, it was the squad in Cream and Crimson who showed the maturity to win a big game in the conference tourney quarterfinals and likely punch a ticket to the postseason.

NW scored first in the second inning. However, Indiana never let the game get away and tied it on a solo home run to dead center by freshman Alex Cooper in the fourth. However, it was a two-run fifth and an additional tack-on in the sixth that proved decisive.

IU never hit the ball hard in either of these frames. However, they took full advantage of their opponent’s charitable mood as the Hoosiers crossed the plate as a result of multiple walks, a hit batter, a bad throw to first base, a wild pitch, and an infield single.

These late scores allowed Indiana to hold off a final Northwestern rally for the 4-3 signature win. With the victory, IU finishes the season 2-2 against the nationally-ranked Wildcats and improves to 39-17 overall.

Indiana Likely Punches Ticket To Second Straight NCAA Tournament

The last time this IU squad made an NCAA Regional in two consecutive seasons was 1985 and 1986. 2023 and 2024 now appear to be the first time since those years for this feat to occur. With the win Thursday, the Hoosiers sit in the mid 40s in the RPI and seemingly in the field of 64 regardless of what happens in the last two games of the conference championship.

Indiana now has seven quad one wins, as well as that same number in quad two. Also, with a 25-3 record versus quad’s three and four, the resume is now likely sufficient for an at-large bid to the postseason.

Despite being in a good position, IU can take the decision out of the committee’s hands entirely if they take the trophy in the league tournament on Saturday. The quest for the automatic spot begins tomorrow at 4 pm on BTN in the semi-finals against whoever comes out on top between Minnesota and Nebraska

Copeland Strong On Mound

In the success, of the past two seasons, the Hoosiers have relied on their elite offensive with batting averages of over .300 and hitting 60+ home runs each year. Mostly, the pitching has been good enough to not get in the way of the top performances at the plate.

With that said, Brianna Copeland has been a solid two-way player for the team as their lead pitcher with an ERA around three and a batting average north of .300. While she has not thrown anywhere near every inning in 2024, she is their workhorse having tossed 178.1 of the 368.2 frames the Hoosiers have played in.

On Friday, she held down a very good Wildcats lineup giving up just three earned runs while pitching six of the seven innings. She was also in the circle when the final flyout to right field was produced to give Indiana the victory.