Indiana University Athletics
2014 Season Starts Friday at Texas Tech
2/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 12, 2014
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - On the heels of the greatest season in Indiana University Baseball history, the 2014 Hoosiers begin their encore attempt Friday (Feb. 14) with the season opener at Texas Tech. The 2 pm CT/3 pm ET contest will be the first ever meeting between the two schools; and the first in a four-game weekend series in Lubbock, Texas.
It'll be a twin bill on Saturday with game one beginning at noon CT/1 pm ET and first pitch of the doubleheader's second contest coming approximately 30 minutes after game one's completion. The series then wraps up on Sunday at noon CT/1 pm ET.
SERIES COVERAGE
• All-Access Live Video Stream (subscription required)
• Live Audio Broadcast (free)
• GameTracker Live Stats
• Twitter Updates: @IUBaseballNews
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCH-UPS
*stats below from 2013 season
Friday, Feb. 14 - 2 pm CT/3 pm ET
Sr., LHP Joey DeNato (10-2, 2.52) vs. Jr., RHP Dominic Moreno (3-4, 3.46)
Saturday, Feb. 15 - Noon CT/1 pm ET
Jr., LHP Kyle Hart (8-2, 3.01) vs. So., RHP Matt Withrow (5-3, 5.90)
Saturday, Feb. 15 - 4 pm CT/5 pm ET
So., RHP Christian Morris (1-1, 4.68) vs. r-Jr., LHP Chris Sadberry (-, -)
Sunday, Feb. 16 - Noon CT/1 pm ET
TBD vs. TBD
HOOSIER HONORS & WATCH LISTS
BA = Baseball America
PG = Perfect Game
CBN = Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
NCBWA = National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
INDIANA'S PRESEASON RANKINGS
#3 BA, #5 PG, #7 CBN & NBCWA, #11 ESPN
BIG TEN PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1 - Indiana
2 - Nebraska
3 - Ohio State
4 - Michigan State
t-5 - Illinois
t-6 - Michigan
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Kyle Schwarber
1st Team - BA, PG, CBN, NCBWA
Sam Travis
1st Team - PG
2nd Team - BA, CBN
Dustin DeMuth
1st Team - CBN
Joey DeNato
3rd Team - CBN
PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
Ryan Halstead - NCBWA Stopper of the Year
SENIOR CLASS TOP PROSPECT RANKINGS
Dustin DeMuth - #4 BA & PG
Joey DeNato - #11 BA, #98 PG
Ryan Halstead - #22 BA, #23 PG
Casey Smith - #37 BA
JUNIOR CLASS TOP PROSPECT RANKINGS
Kyle Schwarber - #14 PG, #16 BA
Sam Travis - #50 BA, #53 PG
IU SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
November - LHP Austin Foote
RELOADED
IU Baseball returns much of its statistical produciton from the 2013 College World Series squad:
OFFENSE RETURNS
• 92% of homeruns (49 of 53)
• 83% of RBI (338 of 407)
• 78% of doubles (105 of 134)
• 77% of triples (10 of 13)
• 75% of runs scored (324 of 434)
PITCHING RETURNS
• 100% of saves (18 of 18)
• 82% of strikeouts (325 of 394)
• 82% of wins (40 of 49)
• 80% of innings pitched (468.2 of 590)
THE MORE THE MERRIER
The 2014 Big Ten Baseball Tournament will feature an eight-team field for the first time in conference history. It'll be held May 21-25 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., home of the College World Series. The tournament's double-elimination format will culminate with a single championship game on Sunday, with the winner earning the tournament title and the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Coming off the Big Ten's first College World Series appearance in 29 years, #3 Indiana is the conference's highest Baseball America preseason ranked squad since the 1988 Michigan Wolverines were also slotted No. 3. Baseball America has never ranked a B1G team higher than No. 3 in the preseason.
MINNESOTA TRIPLETS
After Indiana captured the 2013 Big Ten Tournament in the home stadium of the Minnesota Twins, the MLB club came calling two weeks later during the June MLB Draft. The Twins drafted Aaron Slegers, Dustin DeMuth and Ryan Halstead in the fifth, eighth and 26th rounds, respectively. Slegers, DeMuth and Halstead just happened to be roommates off campus in Bloomington during the 2012-13 academic year. While Slegers signed and enjoyed a fantastic rookie short season (0.47 ERA in 19 innings), DeMuth and Halstead decided to hold off on going to the next level and return for their senior campaigns.
STARS & CANDY STRIPES
Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis competed for Team USA's Collegiate National Team this summer, traveling across the globe to play in Japan as well as games on American soil. The Hoosier duo combined for 34 starts in 23 games, Schwarber getting the nod 18 times and Travis seeing action in 19 contests, including 16 starts. Schwarber led the squad with seven doubles and ranked second with 16 RBI as the Stars & Stripes went 20-3. Indiana was the only school in the country to place two student-athletes on the USA Collegiate National Team.
HOOSIERS IN THE PROS
There are currently 14 former Hoosiers playing professional baseball, all of which played under the tutelage of Head Coach Tracy Smith. Two members of the 2013 College World Series Hoosiers, Aaron Slegers and Justin Cureton, have continued their careers. Slegers enjoyed a fantastic rookie short season (0.47 ERA in 19 innings) over the summer after signing as a fifth round pick of the Minnesota Twins. Cureton was recently inked by the San Rafael Pacifics, an independent club in California. Four Hoosiers have been invited to Major League Baseball Spring Training camps; Josh Phegley (Chicago White Sox) and Jake Dunning (San Francisco Giants) as 40-man roster guys and non-roster invitees Micah Johnson (Chicago White Sox) and Alex Dickerson (San Diego Padres).
