Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Northern Iowa
Lewis Tames Panthers in 3-1 Indiana Victory
3/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 13, 2006
BRADENTON, Fla. - Josh Lewis tossed his first career complete game victory, leading the Indiana baseball team to a 3-1 victory over Northern Iowa at Academy Park on March 13. The Hoosiers improved to 2-7 overall and 1-1 on their seven-game trip, while the Panthers dropped to 8-6.
After using five pitchers in the first game of the trip, Lewis gave the bullpen a rest in the third complete game of his career. The senior right-hander allowed just one earned run on nine hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Lewis is now 1-2 on the season and picked up IU's first complete game of the season.
"Today was huge for the team after a tough loss yesterday," Lewis said. "It gave our pitching staff some rest, and I'm just happy I could help the team out today."
Following a pair of scoreless innings, Northern Iowa broke through with a single tally in the bottom of the third. Lewis retired the first two batters when shortstop Brandon Douglas dropped a double in front of freshman right fielder Andrew Means. Catcher Nate Trumm followed with a line shot just off the tip of senior center fielder Reggie Watson's glove to bring in Douglas with the first run of the afternoon.
The Hoosiers responded in the fourth as sophomore shortstop Tad Reida singled through the right side to move senior designated Zach Boswell, who reached after getting hit by a pitch, to third with one out. Sophomore Ben Greenspan evened the contest at 1-1, delivering a sacrifice fly to left fielder Deric Manrique.
Indiana took its first lead of the afternoon in the fifth. Sophomore catcher Jon Fixler led things off with a rocket off the left-field fence for a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of junior second baseman Keith Haas. Senior center fielder Reggie Watson then hit a sinking liner to right that Mark Frieske made a sensational diving catch to take a hit away from Watson, but Fixler tagged and crossed the plate for a 2-1 IU advantage.
Northern Iowa starter Jake Hansen (0-1) escaped a first-and-third, one-out jam in the sixth, and Trumm opened the home half of the inning with a double over senior left fielder Jay Brant's head. However, Lewis set down the final three Panthers to strand Trumm at third and keep the Hoosiers ahead by one.
The following inning UNI put its first two runners on, but Lewis halted the rally one more time. The Mt. Airy, Md., native fielded a Brett Douglas bunt and fired to third to force pinch-runner Pat Moran. Lewis then got Frieske to fly out to Means and Brandon Douglas to fly out to Brant, holding the 2-1 lead through seven.
Boswell added a much-needed insurance run in the eighth, lacing a two-bagger into the right-center field gap to plate Watson. Watson started the frame with a base knock through the box, and Brant put down a perfect sacrifice to push him up 90 feet into scoring position.
Lewis pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and after a one-out double, he forced center fielder Eric Hoffman to ground out and struck out Brett Douglas to end the ballgame.
"I felt real good from my bullpen session on," Lewis said. "I felt real strong out there. Everything was clicking on all cylinders, and I could throw strikes when I wanted to. "
Watson and Boswell each went 1-for-3 with an RBI and run, while Reida added a 3-for-4 effort. The Hoosier offense pounded out 11 hits and three sacrifices as well.
Indiana will face Bradley Tuesday morning, March 14, at 10 a.m. (EST). The contest will mark the third game of the Hoosiers' seven-game spring trip.
Game Notes
-Sophomore catcher Jon Fixler got his first start of the season. Fixler threw out his first baserunner of the season, gunning down second baseman Curt Bradley as he tried to steal third in the fourth inning. The following frame he recorded his first hit of the season with a double off the left-field fence and went on to score his first run the same inning.
-Hoosier starter Josh Lewis recorded his first career complete game victory and the third complete game of his career. He earned his first victory this season in the process.
-Freshman right fielder Andrew Means picked up his first career steal with a swipe of second base in the ninth.
-With the victory, IU now owns a 2-1 lead in the all-time series.
