This weekend, the Michigan softball team will face Indiana, a team that boasts two pitchers ranked in the top six of the Big Ten. While the Hoosiers’ dynamic duo will pose a significant threat to the Wolverines, this will not be Michigan’s first time staring down talented arms in the circle.
Currently, Indiana is ranked fifth in the Big Ten, with a conference record of 12-6. It flaunts an offensive talent similar to Michigan, with seven starting batters hitting over .300. But where the Hoosiers differ from the Wolverines is their pitching staff.
Not only does Indiana have one good pitcher, it has two, both touting ERA’s under 3.00. Right-hander Aubree Hooks pitches at 2.25, falling into the fourth spot in Big Ten rankings, and right-hander Ella Troutt follows close behind with a 2.50 ERA, slotting cleanly into the sixth place ranking. Both pitchers have started 15 games and tallied two shutouts apiece. Throughout the season, Hooks has only allowed six home runs, which are a key piece of Michigan’s offense. Pitching 92.1 innings, Troutt has allowed just 85 hits, compared to Wolverines junior right-hander Erin Hoehn, who has allowed 114 hits over 95.0 innings pitched.
It is undeniable that this pitching duo will prove a challenge, but Michigan has an advantage — it has already faced three out of the six top Big Ten pitchers.
The Wolverines have also confronted Washington’s ace, right-hander Morgan Reimer, who ranks fifth in the Big Ten with an ERA of 2.35. While Michigan ultimately did not clinch a win against the Huskies in their opening series at the end of March, they were never far behind. Recording 11 hits in their first matchup, the Wolverines fell by just two runs, 9-7. Michigan’s prolific offense kept it in this game, but if it had been able to out-hit Washington, who also recorded 11 hits, it is likely its own offense could have overpowered Reimers’ power in the circle.
“Credit to Reimer,” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said March 21. “There’s a reason that she has so many victories. She did a nice job of disrupting our timing at the plate and getting us to chase balls outside of the K zone. … With that being said, we could have done a better job offensively, manufacturing some bases, hitting the ball harder, managing the K zone, so it’s a little bit of both.”
Another powerful arm, Northwestern’s right-hander Marina Mason ranks above Indiana’s duo and Reimer with an ERA of 2.21. Throughout 117.1 innings pitched, she has allowed just 79 hits and 50 runs. When the Wolverines faced her in the circle on April 3, she held them to zero runs, asserting dominance for seven full innings. But when Michigan faced her again in the matchup that would determine who would win the series, she was not able to hold down the Wolverines’ lineup.
Trailing with a six run deficit at the top of the fourth, it seemed that the Wildcats were secure. But that very same inning, Michigan claimed four unearned runs, bringing the deficit to just two. After this shaky stretch, Mason was pulled from the game and replaced. The Wolverines’ potent offense had effectively neutralized the third-ranked pitcher in the Big Ten.
“We just kept the mantra past the bat,” Tholl said April 5. “We had five innings to pass the bat, and they took it to heart, and I think that’s 100% in their belief in what they can do.”
As its history has shown, Michigan can compete against top-ranked pitchers. While Indiana’s duo will prove a challenge, the Wolverines have been here before, facing and defeating feisty right-handers. It is just a matter of if they are up to the challenge.
