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The Indiana Daily Student

sports baseball

Hoosiers play final game before home opener

Baseball

Aided by a stout offense and an improved pitching staff, a rejuvenated IU baseball team looks to earn a winning record for the first time this season Tuesday in Morehead, Ky.

The Hoosiers (9-9) will take on the Morehead State Eagles (11-12) at MSU’s Allen Field in a 3 p.m. matchup. The contest marks the end of a 19-game stretch to open the season on the road, as IU is scheduled to take on Xavier on Wednesday at Sembower Field.

Before the homecoming, though, the Hoosiers will send sophomore Ethan Wilson to the mound against the Eagles on Tuesday. MSU’s batters certainly won’t be an easy out for Wilson, as the Eagles are coming off a hot weekend at the plate against IPFW.
Wilson’s appearance Tuesday marks his fifth appearance of 2010 and just his second start. He’s currently riding a 1.93 ERA after surrendering just three hits and three runs over 9.1 innings pitched.

Wilson last pitched a week ago in a 6-5 win over Bradley — a game that saw the Pendleton, Ind., native work five innings of one-hit baseball on the mound, striking out three.

Wilson, also an infielder, last appeared for the Hoosiers in last Wednesday’s game against Eastern Illinois at second base.


In a four-game series, MSU plated over an average of 14 runs per game, though the Eagles dropped the second of a Saturday double-header, 9-8.

For IU, sophomore pitcher Drew Leininger pitched impressively for the Hoosiers on Saturday to continue his 26-inning streak of not giving up a run. He talked afterward about what his teammates in the bullpen need to do to stay competitive.

“Our pitchers just have to go out, keep the ball low and throw strikes,” Leininger said. “Our offense will do the rest.”

Two players for the Hoosiers in particular — freshman Micah Johnson and sophomore Alex Dickerson — helped the offensive cause last week by knocking four and five home runs, respectively, to lead the team in the category.

As for the 19-game stretch before making a home appearance, IU coach Tracy Smith said he’s proud of what his club has accomplished throughout a non-conference gauntlet.

“We have, without a doubt, the toughest non-conference schedule in the Big Ten,” Smith said after Saturday’s win against Akron. “We’ve played six teams

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