NCAA softball regionals: Indiana season ends with loss to Tennessee
| Special for IndyStar
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Tennessee is the No. 4-ranked softball team in the country for a reason.
The Lady Volunteers flashed power and dominating pitching to claim the title in the NCAA Regional on Sunday.
A 7-3 victory over Indiana in the championship game earned Tennessee (47-8) an opportunity to host Texas next weekend in the Super Regional.
The Hoosiers, who finished the year 44-18 and reached a regional final for the first time since 1994, had their season end with plenty of promise for the future. Only one player (right fielder Cora Bassett) in IU starting lineup is a senior.
Team 50 (this current IU team) has been on a mission all season, said Hoosiers coach Shonda Stanton. Its like finding a rhythm in a dance. Ive been just enjoying the journey and watching these young ladies become the women they will become.
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Its not like Indiana didnt have its chances to change the trajectory of this game early. In both the first and second innings, the Hoosiers had the bases loaded with just one out and came up empty each time.
We knew that Tennessee was going to put up some runs, said Stanton. When you have ducks on the pond, all you can do is shoot your shot. Sometimes it falls, sometimes not.
Lady Vols pitcher Payton Gottshall navigated her way out of both jams.
Payton has an extra gear, said Tennessee coach Karen Weekly. She just loves to compete.
I kept attacking, Gottshall said. I got away from it (in those first couple innings).
Indiana rolled the dice by starting lefty Heather Johnson in the circle. She pitched the last five innings of the earlier game against Louisville and was perfect, mowing down all 15 batters she faced.
The magic didnt carry over, though. Tennessees Kiki Milloy led off the game with a walk, then Zaida Puni belted the first of two homers in the game.
We pitch by committee, said Stanton. I loved how (Johnson) was competing.
Freshman Sophie Kleiman came on in the second inning and kept the Lady Vols' bats quiet until the fifth. Thats when Punis second home run was the key blow in a five-run outburst and a 7-0 lead.
We could have had a slow fade (after the fifth), said Stanton. But we kept fighting.
Indiana, which scored three runs in the seventh to win against Louisville earlier in the day, scored three again. This time it was hardly enough.
A fielders choice, a wild pitch and a single by Brianna Copeland plated the three runs.
My job is all about managing expectations, Stanton said. Right now, were hungry. Everyone on this team is hungry for more.
Im super excited for the Hoosiers, said freshman second baseman Taryn Kern. We have such a young team. It was great to get a taste of (success).
Monday, May 22, 2023 at 12:44 am