Indiana University Athletics
HOOSIERS TAKE TO THE ROAD
2/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HOOSIERS TAKE TO THE ROAD
Game Data
The Hoosiers (3-2) will travel to Middle Tennessee State for
a pair of games this weekend. The two teams will hook up on
Saturday, February 26 at 2 p.m. and then again on Sunday, February
27 at 2 p.m.
Competition
The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders are 0-3 on the season
as they were swept last weekend by SE Louisiana (6-1, 5-4, 10-5).
Game Results
Complete game results will be made available on the web at www.athletics.indiana.edu
following the event. They can be viewed and printed out by choosing
baseball from the main menu. Weekly updates and complete statistics
can be obtained at www.athletics.indiana.edu all season long.
Head Coach Bob Morgan
Bob Morgan is in his 17th season at Indiana. He has posted a
613-340-3 record while with the Hoosiers and owns a career mark
of 905-428-5. He currently ranks in the top ten nationally amongst
active Division I coaches in career winning percentage and in
the top 20 in career victories. Furthermore, Morgan has never
suffered a losing season in this is 25th year as a collegiate
head coach.
Hoosiers Use Strong Pitching
Indiana pitchers fanned 18 hitters as the Hoosiers defeated Indiana
Wesleyan 11-2 on Tuesday. The Indiana bats provided 11 hits
as the Hoosiers scored runs in six different innings. Blake
St. Clair and Kevin O'Brien each connected on solo home runs
in the third inning and Dan Haegle provided a two-run double
in the fourth. Haegele reached base three time with two walks.
Rich Berich (2-4, 1RBI) and St. Clair (2-3, 2 RBI) each collected
a pair of hits for the Hoosiers.
On the Hill
Junior Zach McClellan is expected to start on Saturday. The
right-hander is 0-1 this season with a 2.25 ERA. He worked four
innings against San Diego State and allowed five hits. He has
worked a total of eight innings this season and has seven strikeouts
while the opposition is hitting .276 against him.
The Hoosiers are expected to send sophomore Brad Edwards to the
mound on Sunday. The left-hander is 0-1 this season with an
11.25 ERA. He worked four innings against Oklahoma State and
allowed five runs. He fanned five and the Cowboys hit .250 against
him on the afternoon.
On the Road
The Hoosiers are 0-2 this season on the road. They will look
to improve on their team batting average of .141 away from Sembower
Field.
Ferris Posts Career Best
David Ferris started and earned the victory against Indiana Wesleyan.
He worked four innings and faced a total of 15 batters, 10 of
which he struck out, to post a new career high in strike outs.
Ferris has now fanned 15 batters in just 7.2 innings of work
this season.
Williams with the Stick
Senior left fielder Jason Williams has been the Hoosier's most
consistent hitter in the early going. He his hitting .375 on
the season with a team-high six hits in 16 at bats.
Sitting Them Down
Indiana pitchers have struck out 50 batters in 45 innings of
work this season. They have walked just 16 for a strikeout to
walk ratio of 3.125.
Gold Glove Williams
Senior Jason Williams has not posted an error in his 110 career
games as a Hoosier.
St. Clair Perfect on the Paths
Junior outfielder Blake St. Clair was a perfect 14-for-14 in
stolen bases attempts last season and entering this year has
been successful in his last 15 attempts.
Still Looking for Answers
As the season began head Coach Bob Morgan felt catcher and first
base would be two positions in which the starting job would be
battled for by a number of different players. At this point
the Hoosiers have used three different catchers in Rob Stastny,
Kevin O'Brien and Eric Farley. Stastny and O'Brien have started
twice while Farley (see injury report) has started once. At
first base Morgan has used Gibran Hamdan, Mark Minor, Joe Sadler
and Michael Woodside. Hamdan and Minor have each started twice
while Woodside has made one start.
Hoping the Trend Continues
Indiana has continually seen its team ERA drop over the last
two seasons. In 1998 the Hoosiers posted a team ERA of 6.16.
Last year Indiana was tops in the Big Ten with an ERA of 4.86.
The Hoosiers currently own a team ERA of 2.80.
Injury Update
Catcher Eric Farley was hit in the eye region off a bunt attempt
in batting practice in San Diego and suffered some swelling and
blood on the eye. He has missed the last three games and is
expected to miss up to three weeks of action.
Under Morgan's Guidance
Not only has head coach Bob Morgan had success with wins and
losses, but he has also seen 23 former players or assistant coaches
move on from Indiana to coach at other collegiate and high school
baseball programs.
Indiana Drops a Pair in San Diego
The Hoosiers dropped a pair of games in San Diego as they fell
to host San Diego State 5-2 on Friday and dropped a 7-3 decision
against Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Hoosiers were scheduled
to face Kansas State on Sunday but the game was canceled due
to rain.
Against San Diego State the Hoosiers battled back from a 4-0
deficit to cut the lead to 4-2 but that was as close as they
could get. Indiana was held to three hits. Zach McClellan
worked five innings and allowed two earned runs while striking
out four.
Indiana jumped to a 2-0 lead on Oklahoma State, a team that advanced
to the College World Series last season and has appeared in the
last 19 NCAA tournament, but the Cowboys responded with a five-run
third inning en route to the victory. The Hoosiers had six hits
on the day led by Jason Williams 2-4 1 RBI performance. Brad
Edwards started and worked four innings allowing all of five
of his runs in the third. He struck out five and allowed four
hits.
Hoosiers Open Season With Victories
Indiana added two games to its schedule as it battled IUPUI and
IPFW to tune up prior to its trip to San Diego. The Hoosiers
posted a 10-1 win over IUPUI on February 12 at Sembower Field
and then defeated IPFW 7-6 on February 15.
Against IUPUI Rob Stastny connected a one-out solo home run in
the bottom of the fourth to break a 1-1 tie. Two batters later
Eric Blakeley drilled his first of two homers to give the Hoosiers
a 4-1 lead. Blakeley came back and hit a three-run shot in the
eighth inning as the Hoosiers scored four runs in their final
at bat. Blakeley finished the day with five RBI. Fred Graf
posted the victory on the hill.
Against IPFW Jason Williams connected on a one-out single in
the bottom of the ninth to drive in the winning run Indiana
did not own a lead until Blakeley crossed home plate with the
game-winner. Blakeley had reached base on a double, a double,
that after an IPFW miscue in the outfield, scored Blake St. Clair
with the tying run. Nick Vitielliss posted the victory on the
hill.
Up Next
The Hoosiers have a three-game homestand next week as they play
host to IU Souteast, Depauw and Butler on Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday.
