Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
20-5, 3-1
Rutgers
13-11, 2-2
Parker Launches Hoosiers into the Win Column
3/13/2026 8:30:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––– Indiana picked up its 13th win by run rule this season on Friday (March 13) when it defeated Rutgers, 12-2 in five innings, at Andy Mohr Field.
Indiana's Avery Parker powered the Hoosiers to victory over Rutgers with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth frame.
The Hoosiers have won four in a row and are now 20-5 on the year and 3-1 in Big Ten play.
GAME 1: INDIANA 12, RUTGERS 2
KEY MOMENTS
• The Hoosiers went 1-2-3 at the top of the first inning with a ground out to Alex Cooper at shortstop, a strikeout by pitcher Taylor Hess and a flyball to right fielder Hannah Haberstroh.
• A leadoff double by Aly VanBrandt put the Hoosiers in scoring position early.
• A sac-fly to the warning track of centerfield gave VanBrandt plenty of time to find home plate and put Indiana on the board with a 1-0 lead at the end of the first frame.
• Indiana's defense worked efficiently at the top of the second inning, recording three outs in three at-bats from the Scarlet Knights.
• Haberstroh stole second base, drawing a pick-off attempt from home to second by Rutgers' backstop. The throw to second allowed pinch runner Neveah Nash to score from third base to put IU up 3-0 to end the second inning.
• Senior Ellie Goins sent a no-doubter three-run homer to center field on the first pitch of the at-bat. Runs from Madalyn Strader, Josie Bird and Goins moved the Hoosiers to a 6-0 lead.
• Samantha Delhoyo hit a two-run homer to center field in the top of the fifth frame. The homerun put the Scarlet Knights on the board and moved the score to 6-2.
• Despite the two runs scored by Rutgers in the fifth, the Hoosiers maintained momentum. Alex Cooper grounded out to second base and advanced runners around the bags for one run batted in. After three consecutive balls, Avery Parker sent a home run deep into right center field. The three-run, walk-off homer sealed the run rule in the fifth frame of play.
NOTABLES
• Indiana has won four games in a row dating back to the Saturday (March 7) won over Minnesota in their Big Ten opening series.
• Three Hoosiers had a multiple RBI game: VanBrandt (2), Parker (4), Goins (3).
• Ellie Goins' home run marked her first in the cream and crimson. The longball was her third of the season and Goins' career.
• Junior Taylor Hess improved her pitching record to 6-1.
UP NEXT
Indiana and Rutgers will face off for game two of the series on Saturday (March 14) for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hess, Taylor (6-1)
L: Brooke Shifflett (5-4)
Batting:
HR: Samantha Delhoyo 1
RBI: Samantha Delhoyo 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Baileigh Burtis 1 ; Samantha Delhoyo 1
Batting:
2B: VanBrandt, Aly 1 ; Cooper, Alex 1
HR: Parker, Avery 1 ; Goins, Ellie 1
RBI: VanBrandt, Aly 2 ; Cooper, Alex 1 ; Parker, Avery 4 ; Goins, Ellie 3 ; Gavin, Alli 1
SF: Parker, Avery 1
Base Running:
RUNS: VanBrandt, Aly 2 ; Parker, Avery 1 ; Bird, Josie 1 ; Strader, Madalyn 2 ; Goins, Ellie 2 ; Haberstroh, Hannah 1 ; Ellison, Jada 1 ; Drummond, Peyton 1 ; Kettleman, Cassidy 1
SB: Haberstroh, Hannah 1 ; Kettleman, Cassidy 1
CS: VanBrandt, Aly 1
