Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Keep Trending Up with Series Win over Iowa
4/18/2016 11:44:00 AM | Baseball
By: Tori Ziege | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For the first time in 10 outings and 17 innings, Indiana relief pitcher Thomas Belcher was mortal.
He gave up a run.
Leading Iowa 2-0 in the series 5-3 in the final game Sunday, the Hoosiers turned to their hottest hand in Belcher to close out the sweep. He was unable to do so, surrendering the tying runs in the bottom of the eighth before allowing the game-winning run in extra-innings. Belcher's were the only runs allowed by the Indiana bullpen in the series, culminating in just the second loss conceded by the staff in 20 games.
But that's baseball.
"They got some hits off one of the hottest pitchers in the country," head coach Chris Lemonis said. "Sometimes you lose, sometimes you get beat. Some days you just have to tip your hat to the opponent."
The final nod might have got to Iowa (17-17, 6-6), but Indiana (20-14, 6-3) has plenty to hang its hat on following a 2-1 series win that closes out a 6-1 home stand at Bart Kaufman Field. The Hoosiers trailed for just 1.5 innings on the weekend and outscored the Hawkeyes 20-9.
Many of those runs were delivered by the bottom half of the order, who produced all five runs Sunday and 13 total versus the Hawkeyes.
That group was headlined by No. 9 hitter Tony Butler, who tripled his career home run total in the series, spearing two solo shots. Designated hitter Scotty Bradley and No. 6 hitter Luke Miller also heated up, driving in four runs apiece in the series, including a three-RBI game one for Miller and a three-RBI game three for Bradley.
"They're feeling better about themselves," Lemonis said. "You're seeing the true way they play that game."
Though it's not the way they would have preferred to cap off the series, Lemonis and the Hoosiers remained confident and unfazed following what can be chalked up as a rare faltering by the bullpen.
Indiana has been able to rely on its closers since day one, and no one sees that changing anytime soon.
"Thomas Belcher is such a good pitcher, and he's done well for us," Bradley said. "Stuff like that happens in baseball all the time, so it's not a big deal at all."
Winners of eight of their last nine, Bradley and Hoosiers are much more excited by the cast surrounding the pitching staff that has come on as of late to guide Indiana back from a slow start and into the thick of the Big Ten race.
That race will heat up this week, as Indiana hits the road for a midweek contest at Xavier before traveling to East Lansing, Michigan, to face first-place Michigan State, who stands just one game ahead of fifth-place Indiana in the conference standings.
"When you look at the whole weekend, you win two out of three against a good Iowa team," Bradley said. "We have to take those positives into next week."
"All three phases of the game we're playing better, and that's why more wins have come."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For the first time in 10 outings and 17 innings, Indiana relief pitcher Thomas Belcher was mortal.
He gave up a run.
Leading Iowa 2-0 in the series 5-3 in the final game Sunday, the Hoosiers turned to their hottest hand in Belcher to close out the sweep. He was unable to do so, surrendering the tying runs in the bottom of the eighth before allowing the game-winning run in extra-innings. Belcher's were the only runs allowed by the Indiana bullpen in the series, culminating in just the second loss conceded by the staff in 20 games.
But that's baseball.
"They got some hits off one of the hottest pitchers in the country," head coach Chris Lemonis said. "Sometimes you lose, sometimes you get beat. Some days you just have to tip your hat to the opponent."
The final nod might have got to Iowa (17-17, 6-6), but Indiana (20-14, 6-3) has plenty to hang its hat on following a 2-1 series win that closes out a 6-1 home stand at Bart Kaufman Field. The Hoosiers trailed for just 1.5 innings on the weekend and outscored the Hawkeyes 20-9.
Many of those runs were delivered by the bottom half of the order, who produced all five runs Sunday and 13 total versus the Hawkeyes.
That group was headlined by No. 9 hitter Tony Butler, who tripled his career home run total in the series, spearing two solo shots. Designated hitter Scotty Bradley and No. 6 hitter Luke Miller also heated up, driving in four runs apiece in the series, including a three-RBI game one for Miller and a three-RBI game three for Bradley.
"They're feeling better about themselves," Lemonis said. "You're seeing the true way they play that game."
Though it's not the way they would have preferred to cap off the series, Lemonis and the Hoosiers remained confident and unfazed following what can be chalked up as a rare faltering by the bullpen.
Indiana has been able to rely on its closers since day one, and no one sees that changing anytime soon.
"Thomas Belcher is such a good pitcher, and he's done well for us," Bradley said. "Stuff like that happens in baseball all the time, so it's not a big deal at all."
Winners of eight of their last nine, Bradley and Hoosiers are much more excited by the cast surrounding the pitching staff that has come on as of late to guide Indiana back from a slow start and into the thick of the Big Ten race.
That race will heat up this week, as Indiana hits the road for a midweek contest at Xavier before traveling to East Lansing, Michigan, to face first-place Michigan State, who stands just one game ahead of fifth-place Indiana in the conference standings.
"When you look at the whole weekend, you win two out of three against a good Iowa team," Bradley said. "We have to take those positives into next week."
"All three phases of the game we're playing better, and that's why more wins have come."
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