Indiana University Athletics
Baseball Opens Big Ten Play at Rutgers
3/31/2016 5:32:00 PM | Baseball
Setting the Scene
• Indiana opens up Big Ten play this weekend with a three-game series against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, N.J.
• Entering Friday, the Hoosiers have won eight of 11 games and 10 of their last 14.
• Indiana has faced off with the Scarlet Knights once since joining the Big Ten. Last season in Bloomington, the Hoosiers swept the series, picking up wins of 4-3, 6-0 and 5-4.
• The Hoosiers have won their last three weekend series, taking two of three from Western Carolina, three of four from Toledo, and two of three from Indiana State.
The Coaches
• Chris Lemonis is in his second season as Indiana's head coach, posting an overall record of 47-35 thus far. Lemonis took over an IU program in 2015 that had gone 93-31 the previous two seasons, including its first-ever College World Series appearance in 2013 and the No. 4 overall seed in the 2014 NCAA Baseball Championship. With a new look roster, his program immediately lived up to the expectations, posting a 35-24 overall record and earning a berth into a third-straight NCAA Regional in 2015.
• As an assistant coach, Lemonis' imprint in elevating the Louisville program to new heights was evident. The former Cardinals' recruiting coordinator aided Louisville to three College World Series appearances (2007, 2013, 2014) and a 359-159 (.693) record during the past eight seasons, including back-to-back 50-win seasons in 2013 and 2014.
• Joe Litterio is in his third season as head coach after taking over for the legendary Fred Hill in 2014. He spent the two prior seasons (2012-13) on Hill's staff as an assistant coach. Litterio is in his 15th season overall as a head coach at the collegiate level.
Notables
• Entering the weekend, Indiana pitching ranks first in the Big Ten in fewest walks allowed (55), second in team ERA (2.45), third in opponent batting average (.233), fourth in batters struck out (191), third in fewest runs allowed (86), third in fewest earned runs allowed (58) and sixth in fewest hits allowed (187).
• Indiana's pitching staff entered this week ranked fourth nationally in walks allowed per nine innings, eighth in strikeout to walk ratio (3.5), 13th in team ERA (2.42), 15th in WHIP (1.12) and 46th in hits allowed per nine innings (7.8).
• Hoosier pitchers have given up one earned run or less 7 times this season, all of which have happened in an 15-game span.
• Indiana pitching has posted double-figure strikeouts in 10 games this season.
• The Hoosiers have given up two walks or less in 15 games this season, including six of the last eight games.
• Over the last nine games, Indiana's pitching staff has allowed 29 runs (16 earned), while surrendering just 61 hits in 91 innings.
• Indiana's starting pitching has been strong through the first six weekends of action. In 18 combined starts from LHP Kyle Hart, RHP Evan Bell and LHP Caleb Baragar, the trio has posted a 2.06 ERA, allowing just 88 hits over 113.2 innings of work, striking out 87 batters while walking only 24. Teams are hitting a combined .213 off Hart, Bell and Baragar so far.
• Entering this week, IU ranked fifth in the Big Ten in runs scored (131), fifth in hits (209), fourth in RBI (122), fourth in home runs (18) and first in hit by pitch (34).
• Senior Brian Wilhite is second in the Big Ten in RBI (24) and tied for fifth in home runs (5).
• Junior Craig Dedelow stands tied for fifth in the conference in doubles (8).
• Before Tony Butler's walk-off home run against Indiana State on March 27, the last extra-inning walk off home run for the Hoosiers dates back to the 2013 NCAA Regional when Chad Clark hit one against Valparaiso in NCAA Regionals.
• The Hoosiers strung together 27 runs on 23 hits and five home runs to earn a 27-1 victory over the Butler Bulldogs on March 23 at Bart Kaufman Field. The 27 runs for the Hoosiers are a Bart Kaufman Field record and the most since March 24, 2004 when IU scored 29 against Chicago State.
• The 26-run margin of victory is the largest in NCAA Division I Baseball this season, while the 27 runs scored are currently the fourth most in the nation this year.
• Indiana opens up Big Ten play this weekend with a three-game series against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, N.J.
• Entering Friday, the Hoosiers have won eight of 11 games and 10 of their last 14.
• Indiana has faced off with the Scarlet Knights once since joining the Big Ten. Last season in Bloomington, the Hoosiers swept the series, picking up wins of 4-3, 6-0 and 5-4.
• The Hoosiers have won their last three weekend series, taking two of three from Western Carolina, three of four from Toledo, and two of three from Indiana State.
The Coaches
• Chris Lemonis is in his second season as Indiana's head coach, posting an overall record of 47-35 thus far. Lemonis took over an IU program in 2015 that had gone 93-31 the previous two seasons, including its first-ever College World Series appearance in 2013 and the No. 4 overall seed in the 2014 NCAA Baseball Championship. With a new look roster, his program immediately lived up to the expectations, posting a 35-24 overall record and earning a berth into a third-straight NCAA Regional in 2015.
• As an assistant coach, Lemonis' imprint in elevating the Louisville program to new heights was evident. The former Cardinals' recruiting coordinator aided Louisville to three College World Series appearances (2007, 2013, 2014) and a 359-159 (.693) record during the past eight seasons, including back-to-back 50-win seasons in 2013 and 2014.
• Joe Litterio is in his third season as head coach after taking over for the legendary Fred Hill in 2014. He spent the two prior seasons (2012-13) on Hill's staff as an assistant coach. Litterio is in his 15th season overall as a head coach at the collegiate level.
Notables
• Entering the weekend, Indiana pitching ranks first in the Big Ten in fewest walks allowed (55), second in team ERA (2.45), third in opponent batting average (.233), fourth in batters struck out (191), third in fewest runs allowed (86), third in fewest earned runs allowed (58) and sixth in fewest hits allowed (187).
• Indiana's pitching staff entered this week ranked fourth nationally in walks allowed per nine innings, eighth in strikeout to walk ratio (3.5), 13th in team ERA (2.42), 15th in WHIP (1.12) and 46th in hits allowed per nine innings (7.8).
• Hoosier pitchers have given up one earned run or less 7 times this season, all of which have happened in an 15-game span.
• Indiana pitching has posted double-figure strikeouts in 10 games this season.
• The Hoosiers have given up two walks or less in 15 games this season, including six of the last eight games.
• Over the last nine games, Indiana's pitching staff has allowed 29 runs (16 earned), while surrendering just 61 hits in 91 innings.
• Indiana's starting pitching has been strong through the first six weekends of action. In 18 combined starts from LHP Kyle Hart, RHP Evan Bell and LHP Caleb Baragar, the trio has posted a 2.06 ERA, allowing just 88 hits over 113.2 innings of work, striking out 87 batters while walking only 24. Teams are hitting a combined .213 off Hart, Bell and Baragar so far.
• Entering this week, IU ranked fifth in the Big Ten in runs scored (131), fifth in hits (209), fourth in RBI (122), fourth in home runs (18) and first in hit by pitch (34).
• Senior Brian Wilhite is second in the Big Ten in RBI (24) and tied for fifth in home runs (5).
• Junior Craig Dedelow stands tied for fifth in the conference in doubles (8).
• Before Tony Butler's walk-off home run against Indiana State on March 27, the last extra-inning walk off home run for the Hoosiers dates back to the 2013 NCAA Regional when Chad Clark hit one against Valparaiso in NCAA Regionals.
• The Hoosiers strung together 27 runs on 23 hits and five home runs to earn a 27-1 victory over the Butler Bulldogs on March 23 at Bart Kaufman Field. The 27 runs for the Hoosiers are a Bart Kaufman Field record and the most since March 24, 2004 when IU scored 29 against Chicago State.
• The 26-run margin of victory is the largest in NCAA Division I Baseball this season, while the 27 runs scored are currently the fourth most in the nation this year.
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ 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