Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Illinois-Chicago
Hoosiers Come Up Short Against Flames
3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 18, 2006
SARASOTA, Fla. - Completing its seven-game spring trip, the Indiana baseball team (4-10) came up short against Illinois-Chicago (5-9) on March 18. The Flames downed the Hoosiers, 5-1, at Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds.
After the Flames picked up a run in the opening inning, first baseman Tad Reida evened the contest at 1-1 in the top of the second. Reida ripped a double one-hopping the wall in left-center field to knock in third baseman Steve Head, who came all the way around from first following a leadoff walk.
UIC regained the lead with three in the third. Catcher Justin Johnson tripled down the right-field line to plate a couple of runs, and right fielder Bart Babineaux hit a chopper over Reida and into right field to score Johnson and give Illinois-Chicago a 4-1 advantage.
Flames starter Don Phillips (1-4) shut down the Hoosier offense following Reida's two-bagger. The southpaw retired 16 straight batters before departing with one out in the seventh. Phillips limited IU to just two hits to go along with one walk and five punchouts.
Randy Krick relieved Phillips and set down the next five Hoosiers, while Jason Foster closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Josh Lewis (1-3) took the hill for Indiana and settled down after the third, allowing just one unearned run in the sixth. The right-hander threw six innings and gave up four earned with one walk and four strikeouts. Chris McCombs tossed the final two frames, retiring six of the seven batters he faced.
Reida finished the evening 1-for-3, and center fielder Reggie Watson singled in the first to extend his hitting streak to eight games.
Up next, the Hoosiers will play its first home game of the season. After 14 games away from Bloomington, Indiana welcomes Valparaiso to Sembower Field on Tuesday, March 21. First pitch is at 3 p.m.
Game Notes
-Tonight's contest was played at Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds.
-Indiana occupied the visiting dugout for the 13th time in 14 ballgames this season.
-Shortstop Tyler Cox received his first start of the season.
-Ben Greenspan saw his first action at catcher.
-Tonight marked IU's 14th straight game away from Bloomington.
-With a single in the first, center fielder Reggie Watson extended his hitting streak to eight games.
