IU ready for Valpo, sweeps Taylor

The baseball team won its fourth consecutive game with a doubleheader sweep of in-state foe Taylor Tuesday. IU (13-7-1) smacked 14 hits on its way to a 12-3 victory in Game 1, then jumped on the Tigers early in Game 2 to win 8-2.\nIn the first game, IU scored in each of the first five innings to grab a 12-0 lead. Freshman Brian Bucciarelli went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Freshman Mark Calkins recorded three hits and three RBIs. \nJunior left-hander Matt Rice (1-2) pitched three innings to notch his first win of the season. \nIU spurting to an early lead in Game 2. The Hoosiers scored in each of the first three innings to bury Taylor 7-0. Senior outfielder Blake St. Clair, who was named Big Ten Player of the Week, extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Sophomore Nick Evans had two hits, and freshman Chris Behrens (3-0) threw two innings to get the win.\nAfter Tuesday's sweep, the Hoosiers are looking to start the Big Ten regular season on a five-game winning streak after playing Valparaiso at 3 p.m. today at Sembower Field. The game is IU's final non-conference contest before the Big Ten regular season begins against Penn State Friday.\nSenior right-hander Zach Otte, who was selected as the Big Ten's Pitcher of the Week, will start for IU, but Morgan plans to use four or five relievers to prepare his pitching-depleted staff for the Big Ten.\n"We can't throw too many of our kids out there that we're going to need for (Penn State)," Morgan said.\nMorgan tinkered with his lineup during the spring break trip to Homestead, Fla., and in recent non-conference games. He will continue to do the same against Valpo.\n"We're still trying to find our team and put the pieces together and put the chemistry and put the best lineup on the field," Morgan said.\nThe Hoosiers are also looking to continue their recent offensive explosion that started with a 24-2 romp of Drexel in the final game of the Homestead (Fla.) Challenge. The Crusader pitching staff sports a team ERA of 8.68 and has given up 76 runs this season.\n"When you beat somebody 24-2, you're going to be a lot more confident going into the next game, hitting-wise," junior infielder Michael Woodside said. \nThe main goal of tomorrow's game is to build some momentum going into the Big Ten, redshirt freshman infielder Joe Sadler said.\n"The team is in a groove," Sadiler said. "We're riding it now. We're feeling good"