Crosier follows passion for baseball to IU

Coming out of high school, Corydon Central's valedictorian, junior Clint Crosier, enrolled at Purdue to pursue his goal of studying aviation engineering. \nBut while aviation might have been his interest, baseball was his passion.\nSo Crosier packed his bags and headed south to Bloomington, where he tried out for the Hoosier baseball team. Crosier had grown up an easy drive away from Bloomington in Corydon, Ind., but the road to IU baseball was far more complicated.\nCrosier didn't make the team on his first tryout, but he remained determined and tried out again this fall. This time, IU coach Bob Morgan gave the pitcher another shot, and as of last fall, Crosier proudly adorned the cream and crimson uniform.\n"I tried out, and it didn't work," Crosier said. "Since I live in the state, it's always been a dream to come to IU. To be able to put on this uniform is a real honor."\nCrosier's dream of toeing the rubber in an IU uniform finally came true Feb. 26 against Memphis. But Crosier didn't just make an appearance; he was entrusted with a 9-8 lead in the 10th inning.\nFour batters and two strikeouts later, Crosier had earned his first save -- in his first game.\nSince then, Crosier has appeared 12 times for the Hoosiers. He holds a 4.15 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched and has held opposing batters to a .250 batting average.\n"Clint never played college ball before," Morgan said. "He did some good things (in tryouts), so we gave him a chance, and he did well. He's a good kid and a good student."\nCrosier's academic side has not faded. He currently majors in sports marketing and management and dreams of attending law school. \n"As a student, he is outstanding," said Crosier's roommate, junior Jimmy Conrad. "He is really dedicated in his studies -- about the same as he is in baseball."\nConrad played high school football with Crosier and described his friend as the type of player who arrived a half-hour early and stayed a half-hour late for every practice. Although Crosier has been used sparingly this season, he said he hopes to turn his work ethic over to baseball and contribute more to the Hoosiers in the future.\n"I hope to be one of the main left-handed relievers for this team," Crosier said. "I'm trying to do what I can now that we're struggling."\nCrosier and the rest of the Hoosier squad will meet Marian College of Indianapolis Tuesday at Sembower Field with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. IU currently holds a 20-19 record and stands at 4-12 in Big Ten play, whereas the Knights have compiled a 26-17 record overall and are 14-4 in the Mid-Central College Conference.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Matt Mattucci at mmattucc@indiana.edu.