Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Eastern Illinois
Hoosiers Lose Wild Contest to Panthers
3/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2006
Box Score
BRADENTON, Fla. - In a wild game to open its spring trip, the Indiana baseball team lost 12-11 to Eastern Illinois at Robert C. Wynn Field on March 12. The Hoosiers are now 1-7 on the season, while the Panthers improved to 3-6.
EIU first baseman Erik Huber drove in the game-winning run with a bases-loaded, one-out single in the bottom of the ninth off sophomore right-hander David Trager (0-2) to lift the Panthers to their second straight victory.
Through the first three innings, the two teams combined for 20 runs on 23 hits and sat in a 10-10 deadlock. However, Hoosier reliever Joe Vicini entered the contest and shut down the Eastern Illinois attack. The freshman southpaw tossed five innings, surrendering one run on three hits with no walks and a couple of strikeouts.
Despite giving up four runs in his first two innings of work, Panther reliever Drew Gierich matched Vicini the rest of the way. Gierich ended up going 7 2/3 innings, giving up four runs. Frank Simoncelli (1-0) came in and induced the final out in the top of the ninth to earn the victory.
The Hoosiers posted their highest run total of the season and added 14 hits. Center fielder Reggie Watson led the way with a 4-for-5 showing to go along with his first home run of the season, one RBI and three runs. Additionally, junior first baseman Ben Greenspan went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and runs.
Greenspan and freshman right fielder Andrew Means (2-for-3, 3 RBI) provided back-to-back, two-run singles to fuel a five-run first inning. Kicking off the scoring, junior third baseman Steve Head (2-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 run) worked a bases-loaded walk as Watson touched home for the first tally of the contest.
IU roughed up Panther starter Brandon Murphy for the five runs on four hits en route to producing its largest scoring output in an inning this season.
In the home half of the first, right fielder Dan Fox knocked in EIU's first run with the team's fourth straight single. Despite allowing four hits, Hoosier starter Tyler Tufts escaped without any further damage. The freshman right-hander got designated hitter Pete Stone to roll into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play to keep the Indiana advantage at 5-1 through one stanza.
A lead-off base on balls to junior second baseman Keith Haas coupled with a base hit from Watson knocked Murphy from the ballgame with nobody out in the second. Senior left fielder Jay Brant greeted Gierich with a shot just inside the third base bag for a two-RBI double. Following two passed balls, Brant walked home to push the Indiana lead to 8-1.
Eastern Illinois matched IU's five-spot in the first with one of its own in the second. The Panthers sent 10 men to the plate with center fielder Bret Nommensen crushing a three-run homer to right and catcher Ryan Campbell driving home a pair on a two-bagger into the right-center field gap. Sophomore Andy Casper entered for Tufts to retire the final two batters and keep Indiana in front, 8-6.
The Hoosiers answered in the next inning when Haas connected for his first home run in an IU uniform, and Watson followed with his first homer. Both blasts carried over the left-field fence, marked the first time this season Indiana hit back-to-back long balls and gave the Hoosiers a four-run edge at 10-6.
For the sixth consecutive half inning a mark went on the scoreboard as EIU used four consecutive hits, three of which were doubles, to plate three more runs to cut its deficit to one. Right fielder Dan Fox evened things up at 10-10 with a flare just out of the reach of sophomore shortstop Tad Reida to score left fielder Mark Chagnon.
After the first scoreless inning of the afternoon, IU regained the lead in the fifth. Greenspan opened the frame with a triple one-hopping the left-center field fence, and came home when Means pushed a perfect bunt down the first-base line on a safety squeeze.
Indiana had a couple of chances to add insurance runs in the sixth and eight, but Gierich got out of trouble both times. In the sixth, the Hoosiers put runners on the corners with none out and placed runners on first and third with one out in the eight only to come up empty both times.
The Panthers took advantage of the Hoosiers' missed opportunities and tied it up in the bottom of the eighth. Trager relieved Vicini with one down and one man on when pinch-hitter Jason Cobb doubled down the left-field line to put runners on second and third. Pinch-hitter Bryan Blaskovitz then grounded out to Haas, letting pinch-runner Casey Spears cross the plate to even the game at 11-11.
The Hoosiers hit the diamond for the second of their seven-game spring trip Monday afternoon, March 13, against Northern Iowa. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. (EST) at Academy Park in Bradenton, Fla.
Game Notes
-Indiana's five-run first was its largest scoring output in an inning this season, and its 11 runs was its largest output this campaign.
-Today's contest kicked off the Hoosiers' spring trip. IU will play six games in the next six days to close out the seven-game trip.
-Junior Ben Greenspan made his first start at first base and his second start overall. He was in the starting lineup as a designated hitter in the season opener at Charlotte on Feb. 24.
-Junior second baseman Keith Haas connected on his first home run in a Hoosier uniform with a solo shot in the third inning.
-Senior center fielder Reggie Watson followed Haas with a solo blast to left for his first home run this season and the fifth of his career. It marked the first time the Hoosiers have hit back-to-back homers this season.
-With 14 hits, the Hoosiers have reached the double-digit hit plateau three times this season.
-Through the first three innings, the two teams combined for 20 runs on 23 hits and used six pitchers (IU-4, EIU-2).
-Sophomore Tyler Cox saw his first action this season, entering the game at third base in the fourth inning.
-Freshman southpaw Joe Vicini has allowed only one run in 12 2/3 innings for a sparkling 0.71 ERA. He has retired 37 of 45 batters faced this season, allowing just five hits and two walks.
-The Hoosiers used 13 batters and five pitchers in the contest.
