Tennessee Tops Indiana 7-3, Ends Hoosiers' Impressive 2023 Season

Indiana let some early opportunities slip away, and powerful Tennessee got them best of them for the second straight day, winning 7-3 to clinch the Knoxville regional. The Hoosiers finished the season with 44 wins and a pair of NCAA Tournament wins for the first time since 1994, and it's a program on the rise.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Up-and-coming Indiana knew it was going to take something special to beat powerful Tennessee on Sunday. They gave themselves chances, but couldn't finish it off.

The Hoosiers loaded the bases in each of the first two innings with one out, but never scored. Tennessee, the SEC regular-season and tournament champions, punished Indiana for the missed opportunities, winning 7-3 to claim the Knoxville Regional title.

It was a tough ending for Indiana in this breakthrough season. They won 44 games, broke all sorts of school offensive records and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years. They won an NCAA game for the first time in 17 years, and won two tournament games on the same weekend for the first time since 1994.

None of Indiana's players had even been born then. It was a tough loss to swallow, but the Hoosiers — a fun-loving group — we're still smiling at the end. This was a terrific season, and the best is still to come.

“We knew that Tennessee was going to pour it on at some point and put up some runs, so when you have ducks on the pond both innings, and all you can do is shoot your shot,'' Indiana coach Shonda Stanton said. "Sometimes it falls, sometimes they don't. I proud of how we competed, and it just didn't happen.'' 

Tennessee thumped four home runs in Saturday's 9-1 win over Indiana, and they wasted little time showing off their power on Sunday, as well. In the top of the first. lead-off hitter Kiki Molloy walked and then third baseman Zaida Puni homered to right field to put the Volunteers ahead 2-0 off of Indiana starter Heather Johnson, who got 15 straight outs earlier in the afternoon in the Hoosiers' 4-2 win over Louisville.

Indiana threatened early and often, loading the bases with just one out in both the first and second inning. They failed to score both times.

In the first, Indiana's Taryn Kern drew a one-out walk, and Taylor Minnick and Sarah Stone followed with singles. But Tennessee pitcher Payton Gottshall struck Brianna Copeland and then got Avery Parker to pop up to third to end the threat.

The Hoosiers were right back at it in the bottom of the second. Cassidy Kettleman singled to center and Kinsey Mitchell reached on a throwing error. Cora Bassett then walked with one out, but then Kern struck out and Taylor Minnick popped up to third.'

Two innings, six left on base.

Johnson started just 35 minutes after closing out Louisville, and he pitched two innings, keeping Tennessee at bay after the early home run.

"We just wanted to roll with her there, because she was looking so good,'' Stanton said. "I loved how she competed there (against Louisville) and we knew we'd be pitching by committee (against Tennessee). She battled after that first home and then (freshman) Sophie (Kleiman) did a great job, too. 

It was still 2-0 in the fifth inning when Tennessee blew the game open with five runs off of Kleiman. The Hoosiers didn't on the board until the final inning, scoring three runs in the seventh with three hits.

"I loved that about us, that we battled until the end,'' Stanton said. ''That says a lot about the team we have, and what all this means to them.''

Kern, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year as a freshman and hit 23 home runs to be among the leaders in the nation, said this first year was something special for her.

"Just to see all the records we broke as a team this season and individually, it's just super exciting and we're definitely trending up,'' said Kern. ''Coach is doing something great here, building a great problem, so we're really excited (about what the future holds).

"Keep your eye out for Indiana softball. We're coming next year, and we're coming to get it. Watch out.''

Tennessee, the No. 4 overall season, is 47-8 now and will host No. 13 seed Texas in next weekend's super-regional. The young Hoosiers will regroup — and look ahead to what should be a bright future.

Related stories on Indiana softball

• INDIANA RALLIES, STAYS ALIVE: Down to their final few outs of the season, Indiana rallied for a run in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh to beat Louisville in an elimination game at the NCAA Tournament's Knoxville regional. The Hoosiers now take on Tennessee later on Sunday afternoon. CLICK HERE
• HOOSIERS FALL TO TENNESSEE: Indiana caught a bad break with two rain delays on Saturday, and nothing went their way in a 9-1 loss to Tennessee in the NCAA softball tournament in Knoxville. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA BEATS LOUISVILLE IN NCAA OPENER: Even though it got a little scary at the end, Indiana beat Louisville 4-3 on Friday in the NCAA Tournament softball regional in Knoxville, Tenn. It was their first NCAA win in exactly 17 years, snapping a four-game tourney losing streak. CLICK HERE
• TARYN KERN LEADS HOOSIERS: 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