Members of the IUPUC softball team cheer as teammate Rachel Cowan steps to the plate during a college softball game against Indiana Wesleyan at Ceraland in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.
The Republic file photo
A first-year IUPUC softball program dealt with its share of adversity this season.
The Crimson Pride were a small team to begin with, starting its inaugural season with only 13 players. After one quit and another was injured, they were left with just 11 the second half of the year.
“We overcame a lot of obstacles and challenges, and I feel like they really did overcome,” IUPUC coach Tommi Stowers said. “As things kept happening throughout the year, I really just think they came together and finished the season strong.”
The season-ending injury was to Rachel Cowan, a freshman from Columbus North. Cowan led the Crimson Pride with a 3.83 ERA and tied with Morgan Stieneker, a sophomore from Shelbyville, for a team-best .351 batting average and 12 RBIs.
Cowan thinks she could have a bucket tear in her meniscus.
“It was pretty hard because I love the sport so much, and having this new team, I was just wanting to have great chemistry with them,” Cowan said. “I think with my team behind my back, I knew I was going to do good, and I knew I could count on them. It was just a really great opportunity for a new team to get together and make history.”
Cowan was one of only three regular pitchers, so IUPUC finished the regular season with two main hurlers — Sydney Owens, a junior from Orleans, and Jisele Ebanks, a freshman from Fishers.
“I really relied on Sydney Owens and Jisele Ebanks to finish the season strong,” Stowers said. “We did have Morgan Stieneker throw an inning or two, but she’s a catcher, not a pitcher, so she was one of those girls that just did whatever was needed for the team to be successful. But I think Sydney was our go-to all the time. If I threw her five innings one game, I knew she could give me four more innings the next game. But after the challenge of Rachel getting hurt, it was more like, we’ll scale back a little bit on the season and maybe doing a single game instead of a doubleheader because the second game was a lot of wear and tear on 11 girls’ bodies.”
Taylor Hadley, a freshman center fielder from Columbus North, batted .318 and led the team with 22 stolen bases and 16 runs scored. She ranked among the nation’s leaders in NAIA for stolen bases for part of the season.
“It was pretty exciting being up there for a little bit,” Hadley said. “A lot of those teams had a lot more games than we did, unfortunately. But I’m really glad to do it for my team and for IUPUC because nobody expected us to be nationally ranked for anything our first year. So it was nice to get our name out there and kind of make a statement.”
Katie Taylor, a junior from Hauser, was a mainstay at third base.
“It was definitely a challenging season, but it was a good learning experience for everyone, I think, and it sets the tone for years to come for the program,” she said. “It’s just kind of a bittersweet end to the season. We got five wins. It’s not a lot, but it’s something. So we set the standard for what everyone can improve on next year and the years to come.”
“I think it went pretty well for a first-year team,” Hadley added. “Nobody really expected us to even win one game, let alone five. There were a lot of good friendships built, and we can only go up from here, so I’m excited for years to come. We definitely have the potential.”
IUPUC head coach Tommi Stowers calls out instructions to her players during a softball game against Indiana Wesleyan at Ceraland in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.
The Republic file photo
The Crimson Pride finished with a 5-24 record. They were trailing Chicagoland Conference champion St. Francis (Illinois) only 2-0 in the third inning of the first game of a season-ending doubleheader on Sunday when both games were canceled because of rain.
“I think the biggest thing for us is, we did compete in multiple games,” Stowers said. “We only got run-ruled twice, which is awesome for the first year with none of the girls really knowing each other, let alone playing with each other. I think obviously next year, it’s going to be a little bit different, where chemistry and meshing is right out of the gate. But I’m just thankful.”
None of the players on this year’s team are graduating, and all are eligible to return. Stowers said she is bringing in 12 to 15 new recruits for next year’s squad.
“It’s just really making sure that in the fall to next spring, we’re always competing and getting better every single day,” Stowers said. “That’s the No. 1 focus.”
