Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Indiana State
Wagner Nets First Career Win, Watson Leads 12-Steal Attack
4/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 18, 2006
Box Score
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Freshman right-hander Eric Wagner earned his first career victory, senior center fielder Reggie Watson matched a school record with four steals, and the Indiana baseball team used a eight-run second to down Indiana State, 11-5, at Sembower Field on April 18. With the victory, the Hoosiers swept the two-game season series from the Sycamores and improved to 13-20, while Indiana State fell to 16-20.
Watson spearheaded a Hoosier running attack that collected a season-high 12 steals in 13 attempts. It marked the second time this season IU swiped at least 10 bags in a single ballgame (10 steals vs. Hartford, March 24). Indiana now has 99 steals this season in 126 attempts (79 percent) and is one steal shy of becoming the 10th team in school history to reach the 100-steal plateau.
Entering the day as the Big Ten steals leader, Watson improved his season total to 27 in 31 attempts (87 percent) and became the fourth Hoosier (Keith Haas, Dan Haegele - twice and Brian Harris) to ever capture four bags in a contest. Haas garnered four bags in the Hartford contest on March 24.
Joining Watson in the stolen base department, senior left fielder Jay Brant swiped three (19-23 overall this season), junior second baseman Keith Haas claimed two (18-for-22), junior shortstop Josh Richardson netted two (4-for-7) and freshman right fielder Andrew Means recorded one (10-for-11).
En route to his first collegiate victory, Wagner (1-2) started the third inning and threw three innings of scoreless relief, surrendering three hits with three strikeouts and only one walk.
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first, IU cut its deficit in half with a solo mark in the bottom of the inning. Watson delivered a one-out single, stole second, advanced to third on a base hit from Richardson and touched the plate on a single to left field by freshman first baseman Cameron Satterwhite.
The Sycamores got the run back in the second, but the Hoosiers broke it open with an eight-spot in the bottom of the frame - their largest outburst in a single inning this season. In the inning, Indiana sent 11 men to the plate, took advantage of three Sycamore miscues and pounded eight hits.
During the rally, freshman catcher Billy O'Conner, senior designated hitter Zach Boswell (2-RBI double), junior third baseman Steve Head (double) and Haas (single) collected RBI. Haas also scored twice and stole a base in the stanza.
IU tacked on a run in the third when Richardson laced an RBI double into center field to score Watson and added another tally in the fifth as Brant swiped home on a double steal with Watson to make it 11-3 through five innings.
The Sycamores netted a pair in the seventh after a scoreless inning from right-hander Doug Fleenor, and senior southpaw Clint Crosier pitched a scoreless eighth setting the table for senior right-hander Josh Lewis' 1-2-3 ninth.
In addition to their 12 steals, the Hoosiers did manage to pound out 15 hits, led by Haas' first career four-hit game. The North Olmsted, Ohio native went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs. Richardson added a perfect 3-for-3 afternoon with an RBI and run scored, while Watson collected two hits in five at-bats with a pair of runs. Means scored once to go along with a 2-for-4 performance.
Up next, Indiana continues its 10-game homestand with a Big Ten matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The teams will play a four-game series with game one taking place on Friday, April 21, at 3:05 p.m. Following a doubleheader on Saturday, April 22, at 1:05 p.m., the series finale will take place on Sunday, April 23, with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.
