Indiana University Athletics
Wilhite, Upper Classmen Looking to Lead in Getting IU Back on Track
3/2/2016 7:55:00 PM | Baseball
Tori Ziege | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In the incipient stages of the 2016 season, Brian Wilhite must lead Indiana in a situation he's never been in before.
The senior infielder has enjoyed strong starts in each of his three years previous as a Hoosier on teams that have all gone on to play in the postseason.
Wins accumulated in February can have a significant impact come tournament selection in May.
But with his team now 1-5 coming off an 0-3 weekend at No. 23 Cal State Fullerton, Wilhite has to find a way to keep the energy high and the play loose as the Hoosiers hope to get things rolling in their third weekend at the plate in Port Charlotte, Florida.
"I try to think back to the senior leaders that I've had when I was younger, guys like Will Nolden, Ryan Halstead, guys that set our program to where it is right now," he said. "I'm just trying to keep a positive morale, always talking, always communicating with the guys… They feed off my actions."
On an underclassmen-heavy team, head coach Chris Lemonis spoke at length before the season about the Hoosiers needing time to find their identity, especially offensively.
In game two of the Cal State Fullerton series, Lemonis shook the lineup to try to stir up offense, moving Wilhite from third base to short stop. The senior drove in the only two runs for Indiana that game on a double to centerfield, temporarily giving the Hoosiers the lead.
They lost the game on a walk-off hit by the Titans with the bases loaded in the 14th inning.
With three of its five losses coming in the same walk-off extra-inning fashion, Indiana has been right there. Lemonis said it's just a matter of getting one big hit or one big pitch to move a notch in the loss column to the win column.
"It's still a loss, so that's the hard thing as a coach," he said. "Big or small, it's a loss. That's the hard part for us right now. You make one play, one pitch, and you win a ballgame."
Last season, the Hoosiers traveled to Port Charlotte and returned with a doubled win total after sweeping its four-game series at the Snowbird Classic. This time around, Indiana will have the opportunity to quadruple its win total with a sweep as it plays Seton Hall twice on Thursday and Saturday, Illinois State on Friday and Butler on Sunday.
Due to the extra game, Indiana will pitch junior right-hander Luke Stephenson in his first career start on Thursday. The Hoosiers will stick to their regular rotation in Friday starter senior Kyle Hart, Saturday starter senior Evan Bell and Sunday starter senior Caleb Baragar.
"We got down to Florida last year and played really well," Lemonis said. "It got us going. I'm hoping we have the same effect and get on a roll a little bit."
After stranding 54 runners on base and striking out in 67 at-bats, the Hoosiers will have their work cut out for them offensively against a talented crop of pitchers, including Seton Hall starting right-hander and preseason All-Big East Team member Shane McCarthy and Illinois State starting left-hander and Louisville Slugger All-American Jacob Hedren.
A bright spot at the plate has been junior outfielder Craig Dedelow, who has continued a breakout sophomore year with a team-leading .346 average and six RBIs.
"He's the leader of the offense right now," Lemonis said. "He'll be even better when some guys get on in front of him."
Lemonis admitted he's already looking ahead at the weather for next weekend in Bloomington, where IU will host opening weekend March 11-13 at Bart Kaufman Field.
The forecast shows highs in the 60s.
Now, all that's left is for the Hoosiers to get hot during their final road trip and come back with some momentum before playing in front of their home fans.
"After being on this losing streak for a little bit, the hardest win is going to be that first one," junior infielder Tony Butler said. "We started off hot, get on the streak, and if we can get that one win and get going again, I think we're going to be alright."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In the incipient stages of the 2016 season, Brian Wilhite must lead Indiana in a situation he's never been in before.
The senior infielder has enjoyed strong starts in each of his three years previous as a Hoosier on teams that have all gone on to play in the postseason.
Wins accumulated in February can have a significant impact come tournament selection in May.
But with his team now 1-5 coming off an 0-3 weekend at No. 23 Cal State Fullerton, Wilhite has to find a way to keep the energy high and the play loose as the Hoosiers hope to get things rolling in their third weekend at the plate in Port Charlotte, Florida.
"I try to think back to the senior leaders that I've had when I was younger, guys like Will Nolden, Ryan Halstead, guys that set our program to where it is right now," he said. "I'm just trying to keep a positive morale, always talking, always communicating with the guys… They feed off my actions."
On an underclassmen-heavy team, head coach Chris Lemonis spoke at length before the season about the Hoosiers needing time to find their identity, especially offensively.
In game two of the Cal State Fullerton series, Lemonis shook the lineup to try to stir up offense, moving Wilhite from third base to short stop. The senior drove in the only two runs for Indiana that game on a double to centerfield, temporarily giving the Hoosiers the lead.
They lost the game on a walk-off hit by the Titans with the bases loaded in the 14th inning.
With three of its five losses coming in the same walk-off extra-inning fashion, Indiana has been right there. Lemonis said it's just a matter of getting one big hit or one big pitch to move a notch in the loss column to the win column.
"It's still a loss, so that's the hard thing as a coach," he said. "Big or small, it's a loss. That's the hard part for us right now. You make one play, one pitch, and you win a ballgame."
Last season, the Hoosiers traveled to Port Charlotte and returned with a doubled win total after sweeping its four-game series at the Snowbird Classic. This time around, Indiana will have the opportunity to quadruple its win total with a sweep as it plays Seton Hall twice on Thursday and Saturday, Illinois State on Friday and Butler on Sunday.
Due to the extra game, Indiana will pitch junior right-hander Luke Stephenson in his first career start on Thursday. The Hoosiers will stick to their regular rotation in Friday starter senior Kyle Hart, Saturday starter senior Evan Bell and Sunday starter senior Caleb Baragar.
"We got down to Florida last year and played really well," Lemonis said. "It got us going. I'm hoping we have the same effect and get on a roll a little bit."
After stranding 54 runners on base and striking out in 67 at-bats, the Hoosiers will have their work cut out for them offensively against a talented crop of pitchers, including Seton Hall starting right-hander and preseason All-Big East Team member Shane McCarthy and Illinois State starting left-hander and Louisville Slugger All-American Jacob Hedren.
A bright spot at the plate has been junior outfielder Craig Dedelow, who has continued a breakout sophomore year with a team-leading .346 average and six RBIs.
"He's the leader of the offense right now," Lemonis said. "He'll be even better when some guys get on in front of him."
Lemonis admitted he's already looking ahead at the weather for next weekend in Bloomington, where IU will host opening weekend March 11-13 at Bart Kaufman Field.
The forecast shows highs in the 60s.
Now, all that's left is for the Hoosiers to get hot during their final road trip and come back with some momentum before playing in front of their home fans.
"After being on this losing streak for a little bit, the hardest win is going to be that first one," junior infielder Tony Butler said. "We started off hot, get on the streak, and if we can get that one win and get going again, I think we're going to be alright."
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ Baseball
Outfielder
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballJacksonville Baseball Classic - Notre Dame Press Conference
Sunday, February 22
Jacksonville Baseball Classic - UCF Press Conference
Saturday, February 21
Jacksonville Baseball Classic - LSU Press Conference
Friday, February 20
Big Ten Tournament Press Conference - vs. Rutgers
Wednesday, May 21