Hoosiers Seek ‘Incredible Weekend’ in NCAA Tourney
5/16/2025 10:30:00 AM | Softball
Hoosiers Seek 'Incredible Weekend' in NCAA Tourney
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Kinsey Mitchell basks in softball reward -- a third straight Indiana NCAA tourney appearance, another opportunity to play with fellow seniors Taylor Minnick, Brianna Copeland and all the Hoosiers and, perhaps, make history.
"I'm thankful to have stuck it out for four years with (Minnick and Copeland) by my side," the designated player says from a Fayetteville (Arkansas) Regional stage. "We work hard every day. We've been through it all, the ups and the downs. This is the gold standard now. Going forward, it should be a shock to not see our name in the postseason."
Third-seeded Indiana (33-18) opens with second-seed Oklahoma State (33-18) on Friday at Bogle Park. Top-seeded Arkansas (40-12), the overall No. 4 national seed, faces Saint Louis (34-22). The double-elimination regional wraps up on Sunday.
"Experiencing this one last time in our final season is awesome," Copeland says. "It's rewarding, for our last season, to go out with this."
Waiting several days to learn their NCAA tourney fate after a 5-4 second-round Big Ten tourney loss to UCLA was "terrible," Mitchell adds. "We hated that, but when we did see our name (in the 64-team field), it was the best feeling."
IU had never made three consecutive NCAA tourney appearances before this three-season run, which ended a 12-year postseason drought. Coach Shonda Stanton arrived in 2018 to change that, in part by ramping up the recruiting while pushing an aggressive offensive attack.
Mission accomplished.
"(Stanton) likes to say we're the gold standard for years to come," Minnick says. This won't be just a three-year thing. It will be an every year thing. When you play for Indiana, you're expected to make it to the NCAA tourney."
Stanton credits Minnick, Copeland and Mitchell for setting the tone.
"I'm super proud of these three young women. It's been fun to watch them elevate our program. This has been back-to-back-to-back (NCAA tourney) trips. These three are the main reason we're doing that."
Elevation comes as an offensive juggernaut. IU leads the nation in batting average (.368), doubles per game (2.10) and on-base percentage (.457).
"For us to have an identity," Stanton says, "we know we hit. We knew that would need to be a focus for us to be successful this season. We put a plan together. For us to execute it and stay true to our identity is really neat."
Minnick, a top-25 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, leads the Big Ten in hitting at .470. She and Copeland share the program career home run record at 43.
Three other Hoosiers hit better than .400 -- third baseman Madalyn Strader (.425), catcher Avery Parker (.401) and Mitchell (.400).
What's the offensive secret?
"Hitting is very contagious," Mitchell says. "When you see your teammates on base, you want to step up and do what you can for the team. When I'm hitting behind (Minnick and Copeland), it boosts my confidence."
Adds Minnick: "It's nice knowing that if I don't produce, we have people like Kinsey, Avery, you look up and down our lineman, and we have people who have your back even if you're not having you best day. We all work well together. All of our strengths work together."
Few appreciate that more than Copeland, who when she's not rocking opposing pitchers with a .327 batting average, 13 home runs and 40 RBI, is pitching to a 17-8 record with a 4.63 earned run average.
"It's nice not having any gaps in the lineup," she says, "and it's great as a pitcher to have this offense behind you if you don't have a great inning."
It starts with Stanton, who built a roster that combines power (62 home runs) and speed (89 stolen bases) to score 385 runs.
"One of our mottos is, keep calm, swing on," Stanton says. "Our kids do that.
"It doesn't matter whether we have to win 20-10, or 2-0. We found many ways to win.
"You shoot your shot. That's what life is about. Nobody will give you anything. You've got to prep, put in the work and shoot your shot. These kids are a bunch of (gym) rats. They put in the work. They earned this."
Oklahoma State, making its ninth straight NCAA tourney appearance and 26th overall, is led by first-team All-Big 12 players Rosie Davis (.349, eight homers, 50 RBI), Ruby Meylan (21-8, 1.61 ERA, 229 strikeouts in 196.0 innings) and Amanda Hasler (.302, 15 homers, 31 RBI).
The Cowgirls, who have won six of their last eight games, took a couple of days off for a retreat after losing their first game in the Big 12 Tournament. Overall, they will have eight days off between games.
"They're a great team," Minnick says. "They're coached well. They have a lot of great athletes, great pitching. I think we match up well with them."
The Hoosiers faced Meylan during last year's NCAA tourney. She pitched for Washington and allowed three hits and three runs in a third of an inning of relief in a first-round matchup.
The Huskies won 8-7.
"It would be fun to have a rematch with her," Minnick says. "We'll see what two great teams going against each other can do."
Adds Stanton: "We're excited to have an incredible weekend."
