Last weekend IU baseball was the team trying to get big wins against high RPI teams.
This weekend the role was reversed as IU was the team with the target on their back. However, IU did not slip up, and after defeating Chicago State on Sunday the team extended its winning streak to six games.
The 7-2 victory against the Cougars concluded the Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Florida, and improved the Hoosiers' record to 6-1. IU defeated Rutgers and Boston College in the first two games.
The Hoosiers got a scare at the start of the game as Chicago State jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against junior pitcher Tim Herrin.
Herrin would only last two innings before the bullpen took over. IU used five relievers to combine for seven scoreless innings.
The Hoosier offense used the long ball to get back into the game following the hot start for the Cougars.
The IU leadoff man, junior outfielder Logan Kaletha, got the Hoosiers on the board with a home run in the first.
After junior utility player Matt Lloyd led off the third inning with a walk, junior infielder Luke Miller launched his fourth home run of the season to give IU its first lead of the game.
IU did not look back after that. Sophomore infielder Scotty Bradley hit his first home run of the game in the sixth. The Hoosiers would get another pair of runs with two outs in the sixth thanks to two errors by the Chicago State defense.
The mistakes for the Cougars defense continued in the eighth as IU was able to plate another unearned run to extend their lead.
Despite the early season success, this is the third time in seven games that the IU starting pitcher has not lasted longer than three innings.
Coming into the season there were questions as to who would be the third and midweek starters for IU, and it appears those slots are still yet to be determined.
The Snowbird Baseball Classic was part of 11 neutral site and road games to start the season for IU. The Hoosiers will play four games against San Diego March. 2-4 before returning to Bart Kaufman Field on March 7.
Stefan Krajisnik
