IU set for 8-game spring break road trip, will face No. 5 Florida State first

Move over spring breakers. Here come the Hoosiers.\nComing off a convincing 6-0 shutout of Butler on Wednesday at Sembower Field, the IU baseball team (4-4) will start its annual spring trip today with a 6 p.m. game at No. 5 Florida State.\nThe Hoosiers start their eight-game Florida trip with a three-game set against the nationally ranked Seminoles, who have raced out to a 17-0 start. IU will then face North Florida for a quick two-game series March 13 and 14 before wrapping up the trip with three games at Florida A&M next weekend.\n“We’re getting a really big opportunity, playing Florida State, so hopefully we’ll go down there and take care of business,” IU freshman outfielder Sterling Mack said.\nAgainst the Bulldogs, IU capitalized on a strong performance from junior starter Chris McCombs and the IU bullpen. He threw six shutout innings before turning the ball over to the bullpen. Three relievers finished off Butler, allowing only one hit.\nHeading into this weekend’s series with the highly ranked Seminoles, IU hopes the momentum from the Butler win will carry over.\n“I think this win will definitely help us heading into this weekend with a confident attitude,” IU junior and third baseman Tyler Cox said. “Hopefully, we can pull out a couple wins, maybe even sweep them.”\nThe Hoosiers did receive bad news this week following Tuesday’s 5-3 defeat at Indiana State when freshman left fielder Kipp Schutz left the game with an injured left shoulder. IU head coach Tracy Smith confirmed after Wednesday’s win that Schutz did break his left collarbone on the play and will miss six to eight weeks following surgery.\n“It’s just an unfortunate, freak accident,” Smith said. “Kipp’s obviously devastated, and we’re disappointed because he was starting to swing the bat, and he’s a competitive kid. He’ll bounce back from it, but whether or not we get him back this year, we’re not sure yet.” \nWith IU’s Big Ten opener just three weeks away, Smith will be looking to fill the void left by Schutz’s injury in the lineup and on the field defensively. After going 0-for-10 in IU’s first three games, Schutz rebounded this past weekend, going 6-for-11 at the plate with three runs and one run batted in.\n“Certainly the injury to Kipp opens up another (position) for us,” Smith said. “Sterling Mack and Andrew Means have emerged as two guys for sure in the outfield. We’re still searching for that other one.” \nIn the outfield, Mack has come on of late for the Hoosiers, hitting .333 and scoring all three of IU’s runs in the Indiana State loss. Means, who moved from right to center field this year, has flourished, giving the Hoosiers a strong bat at the bottom of the lineup.\nOne of five Hoosiers to start all eight games so far, Means is hitting at a .310 clip with a triple and six runs scored.\nSo as IU works to fill the outfield hole left by Schutz’s injury, Smith is excited to see how his team responds against the Seminoles.\n“Florida State’s going to be all that we can handle, but I think that’s going to be a good test for us,” Smith said.