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Indiana Softball Celebrates B1G Weekend Ahead of NCAA Tournament

Here's a recap of all that happened to Indiana softball in less than a week's time. The team performed well in the Big Ten Tournament and then heard its name called to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Indiana softball team didn't end up winning the Big Ten Tournament as it fell to top-seeded Northwestern in the championship on Saturday, but the Hoosiers did walk away with two conference tournament wins and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament they haven't played in since 2011.

Thursday, Indiana took down 7-seed Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals after sophomore utility player Sarah Stone hit a walkoff homer in the ninth inning to give Indiana the 5-4 edge.

In Friday's matchup versus 3-seed Minnesota, the Hoosiers hit three homers in their 5-3 victory over the Golden Gophers that punched their ticket to Saturday's tournament finals.

Freshman utility player Cassidy Kettleman crossed the plate for the Hoosiers in the third inning of the championship game, but 1-seed Northwestern scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the title and send the Hoosiers packing after what was still a successful weekend of tournament play.

Perhaps the best moment of the weekend was Sunday's selection show where Indiana earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will face 3-seed Louisville Friday at 3 p.m. hosted at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in the Knoxville regional.

The Hoosiers hold a 42-16 overall record and 18-5 conference record on the season as the Cardinals are 35-18 and 16-7 in the ACC. The last time Indiana played in the NCAA Tournament was back in 2011 when the team went 37-18 and 17-3 in conference. 

If the Hoosiers make it past the regional round of the NCAA Tournament, it will be the first time since 1986 when the Hoosiers advanced to the College World Series. Winning the College World Series would mean the first title for Indiana after a stunning rebuild of the program by head coach Shonda Stanton in her six seasons at the helm.

Below is the full tournament bracket courtesy of NCAA Softball:

  • HOOSIERS EARN NO. 2 SEED IN NCAA TOURNAMENT Indiana's softball team has made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. They are the No. 2 seed in the Knoxville Regional and will play Louisville on national television on Friday afternoon in the first round. Tennessee is the top seed. CLICK HERE
  • KERN HONORED: Indiana softball second baseman Taryn Kern was named both Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year. The San Jose, Calif. native was also unanimously named to the All-Freshman Team in addition to First Team All-Big Ten. She's the only Hoosier in program history to win two individual postseason awards. CLICK HERE
  • INDIANA SOFTBALL FUELED BY KERN Indiana softball second baseman Taryn Kern has left a huge mark on the Hoosiers' season, and it's not even over yet. The freshman leads the nation in home runs and her team in batting average as she looks for the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011. CLICK HERE
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