IU hopes to pitch its way back into the win column

The IU baseball team is hoping to settle itself defensively today against Miami (Ohio) after it allowed 18 runs against Illinois \non Monday.\nIU’s pitching staff was abysmal in the series finale against Big Ten foe Illinois. The Hoosiers sent the tandem of sophomore Eric Arnett and freshman Jarrett Casey to the mound, and the two combined to surrender 18 hits, 18 runs and six walks. They also threw three wild pitches and struck out only four in nine innings.\n“I don’t care how many runs we score or how well ... we play defensively.” IU coach Tracy Smith said. “It doesn’t matter because if we don’t pitch well, it’s going to be tough.”\nSmith used only two pitchers to try to quell the Illini bats Monday because he said he wasn’t sure what his bullpen is going to do.\n“(I have told the pitchers) they got to grow up,” he said. “It is time to realize that we brought you here for a reason: because we think you are good, and it’s time to start believing in yourself.”\nOf the 18 runs put up on the Hoosiers, 11 were earned, as the defense behind the mound did not play its best, committing seven errors. But Smith was hesitant to blame the errors on his team’s poor pitching.\n“I remember being a position player; you always wanted a guy on the mound you were confident in, who was going to get after it, get moving and be around the strike zone,” Smith said. “It’s easier to play behind a guy like that, but I don’t think it makes a difference in whether you make an error or not.” \nSenior Doug Fleenor is the pitcher who will battle Miami (Ohio).\nFleenor’s last start came April 2 against the Redhawks at Sembower Field.\nIn the contest, he threw six strong innings allowing only one earned run, one walk and recording five strikeouts in a 5-2 IU win.\nWhile pitching and defense has been slacking, IU’s offense has not, which will play in Fleenor’s favor.\nIn the four games against the Illini last weekend, the Hoosiers scored 27 runs on 47 hits. \n“I don’t think scoring runs will be our problem,” Smith said. “I like the way the guys are approaching their (at-bats) and how they are going about their business offensively.” \nInstrumental to IU’s offense and defense is junior center fielder Andrew Means, who will miss his second game in a row because of an injury to his right wrist. Means hurt his wrist while stealing home in the first game of a doubleheader against the Illini on Sunday.\n“We are going to see how he feels towards the weekend, but we aren’t going to play him (today),” Smith said.\nThe first pitch from Oxford, Ohio, is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on iuhoosiers.com.