Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Faces Valpo Under the Lights
5/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 10, 2006
The Valparaiso Game (May 10)
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Prior to its final home Big Ten weekend, the Indiana baseball team travels to Gary, Ind., for a weeknight showdown with Valparaiso at 7:05 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, May 10. The Hoosiers (18-28) and Crusaders (13-28) will meet at the U.S. Steel Yard, home of the Northern League's Gary SouthShore RailCats.
After its meeting with Valpo, IU returns to Sembower Field to close out its Big Ten slate at Sembower Field against Illinois (26-21, 12-12). The teams will play a four-game series with game one taking place on Friday at 3 p.m. Following a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m., the series finale will take place on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
Pitching Matchup
Indiana RHP #4 David Trager (1-3, 3.86 ERA) vs. tba
Follow The Game
Gametracker: IUHOOSIERS.com
Radio: WebCast on www.valpo.edu/athletics
Inside The Series
-Indiana leads the all-time series 28-12-1 over Valparaiso, including victories in 10 of the last 12 meetings.
-The contest will be held at U.S. Steel Yard, home of the Northern League's Gary SouthShore RailCats.
-Hoosier skipper Tracy Smith has never met Valparaiso.
-The two teams were scheduled to meet in Bloomington on March 21, but the ballgame was washed out due to rain.
Last Time Out
Sophomore catcher Jon Fixler drove in a career-high five runs as Indiana took the final contest of its four-game set against Iowa, 10-5, at Sembower Field on May 7. The Hoosiers scored in each of the first seven innings en route to the victory.
IU collected 12 hits and stole six bases in six attempts on the afternoon. Fixler led the way with a 3-for-4 effort to go along with one run and one steal. Back in center field, senior Reggie Watson added a 2-for-5 performance with two runs and two steals (his team-leading 30th in 35 tries), while junior shortstop Josh Richardson went 2-for-4 with one RBI, two runs and a stolen base.
Sophomore right-hander Doug Fleenor (3-2) earned his third victory of the season by tossing the final 4 2/3 innings. The Richmond, Ind., native allowed just one earned run with one walk and three punchouts.
Along with capturing his 21st stolen base, junior second baseman Keith Haas scored twice and senior left fielder Jay Brant added one run and netted his 23rd steal in 27 tries this season.
Scouting Valparaiso
Valparaiso welcomes Indiana to the U.S. Steel Yard, home of the Northern League's Gary SouthShore RailCats, for a 7:05 showdown. The Crusaders enter the contest at 13-28 following a 9-8 loss at IPFW on May 9.
Valpo owns a .271 batting average and is struggling on the mound with a 6.25 ERA. Despite the numbers, two Crusader regulars are hitting over .350. Senior outfielder Kevin Kutansky leads the club with a .361 mark, 34 runs and four triples to go along with three home runs, 21 RBI, seven doubles and six steals. Junior infielder Ryan Manthei carries a .358 average and a club-leading eight home runs, 23 RBI, eight doubles and a .651 slugging percentage.
The only pitcher on the staff with an ERA under 4.00 is Kyle Obenauf. The senior right-hander boasts a 1-1 record with a 1.95 ERA. He has allowed seven earned in 32 1/3 innings with just four walks and 22 Ks.
