Hoosiers complete third conference sweep of season

Michigan State elected to intentionally walk preseason All-American Kyle Schwarber, which brought preseason All-American Sam Travis up to bat.

The finale of the three-game series was tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth. Runners stood on first and second with one out for Travis. With a win, IU would complete the sweep of Michigan State.

“It’s always a sign of disrespect when they walk someone to get to you,” Travis said after the game.

He smoked a first pitch curve ball to deep left-center field.  Rodrigue scored easily from second and Schwarber hustled around the base path to score from first. Another eighth inning RBI by designated hitter Scott Donley gave IU a three-run cushion going into the ninth.

Junior reliever Luke Harrison closed out for a win for IU (25-11, 11-1) to beat Michigan State (20-17, 5-7) Sunday 4-1. The win gave the Hoosiers their third sweep of a conference foe this year.

In their last 14 games, the Hoosiers are 13-1. And this latest sweep meant something extra for IU — last season Michigan State swept IU in three one-run games.

“It’s a great rivalry,” said second baseman Casey Rodrigue, who scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. “Dating back to last year, all the games have been close.”

For the past week, the IU offense has cooled down and had trouble manufacturing runs. Coming into the weekend, IU was averaging 5.6 runs a game. But during the three games against Michigan State, the Hoosiers averaged just 4.3 runs a game.

That was in part due to the Spartan pitching staff. Michigan State’s three starters were the best trio of pitchers the Hoosiers have faced all year, Travis said. That meant the pitching had to step up.

And it did.

In the last 41 innings, dating back to the last inning against Morehead State April 13, IU pitchers have given up just two runs, giving Hoosier pitchers an ERA of 0.44 in that span.

“Michigan State’s pitching staff I thought was outstanding,” IU Coach Tracy Smith said. “Ours was equally good ... I thought that was two quality pitching staffs going at it.”

The latest in the recent trend of great Hoosier pitching came in the form of Brian Korte. The senior got the start on just three days rest, after a throwing against Western Kentucky last Wednesday.

The role of third starter has been in flux for IU ever due to the injury of Kyle Hart and the struggles of sophomore Will Coursen-Carr. Korte learned the day before he would get the nod, and he delivered.

His final line ­— 6.1 innings pitched, five hits, one earned run, four walks and four strikeouts.

“To start two games in one week is ridiculous,” junior reliever Luke Harrison said. “It’s a crazy week, but (Korte’s) a great pitcher.”

Harrison was also key in thwarting any potential Hoosier rally. When Korte came out of the game in the seventh inning, he struggled and left the bases loaded.

Smith decided to put in the righty, Harrison, to try and kill the Spartan rally. The game was still in jeopardy, tied at 1-1.

Harrison induced a soft ground ball that came right back to him. He threw home, getting the lead runner out. The catcher, Schwarber, then rifled  a throw to first base to complete the inning ending double play.

Harrison pumped his fist and the crowd at Bart Kaufman Field erupted. The play proved vital as Michigan State would not get another good scoring opportunity. Harrison allowed just one hit in his 2.2 innings of work.

But when he came into the bases loaded situation, he said, he wasn’t thinking about getting a double play ball.

“I was just thinking, ‘Get a fly ball, keep it low,’” Harrison said. “I was thinking about a strikeout also, but I got lucky. Well, not lucky. I got the pitch I wanted to and it came right to me.”

Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.