Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Battles Butler in Midweek Showdown
3/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 28, 2006
The Butler Game (March 29)
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Riding high after a three-game weekend sweep of Hartford, the Indiana baseball team (7-10) heads to Indianapolis for a midweek showdown with Butler (8-12) on Wednesday, March 29. This is the Hoosiers final tune up before opening their Big Ten schedule at Michigan State on Friday-Sunday, March 31-April 2.
Butler holds an 8-12 record, including a 3-3 mark in Horizon League play and a 4-3 mark at Bulldog Park. After taking two out of three from Wright State to open league play, the Bulldogs dropped 2-of-3 to Youngstown State this past weekend.
The Butler game marks the first of 11 straight road games for IU. The Hoosiers do not return home until a four-game set with Purdue (April 14-16).
Pitching Matchup
Indiana LHP Adam Poole (0-0) vs. Butler LHP Craig Costello (1-2, 8.71)
Follow The Game
Gametracker: IUHOOSIERS.com
Inside The Series
-Indiana owns an 82-27 lead in the all-time series vs. Butler.
-Hoosier skipper Tracy Smith is 3-2 in his career against Butler and holds a 7-3 mark vs. Horizon League opponents.
-IU has won four of the last six meetings between the two teams and two of the last three matchups between the two clubs in Indianapolis. The last time the teams faced off at Bulldog Park, the Hoosiers claimed a 4-0 shutout victory over the Bulldogs on March 3, 2004.
-The Butler game begins an 11-game road trip for Indiana. The Hoosiers have been away from Bloomington for 14-of-17 ballgames this season.
Last Time Out
Playing its first home games of the season, Indiana swept away Hartford (March 24-26) for its first three-game winning streak of the campaign. The Hoosiers downed the Hawks, 6-4 in game one, 4-2 in the second contest, and 6-5 in 11 innings in the finale.
IU stole 17 bases in 19 attempts, including 10 in 11 tries in the opener. Right-hander Josh Lewis went seven strong innings to nail down the Hoosiers' first home win of the year.
Designated hitter Zach Boswell delivered a two-run single and Clint Crosier (win) and Joe Vicini (save) held the Hawks to a pair of runs as Indiana won back-to-back games for the first time this season in the second game.
The finale saw Jay Brant drive in the tying run in the ninth and the winning run in the 11th to complete the sweep. Brant finished the series hitting .615 (8-for-13) and recorded his first four-hit game of the season in the series finale.
Vicini picked up his second save of the year in game two and his second win of the season in game three. Additionally, right-hander Chris McCombs threw seven scoreless innings of relief, appearing in the first and third ballgames.
Scouting Butler
The Bulldogs enter Wednesday's contest hitting .264, led by left fielder Tony Barnes and shortstop Joe Pauley. Both players own a .324 average with Barnes leading the club with four home runs to go along with 11 runs. Pauley has driven in 11 runs and also has scored 11 times. Butler has hit 13 home runs and 44 doubles on the season and is averaging 5.7 runs per game.
On the mound, the Bulldogs carry a 5.20 ERA. Southpaw Craig Costello (1-2, 8.71 ERA) will start against the Hoosiers, but Butler plans to use several pitchers in the contest. Josh Volmer is the Bulldogs' top reliever, compiling a 1-0 mark with a sparking 1.89 ERA in seven appearances. He has allowed just four runs in 19 innings with 13 punchouts.
