Senior infielder Austin Cangelosi wasn’t able to walk for his graduation Saturday.
Instead, a trip around the bases would have to suffice.
Cangelosi’s first home run since February was part of IU’s offensive explosion against Xavier. Scoring the most runs in a game this season, IU dominated Xavier 14-3 and took the series victory.
After scratching out a 1-0 victory Friday night, IU’s bats could not be contained in game two of the weekend series. The Hoosiers tallied 16 hits and scored a run in five different innings.
“I just think we got some pitches to hit and I think we did a good job of the strike zone of not chasing outside the strike zone,” IU manager Chris Lemonis said. “So the walks and we got some innings going and some big hits on top of it.”
IU struck first against Xavier, plating two runs in the second inning on singles by sophomore catcher Ryan Fineman and freshman shortstop Jeremy Houston.
Xavier remained within striking distance, and in the fifth inning, the Hoosiers missed a huge opportunity to extend their lead. IU loaded the bases, but was unable to score.
When they loaded the bases in the next inning, they did not squander the opportunity again.
IU scored four runs in the sixth inning, extending its lead to six runs.
“Definitely glad to get a second chance there,” sophomore infielder Matt Lloyd said. “Leaving base runners on is huge momentum for the other team. So, it was nice be able to shut them down and come back out and get another opportunity to score.”
The first two runs of the inning came on walks as both Lloyd and sophomore infielder Luke Miller were patient at the plate. Senior outfielder Craig Dedelow and Fineman also both tallied RBI’s in the inning that broke the game open for IU.
“I thought that was huge because if you don’t take advantage of it too many times, it’s going to hurt you,” Lemonis said. “It’s just too much momentum to give to the other team. So, it’s nice to see us really build that big inning there.”
Freshman pitcher Cal Krueger got the start for IU and went four and two-thirds innings, giving up six hits and two runs. Lemonis thought Krueger pitched well.
“He was a little juiced early and doesn’t make it through the whole game or get through the fifth,” Lemonis said. “I hate taking him out in the fourth, but he had given up a couple really hard hit balls. I liked him early in the game.”
IU pitchers gave up 13 hits, but were able to avoid too much damage.
Cangelosi said this team could’ve mailed it in months ago, but turned the corner and have been on a roll, winning four straight series.
“It’s huge,” Cangelosi said. "We’re playing good baseball right now. We just have to build a resume. We want to ply in a regional, we want to win the Big Ten. You can’t just take a weekend off like this even though (it’s) nonconference. We’re out here to win.”
