Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Opens Home Slate Against Valparaiso
3/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Coming off its seven-game spring trip, the Indiana baseball team returns to Bloomington for its first game of the season. After 14 games away from home, the Hoosiers welcome Valparaiso to Sembower Field on Tuesday, March 21. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
IU went 3-4 on its spring trip with three of those losses coming by one run, including a 10-inning defeat to Bradley on March 14. Overall, the Hoosiers are 4-10 with four one-run setbacks, one two-run defeat and two extra-inning losses.
Center fielder Reggie Watson hit a team-high .444 (12-for-27) on the trip and led the club with 12 hits, 11 runs, seven stolen bases in seven attempts and a .485 on-base percentage. The senior recorded a hit in each game to extend his team season-best streak to eight games. In his best game on the trip, Watson went 4-for-5 with one RBI, three runs, his first home run of the season and one stolen base against Eastern Illinois (March 12).
On the mound, southpaw Clint Crosier and right-hander David Trager picked up their first career victories against Fairfield and Vermont, respectively. Additionally, right-hander Josh Lewis earned his the first complete game victory of his career, downing Northern Iowa by a 3-1 score.
Valpo enters the contest at 2-8 overall and a 1-3 road mark. The Crusaders last took the field at Indiana State, falling 9-0 to the Sycamores on March 15.
Junior third baseman Ryan Manthei leads the Valparaiso offense with a .444 batting average to go along with a team-high two home runs, five RBI, three doubles and a .778 slugging percentage. Joining Manthei over the .400 mark, senior right fielder Kevin Kutansky owns a .405 average with one homer, four RBI, 10 runs and three steals.
John Snelten heads the Crusader pitching staff and is slated to take the mound against the Hoosiers. The sophomore right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts and three appearances. In 14 innings of work, Snelten has allowed six earned run and walked just three batters.
Indiana leads the all-time series against Valparaiso, 28-12-1. The Hoosiers have taken 10 of the last 12 meetings between the two teams, including 13 of the last 15 at Sembower Field. IU skipper Tracy Smith has never met Valpo.
