Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Penn State
IU Captures First Big Ten Road Split Since 2004
4/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 30, 2006
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Despite an 11-0 defeat to Penn State in the finale of a four-game set at Beaver Field on April 30, the Indiana baseball team earned a Big Ten road split for the first time since 2004. The last time the Hoosiers claimed a pair of victories in a conference road series came at Illinois on April 23-25. With the split, IU finished the weekend at 7-13 in league play (17-25 overall), while PSU closed the four contests at 9-11 in conference action (16-27 overall).
Penn State supplied all the offense in the first three innings with a pair in the home half of the first. Left fielder Lance Thompson's sacrifice fly and Aaron Greenfield's RBI single gave the Lions the early lead.
Making his first career Big Ten start, right-hander Doug Fleenor (2-2) settled down the next two innings before PSU picked up two unearned runs in the fourth to extend its advantage to 4-0. Freshman righty Eric Wagner relieved Fleenor with the bases loaded and two outs and temporarily kept the game within reach as he retired catcher Aaron Greenfield on a high fly to senior center fielder Reggie Watson.
Meanwhile, Nittany Lion starter Craig Clark (2-6) breezed through the first four innings. The southpaw faced just one batter over the minimum and allowed two hits until the Hoosiers put two runners on in the fifth. Sophomore designated hitter Jon Fixler led off with a base hit into right field, and freshman right fielder Andrew Means found a hole on the left side of the infield for his only hit of the afternoon. However, Clark induced freshman catcher Billy O'Conner to foul out to end the rally.
Penn State tacked on four more in the sixth, highlighted by an RBI double by Thompson and a run-scoring triple by shortstop Scott Gaffney, and three in the eighth (two unearned) for the final margin.
Clark garnered his first shutout and complete game of the season, surrendering six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Indiana returns to action after an off-week to host Iowa for a weekend four-game set at Sembower Field. Game one will take place on Friday at 3 p.m. Following a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m., the series finale will take place on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
