Indiana Hoosiers
Overall Rank: #29
Conference Rank: #4 Big Ten
This will be a rebuilding year for Hoosiers after a 37-18 record last year, including a 17-3 mark in the Big Ten. The majority of the rebuilding will be in the pitching department after ace Morgan Melloh pitched the Hoosiers to their eighth appearance overall in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2006.
2011: 37-18, 17-3
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Michelle Gardner
Field Players:
Returning is Infielder Breanna Saucedo who was the team’s second best hitter behind Sara Olson with a .326 average including a team-high 15 of 20 stolen bases. She has led the Hoosiers in hits her first two years of college softball. Outfielder Jenna Abraham will also lead the Hoosiers after batting .264 last year and stealing 19 bases. Cassie Gogreve, who was granted an injury hardship waiver prior to the start of the 2011 season and received an additional year of eligibility for 2012, returns behind the plate after compiling a .993 fielding percentage. She is one of four seniors on the team.
Pitchers:
This will be a rebuilding year on the mound with two pitchers gone, including ace Morgan Melloh and Sara Olson (3-0, .331 batting average). Melloh, who played her first three years at Fresno State, hurled her senior year in Bloomington and compiled a 32-17 record with 494 strikeouts in 320.1 innings. Melloh, who also batted .312, finished her career with a 122-52 record. She was team’s Co-MVP with Olson. She ranked second nationally in strikeouts, sixth in wins, seventh in strikeouts per seven innings (10.8), eighth in shutouts (13) and 41st in ERA (1.64). The opposition batted only .166 against Melloh. IU had an overall team ERA of 1.65, which was 12th best in the country. Joining the staff this year are freshmen pitchers Lora Olson, who is the third Olson to play at IU, and Miranda Tamyo. Also returning is Meaghan Murphy (1-0, .220 BA).
Final Projection:
The Hoosiers had the best season in school history but 2012 could be a rebuilding year depending on how fast a young pitching staff comes along. The Hoosiers had only a team batting average of .253 last year and lacked in power, hitting only 25 homers.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Breanna Saucedo, IF, 184
Hits: Breanna Saucedo, IF, 66
Home Runs: Amanda Wagner, IF/OF, 6
RBIs: Cassie Gogreve, C ,23
Runs: Breanna Saucedo, IF, 28
Stolen Bases: Breanna Saucedo, IF, 15
Wins: Meaghan Murphy, P, 1
Innings Pitched: Meaghan Murphy, P, 5
Strikeouts: Meaghan Murphy, P, 1
Saves: none
