Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Eastern Kentucky
IU Drops Tough 7-6 Ballgame to EKU
3/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 16, 2006
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Indiana baseball team (3-9) dropped a tough 7-6 decision to Eastern Kentucky (8-6) at Academy Park on March 16. Pinch-hitter Joe Oliver belted a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Colonels to victory.
In the top of the eighth, pinch-hitter Ben Greenspan broke a 2-2 deadlock with a double just inside the first base bag to drive home freshman right fielder Andrew Means and junior shortstop Josh Richardson.
Freshman right-hander Tyler Tufts started for the Hoosiers and battled through 7 1/3 innings before giving way to freshman southpaw Joe Vicini (1-1). Vicini entered with runners on second and third and one out and struck out designated hitter Aaron Barrows before Oliver's heroics.
EKU starter Scott Goetz did not factor in the decision but held IU to one earned run on four hits through six innings. David Owens (2-0) threw the seventh and eighth innings to pick up the victory, while Michael Mulholland set the Hoosiers down in order to close out the game to earn his first save.
Indiana took advantage of two dropped fly balls to score three unearned runs for a quick 3-0 lead.
Goetz and Tufts traded zeros over the next three innings with the Hoosiers letting a golden opportunity pass by in the third, not being able to take advantage of runners on first and third with nobody out.
Tufts faced the minimum through the first three innings before the Colonels got on the board in the fourth with an RBI single from first baseman Charlie Yarbrough. EKU had runners on first and second with one down, but Tufts minimized the damage by striking out second baseman Ryan and center fielder Shawn Flora to end the inning.
IU got that run back in the fifth as junior second baseman Keith Haas singled to open the frame. Haas stole second and third and when senior center fielder Reggie Watson walked and senior left fielder Jay Brant got hit by a pitch, senior Zach Boswell stepped to the plate with the bases loaded.
Boswell hit what appeared to be a base hit up the middle, but shortstop Lucas Waters made a diving stab to start a spectacular 6-4-3 double play and rob Boswell of a hit and a pair of RBI. Goetz closed out the inning by retiring junior first baseman Michael Nilles to keep it a 4-1 game.
The Colonels evened it a 4-4 with three tallies in the sixth. With two outs, second baseman Sean Ryan lifted a two-run double over Watson's head, and Flora laced a base knock to left field to plate Ryan with the tying run.
Indiana continued to put pressure on the defense, swiping six bases without getting caught for the second straight game. Haas and Watson each collected a pair of steals, while Brant and Means added one apiece. In addition, Haas, Brant and Watson each scored a run, and Brant turned in a 2-for-3 effort.
The Hoosiers play their sixth contest of their seven-game trip on Friday morning, March 17. Indiana will take on Vermont at 10:30 a.m. (EST) at Academy Park.
Game Notes
-Indiana stole six bases in six attempts for the second straight game. IU has stolen 15 straight bases without getting caught.
-The Hoosiers have stolen at least one base in each of their last seven games and in 8-of-12 contests thus far in 2006. Overall, Indiana has swiped 28 bags in 37 attempts.
-Senior left fielder Jay Brant stole two bases for the second straight game and has swiped five straight bags without getting caught. He has seven steals in nine attempts this season.
-Freshman right fielder Andrew Means is a perfect 4-for-4 on the basepaths this year and has one steal in each of the last four contests.
-With his stolen base in today's game, senior center fielder Reggie Watson now owns a team-high 10 stolen bases in 13 attempts.
-Freshman right-hander Tyler Tufts tossed a career-high 7 1/3 innings.
-The Hoosiers occupied the visiting dugout for the fifth straight game on the trip. Indiana has been the visiting team in all 12 of its contests this season.
