Indiana University Athletics
Inside Indiana Baseball
3/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 22, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - As the Indiana baseball team prepares for its three-game series against Hartford on Friday-Sunday, March 24-26, here is a look inside the club.
Road Warriors
Indiana has yet to play on its home field. The Hoosiers have played 14 games this season - seven on the road and seven on a neutral site. In the 14 contests, IU has sat in the visiting dugout 13 times.
Close Calls
Despite their 4-10 record, the Hoosiers have been competitive against tougher opponents this season and are a few runs away from having a winning record. Of the 10 defeats, IU has had four one-run setbacks, one two-run defeat and two extra-inning losses.
Indiana opened its campaign at Charlotte and lost a heart-breaking 11-10, 14-inning affair in the series finale on Feb. 26. The following weekend, the Hoosiers owned a two-run lead in the sixth inning of the closing game of their three-game set at Miami (Fla.). However, the 12th-ranked Hurricanes (Collegiate Baseball News ranking) rallied with four in the sixth for a 6-4 victory.
Running Wild
Four Hoosier speedsters have accounted for 31 of the team's 35 stolen bases. Center fielder Reggie Watson (12-for-15), left fielder Jay Brant (8-for-10), right fielder Andrew Means (7-for-7) and second baseman Keith Haas (4-for-4) are a combined 31-of-36 (86 percent) on the season.
Remarkably, the foursome recorded 23 steals in 24 attempts over the team's spring trip (March 12-18), good for a 96 percent success rate.
In addition to Means' and Haas' perfect mark, Watson has swiped seven straight bags and Brant six without getting caught.
Overall, the Hoosiers lead the Big Ten in stolen bases, and Watson, Brant and Means occupy the top-three spots in the conference rankings.
Run And Execute
As the offense has picked up the last two weeks, Indiana head coach Tracy Smith has been able to install his brand of baseball. This was no more apparent than on the team's spring trip (March 12-18). Indiana stole 25 bases in 28 attempts (89 percent), including 22 consecutive steals in the team's final five games.
The Hoosiers also played a little small ball, laying down five sacrifice bunts and delivering six sacrifice flies. With the increased execution, Indiana averaged just over seven runs per game on the trip.
Thus far in 2006, IU has stolen 35 bases in 44 attempts (80 percent). The Hoosiers also have 14 sacrifices bunts and six sacrifice flies. Through 14 games in 2005, Indiana owned 26 steals in 39 attempts with nine sacrifice bunts and seven sacrifice flies.
Inning Eaters
After a rough start in its opener on the spring trip (March 12-18), Indiana's pitching hit its stride the final six games. In five of the contests, Hoosier starters lasted at least six innings, with reliever David Trager going 7 1/3 in relief in the sixth ballgame. Here is a breakdown of each pitcher's innings in those six contests.
Pitcher-Date-Opp.-IP
Josh Lewis-3/13-N. Iowa-9
Chris McCombs-3/14-Bradley-6
Clint Crosier-3/15-Fairfield-6
Tyler Tufts-3/16-Eastern Ky.-7 1/3
David Trager-3/17-Vermont-7 1/3
Josh Lewis-3/18-UIC-6
Career Firsts
Four Hoosier pitchers achieved career firsts on the team's spring trip (March 12-18). Senior right-hander Josh Lewis tossed his first career complete game victory in a 3-1 victory over Northern Iowa on March 13. Lewis allowed just one earned run on nine hits with no walks and seven strikeouts en route to his third career complete game.
Making his first career start, senior southpaw Clint Crosier fired a career-high six innings and netted a career-best nine strikeouts while limiting Fairfield to just one run on six hits with one walk in a 15-2 Hoosier win on March 15. Crosier earned his first collegiate victory in his first career decision.
David Trager collected his first career victory as Indiana downed Vermont, 10-6, on March 17. Entering with one out in the second, the right-hander pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings and held Vermont to one earned run on eight hits.
Freshman lefty Joe Vicini came in with men on second and third with two outs in the ninth and forced designated hitter Nick Gallipani to ground out to second baseman Keith Haas en route to his first career save.
A Head Of The Competition
One of the biggest surprises this season has been the production of third baseman Steve Head at the plate. Entering the campaign with just 40 at-bats in two full seasons, Head leads the team with a 395 batting average, six doubles, two triples, a .628 slugging percentage and a .469 on-base percentage. The junior sits seventh in the Big Ten in batting, first in triples, third in slugging and doubles, and sixth in on-base percentage.
