IU leave Florida with 6-1 record over break

With seven games in nine days, the Hoosier baseball team worked hard during spring break to take home some victories.\nIU came away from its nine-day trip to Brandenton, Fla., with six wins to add to its win column. The trip gave the Hoosiers plenty of highlights, including a 21-hit performance against Bucknell March 13 and a 17-run offensive output against the Illinois State Redbirds March 15.\n"Offensively, we had a great day at the plate, and we have been swinging really well," IU coach Bob Morgan said of the victory against Illinois State. "Hopefully we can continue to do so. Overall, our pitching has been carrying us this season, but we struggled today."\nThough the pitching struggled at times, sophomore Joe Trucchio picked up his first collegiate victory in the win against Illinois State. Senior Brian Lortz picked up his first two victories of the season, throwing a five-inning shutout in Sunday's win and giving up only two runs in seven innings pitched in a 14-4 victory against Bucknell.\n"We were on balls all day long," Morgan said of the win against Bucknell. "Several guys had strong days at the plate, and Brian Lortz pitched seven strong innings. It was a good win, and we continue to get better and better."\nThe Hoosiers got some additional help with their pitching from freshman Brad Davidson, who threw seven scoreless innings in the third game of the trip against Yale. Davidson surrendered only five hits and one walk in the 8-0 win and lowered his ERA to 1.29 on the year.\n"I just went out and tried to throw strikes and get ahead of the hitters," said Davidson. "The team played great today, and we executed perfectly."\nSecond baseman Jay Brant went 4-for-5 against Yale with an RBI and three runs scored. His performance came only two days before being named the Big Ten's Co-Player of the Week. Along with Brant, the bats of seniors Corby Heckman and Joe Kemp, as well as juniors Reggie Watson and Ryan Parker all remained hot. Parker improved his hitting streak to 14 games, while Heckman had his snapped at 11. Junior Zach Boswell contributed a perfect \n5-for-5 performance against Kent State, belting three doubles and tallying 4 RBI.\n"I had a real good batting practice session, and I was seeing the ball real well," said Boswell. "I took good pitches and hit to the opposite field because they were pitching me outside."\nThe Hoosiers now hold a 12-4 record on the season after finishing 6-1 on the road trip. They have out-hit their opponents in 15 of the 16 games they have played and have recorded at least 10 hits in 13 games.\nIU will now have a brief stay in Bloomington for a matchup against Ball State Wednesday before heading to Farmville, Va., for a three-game set.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Matt \nMattucci at mmattucc@indiana.edu.