Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Illinois
Indiana Takes Illinois Series Behind Dominant Arm of Fleenor
5/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 15, 2006
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sophomore right-hander Doug Fleenor secured his second nine-inning, complete-game shutout of the season to lead the Indiana baseball team to a 2-0 victory over Illinois in the series finale at Sembower Field on May 15. The Hoosiers swept the afternoon doubleheader and took three out of four in the series to improve to 22-29 overall and 11-17 in the Big Ten, while the Fighting Illini dropped to 27-24 and 13-15 in league play.
IU collected its second conference doubleheader sweep of the season - a feat that has not been accomplished since 2003 - and its first Big Ten series victory since taking three out of four against Michigan State last season (May 7-9) at Sembower. Additionally, the Hoosiers' 11 league victories are the most for an Indiana team since the 2003 club won 16 Big Ten ballgames.
Fleenor, who earlier in the season carded a one-hit, nine-inning shutout against Miami (Ohio), was dominant the entire game. In addition to improving to 4-2, Fleenor dipped his team-leading ERA to 2.54 after notching a career-high seven strikeouts and allowing only five hits and one base on balls. No Illini runner made it past second base and only two reached scoring position.
Prior to his performance against Miami, the last Indiana nine-inning, complete-game shutout came on May 16, 2003, as Chris Behrens blanked Northwestern, 7-0.
"I had great command today," Fleenor said. "It was a total team effort. The defense played great behind me, and the offense got a couple of runs. I felt comfortable the entire afternoon."
Freshman Tyler Tufts also tossed a complete game in the first contest and with senior Clint Crosier's nine-inning performance in the series opener, Indiana finished the series with three complete games and the pitching staff has gone the distance 10 times this season.
One runner reached second base through the first four-and-a-half innings until the Hoosiers loaded the bases in the fifth against Illinois starter Brian Blomquist (3-5). Senior left fielder Jay Brant led off with a base hit through the left side of the infield and two batters later, sophomore second baseman Tyler Cox legged out an infield single and junior shortstop Keith Haas walked. Senior center fielder Reggie Watson then added the second infield base knock of the inning to plate Brant with the first run of the ballgame.
Meanwhile, Fleenor continued to roll along after leaving shortstop Shawn Roof on second in the fourth. The Richmond, Ind., native sat down seven straight batters before left fielder Ryan Snowden singled with two down in the sixth. Following a balk, Fleenor got Roof to ground out to junior third baseman Michael Nilles to keep the shutout in tact.
Haas tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, brining freshman right fielder Andrew Means around with a two-out bullet into right field.
The Fighting Illini put the tying runs on in the eighth, but Fleenor held strong to shut down the final rally of the game. With runners on first and second and one down, center fielder Kyle Hudson popped out in foul territory to sophomore catcher Jon Fixler and Snowden ended the frame when he flied out to Watson in center field.
At the plate, Haas and Brant added multi-hit games with two hits apiece. Haas and Watson notched RBI, while Brant and Means each scored a run.
Up next, the Hoosiers complete the home portion of their schedule against Ball State on Tuesday, May 16. The teams will hit the field at 3 p.m.
