Indiana University Athletics
HOOSIERS HEAD TO MINNESOTA
5/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HOOSIERS HEAD TO MINNESOTA
Game Data
Indiana will travel to Minneapolis to face the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota is currently second in the Big Ten, and just took three
of four against Michigan State last weekend.
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.
Head Coach Bob Morgan
Bob Morgan is in his 17th season at Indiana. He has posted a
637-359-3 record while with the Hoosiers and owns a career mark
of 929-447-5. 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.
The Opposition
Last season the Hoosiers took only one of the four game series
with the Gophers. Minnesota finished second to Ohio State in
the Big Ten standings in 1999. They return six starters, and
lost only one pitcher to graduation.
On the Road
The Hoosiers are 9-11 at away games this season. Benji Clause
leads the team with a .345 average on the road, better than his
overall average of .315. Fred Graf leads the pitchers with a
4.50 ERA on the road.
Conference Contenders
Blake St. Clair is second in the Big Ten in home runs. St. Clair
has posted five in Big Ten play so far this year. Vasilli Spanos
is third with four. Spanos is seventh in batting average (.358).
The IU pitching staff is holding its opponents to a .230 batting
average, the lowest in the Big Ten. Brad Edwards is second in
the Big Ten (all games) in strikeouts. The sophomore has posted
66 K's this season.
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 4.38.
One Run Games
Of the Hoosiers 21 losses this season, 10 of them have come by
one run. Indiana has won only two games by one run. Eight of
the Hoosiers' 13 losses in the Big Ten were by one run.
The Rotation
Indiana is scheduled to throw left-hander Brad Edwards on Friday,
right-hander Zach McClellan and left-hander David Ferris on Saturday
and right-hander Fred Graf on Sunday.
Excellent Edwards
Against Purdue, Brad Edwards saw one of the only conference teams
to hit off him. The sophomore gave up 10 hits in six innings
work, allowing six runs. However, against Northwestern he took
a no-hitter into the seventh inning of a seven inning game and
gave up a leadoff single in the final stanza. He faced 22 batters
on the day, just one over the minimum and fanned eight, while
allowing just that one single.
In his four Big Ten starts he has only allowed 21 hits in his
28 innings of work. He owns a 2-2 mark in Big Ten action with
a 4.18 ERA and the opposition is hitting just .210 against him.
Overall on the season he is 5-3 with a 4.20 ERA. His 63 strikeouts
this season is the team's top mark. Edwards has kept runners
from stealing this season. Only three have succeeded, compared
to the ten that have attempted a stolen base.
Ferris on Fire
David Ferris is 7-2 on the season this year with a 3.62 ERA.
In Big Ten play Ferris is 2-2 with a 5.64 ERA. He is second
behind Brad Edwards with 22 strikeouts in conference play. The
opposition is hitting just .241 against him in Big Ten action.
Entering this season the junior left-hander owned a career conference
mark of 2-1 and an ERA of 9.15.
Big Mac
Zach McClellan comes into this weekend with a 5-4 record, and
a 4.22 ERA. In Big Ten play, McClellan is 3-2 with a 4.65 ERA.
He's fanned 54 batters, 21 in Big Ten play. McClellan's Big Ten
ERA is the best for the Hoosiers. He ranks 15th in the conference
in strikeouts.
Great Graf
Fred Graf brings a 5-6 record and a 3.83 ERA into this weekend.
Graf is looking for his first Big Ten win against the Gophers.
In conference play he has a 5.56 ERA, and the opposition is batting
.343 against him. Graf's overall ERA ranks him in the top 15
in the conference.
Go the Distance
Against Purdue, Zach McClellan threw the eighth complete game
from a Hoosier this season. Seven of those have come against
Big Ten opponents.
Williams Enjoying Big Ten Action
Jason Williams is hitting a team-best .441 (15-for-34) in Big
Ten play this season. In non conference action the senior outfielder
owns a .339 (40-for-118) mark.
Spanos in the Clutch
Freshman Vasilli Spanos owns a .395 average with runners in scoring
position this season. He leads the team with a .358 average
and 32 RBI.
Ferris Shuts Door on Lefties
David Ferris has held left-handed hitters in check this season.
Lefties are hitting just .214 against him.
Berich Likes Pressure/Lefties
Rich Berich is hitting .405 with two outs this season. He is
hitting .472 against left-handed pitching while he owns a .312
mark against right-handed pitchers.
Out of the Pen
Tom Willerer, Nick Otte and Chris Wilson have been the Hoosiers
three main relievers in Big Ten play. Willerer has appeared
in seven games. Otte has appeared in five and Wilson has three
appearances.
A Change in the Tournament
This season the Big Ten Tournament will feature the league's
top six teams according to the regular season standings. The
four-day tournament (May 17-20) will be of the double round robin
format.
Triple Trouble
Indiana turned its first triple-play under Morgan against Bellermine.
The 5-4-3 play came to end a Bellarmine rally. Dan Haegele has
had four triples this season, putting him second in the conference.
