Thursday’s Big Ten college softball matchup between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers featured an absolutely unbelievable diving catch that is as impressive as any play this season.
The play happened in the second inning when Purdue’s Jordan Ramos hit a fly ball toward the Indiana dugout. It looked like the ball was going harmlessly into the dugout. A miraculous play was made by Indiana second baseman Tayrn Kern instead.
Kern put her body on the line, miraculously diving for the ball and sliding into the dugout to make a sensational diving catch for the out.
Incredible catch in college softball going down the dugout stairs! 🥎🔥 pic.twitter.com/C0U23Lw4Xf
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 31, 2023
The effort on this play from Kern is certainly amazing. Many took notice of this wild diving catch and praised her on social media.
What dugout steps?
Taryn Kern (@tarynkern2022) slides down the steps and into the dugout on this must-see #IUSoftball catch. 🤯 @IndianaSB x @B1Gsoftball pic.twitter.com/LMnu1h5vrM
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 31, 2023
Taryn Kern with a ridiculous catch! 😱
(via @indianasb) pic.twitter.com/OjqtXL7vZW
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 30, 2023
OH MY. OH MY. OH MY. 😳#NCAASoftball #SCtop10 x 🎥 BTN / @IndianaSB pic.twitter.com/kXZ5KE267Q
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) March 30, 2023
This play deserves all the hype and so does Taryn Kern. The freshman continues to make plays beyond her years. #IUSoftball @IUSTVsports https://t.co/nfINrEFYRf
— Ryan Costello (@ryanpcostello_) March 30, 2023
Listen y'all. I fell UP the steps going into work yeaterday and am sore as hell today. I can't imagine how she's going to feel after this. Then again, she's young, she'll probably be fine. I'd be down for the count for a couple days. https://t.co/XecmBqoTT9
— Sarah's Women's Sports (@Sarahs_WSports) March 30, 2023
Indiana would go on to win the game to continue what has been a very impressive season thus far. The Hoosiers currently sit as the No. 24 ranked team in the country and are in the midst of a 21-game winning streak.
Kern has surprisingly been a huge part of that success as just her first year with the program. She obviously has some extreme talent in the field, but she has been equally as impressive at the plate, hitting .446 with 14 home runs on the year.
Indiana will look to keep the momentum going with a matchup against Ohio State on Friday.
[The Comeback on Twitter] Photo Credit: Big Ten Network
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.