IU Turns on the Power to Beat Northern Illinois

Saturday, March 17

Bloomington, Ind.

2:05 p.m.

Indiana University

14-4

Northern Illinois

4-13

Northern Illinois

Indiana

IU Turns on the Power to Beat Northern Illinois

3/17/2018 5:58:00 PM | Baseball

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BY: Pete DiPrimio
IUHooisers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It was a moment that screamed for power.

And, as it turned out, humor.

Luke Miller and Logan Sowers delivered, and Indiana baseball's roll continued.

Miller and Sowers hit consecutive home runs in the bottom of the eighth inning during Saturday's come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Northern Illinois. The Hoosiers (14-4) have won five straight, all at Bart Kaufman Field.

Miller's solo homer came first. Sowers followed with his game-winner two pitches later.

"When Luke hit that home run," Sowers said, "I thought, I can't let him be the only one."

He laughed.

"No. A home run wasn't even on my mind. I was just trying to get on base. I was just trying to hit the ball hard."

He did for his third homer of the season and his first since Feb. 17 against Kansas State.

"I figured (Northern Illinois pitcher Andrew Frankenreider) was going to try to come in with a strike after Luke hit that one," Sowers said. "I was looking for something over the plate."

As for breaking out of his power slump, he added, "I've been hitting a lot of hard line drives and ground balls. I haven't been getting the ball up. When I do, it will go. I'm trying to get the ball in the air more."

In other words, be more like Miller. He homered for the second consecutive game and for the seventh time this season. He's 7-for-16 in his last four games with three runs batted in.

"I was trying to hit something hard and stay on the ball," Miller said. "The approach is trying to hit the ball hard, but not try to do too much. Stay within myself. It worked out."

Indiana found its power just in time, as it has so often this season.

"We talked about staying relaxed and poised, and let's get the next guy to the plate," coach Chris Lemonis said about the approach entering the bottom of the eighth.

"We felt we could get into the bullpen. I didn't want guys to over-swing. I didn't think either guy did. They stayed on the ball.

"The home run is part of our offense. We've got some guys who can hit it out. Luckily they hit it at that time."

IU's veteran lineup has made late-inning comebacks the norm this season. The Hoosiers previously rallied late to beat South Alabama, Coastal Carolina and No. 13 San Diego

"That comes with being an older team," Lemonis said. "Next year we might not be that team, but right now some of these guys been around."

Credit a team versatility that continues to come through. On Saturday, that included catcher Ryan Fineman twice ending innings by throwing out runners trying to steal.

"We've got five to six guys who can beat out an infield single," Sowers said, "and five to six guys who can hit it out of the park. We can score a lot of different ways. It's exciting."

Twenty hours after IU erupted for a season-high 18 runs and 17 hits in a Friday win over Northern Illinois, it faced a tense pitcher's duel. Huskies pitcher Tanner Foster sustained low-90 miles-per-hour fastballs mixed with sharp sliders and curveballs during his seven innings.

To prepare the Hoosiers for a potential nail biter, Lemonis before the game referred to March Madness unpredictability and top-seeded Virginia's stunning loss to No. 16-seed Maryland-Baltimore County on Friday night.

"Before the game we saw (Virginia coach) Tonny Bennett's interview where he talked about how you can be so high and be so low," Lemonis said. "I warned them – (Northern Illinois) is a good team. We saw a good arm. I knew we'd have to compete. The day before doesn't matter."

IU pitcher Pauly Milto was in shut-down mode early. In five and two-third innings he totaled seven strikeouts and one unearned run.

"His fastball and slider were so good early," Lemonis said, "that he was getting a lot of swings and misses."

Northern Illinois (4-13) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth by capitalizing on an IU error and then a double steal.

IU came back to start the bottom of the fourth with consecutive singles from Matt Lloyd and Miller. A wild pitch sent Lloyd and Miller to third and second. Sowers struck out looking on a 76 mph breaking ball.

Elijah Dunham drove in the tying run with a ground out to first.

IU's Logan Kaletha led off the bottom of the sixth by getting hit by a pitch, which was as shocking as the sun rising in the east. Kaletha has been hit 12 times, the most in the nation.

Miller doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Sowers walked to load the bases.

Dunham followed with his second RBI groundout for a 2-1 Hoosier lead.

Enter IU pitcher Cal Krueger, who had dominated in his eight previous appearances. He hadn't given up an earned run in 11 innings that included 12 strikeouts.

But he gave up singles to the first two batters to start the eighth inning before allowing a run. An error on second baseman Colby Stratten (his first of the season) on a potential double-play grounder kept the pressure on the Hoosiers. The Huskies capitalized with another run for a 3-2 lead.

Northern Illinois went for the jugular by bringing in its closer, Frankenreider. IU was more than ready with Miller and Sowers.

Krueger made it stand for his fifth victory.

It was another momentum boost for a team less than a week away from the start of Big Ten play.

"We can play with speed and power, and hopefully pitch and play defense," Lemonis said. "Our strength is our diversity. We can win doing a lot of different things."