Stadler looks to lead IU against Sycamores today

After taking two of three against Michigan last weekend, the IU baseball team (12-9, 2-1) advances to play Indiana State (15-5) at 3:30 today.

Hoosiers offense has not lived up to IU Coach Tracy Smith’s expectations, but designated junior hitter Scott Donley said the team should bounce back soon.

“It’s just execution,” Donley said. “When we have runners on third base we need to put the ball in the air, hit a sacrifice fly... we have to be able to lay down bunts.”

The start time of the game was moved to 3:30 because of expected cold weather in Terre Haute.

“It’s a really big game,” Donley said. “We have to come out and play well against them. Indiana State’s proven themselves this year and have quite a few big wins. It’s going to be a good game.”

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Sullivan Stadler will start on the mound for IU. It will be his second start of the year, as he started against Louisville last week where he picked up his first win. He is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA and three strikeouts. Opponents are batting .241 against him this season.

“He did a good job for us,” Smith said. “I think he has earned the opportunity to follow that up with another performance.”

Smith also said he is looking for another outing where he competes aggressively in the strike zone.

The Hoosiers have a team ERA of 2.55, which is the best in the Big Ten.

“There is not an issue with the way we’ve been pitching the baseball,” Smith said. “These starters, midweek included, have given us a chance to win the game every single time. That’s their job, that’s their role.”

The Sycamores are No. 22 in Ratings Percentage Index, or RPI, meaning the game will play a big part of where IU ranks next week.

“They’ve always been a good test for us, being a neighbor and in-state,” Smith said.
“The RPI implication is a big part of it, but we’re not going to go over there and think about RPI. We’re going to go over there and think about playing good, standard, quality baseball.”

IU is led on offense by junior catcher Kyle Schwarber, who is batting .313 with three home runs and 11 RBIs, junior first baseman Sam Travis who is batting .325 with six doubles and 17 RBIs, senior third baseman Dustin DeMuth who is batting .343 with one home run and five RBIs and by junior second baseman Casey Rodrigue who is batting .326 with nine steals and 12 RBIs.

“(We need to) hit balls hard, not far,” Smith said.

“I think once we focus on that and swing at pitches in the zone and pitches we can handle, and recognize pitches in the zone and pitches we can handle, I think our results will turn around.”