After two consecutive games in which an IU starting pitcher failed to make it through the third inning, Aaron Slegers reminded Hooiser fans what a strong outing looked like.
Slegers registered his team-high eighth win of the year, scattering nine hits in 6.2 innings, allowing two runs (both earned) with four strikeouts and no walks in IU's 9-2 win over Northwestern on senior day Sunday at Bart Kaufman Field.
The sophomore right-hander's win didn't come without some drama in the top of the sixth, though.
Pinch hitter Jack Livingston led off the inning with a single the opposite way to left. Trevor Stevens followed with a single between Slegers' legs and in to center field to put runners on first and second for Kyle Ruchim.
Ruchim hit a one-hop liner to short that senior Michael Basil tried to backhand. The ball instead caromed off Basil and into left field, scoring Livingston and putting Stevens on third to make it 6-1 IU.
Pitcher Zach Morton then singled to left to make it 6-2 Hoosiers, sending Ruchim to third. After a popout, catcher Scott Heelan hit a chopper back to the mound. Ruchim broke for the plate, and Slegers tossed it to Schwarber to cut down Ruchim at the plate easily.
A single by Zach Jones loaded the bases, but Slegers got out of the jam by getting Jack Mitchell to pop out in the infield.
IU got the scoring started in the second. After the first two hitters reached with singles and Casey Smith sacrificed them to second and third, freshman second basemen Nick Ramos singled the opposite way to left to drive in two and give the Hoosiers a 2-0 lead.
The Hoosiers (38-11, 15-6 Big Ten) added four runs in the fourth on an RBI bunt single by Justin Cureton and a two-run single to left by Sam Travis.
After Northwestern's mini-rally in the top of the sixth, IU responded with three runs in the bottom half.
With the win, IU took two of three from Northwestern (22-23, 9-15) for the fourth consecutive year.
