Hoosiers take on RedHawks

Today, IU Coach Tracy Smith returns to his old stomping ground in Oxford, Ohio, home of the Miami University Redhawks.

Smith was the team’s head coach for nine years, from 1997-2005, and led the Redhawks to eight straight 30-win seasons, their winningest season in program history and two NCAA regionals.

Smith played baseball all four years and graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Miami.

He also met his wife, Jaime, in Oxford.

Now, Smith looks to beat the team he called home for so many years.

“I love that place,” Smith said of his alma mater. “It’s a big part of my life, but I don’t see it as anything other than it’s another ballgame for us.”

IU (28-12, 13-2), Smith’s home for the past nine seasons, takes on Miami (20-23, 10-8 MAC). Miami is 7-3 in its last 10 games and is coming off a series win against the Toledo Rockets.

“I don’t want to say it’s a must-win,” Smith said. “It’s a must-play-well because I think if we play well, more often times than not we are going to come out on top.”

The players recognize that Miami is an important game and are aware that it is a homecoming game for their coach, junior relief pitcher Luke Harrison said.

“It’s huge,” Harrison said. “We play Miami every year, so it’s always fun to come back and see them. We see similar faces, so it’s always fun to compete.”

A game between IU and Miami was scheduled in Bloomington earlier this season, but was canceled due to rain. No make-up date has been scheduled as of today.

Sophomore lefty Sullivan Stadler will start on the mound for the Hoosiers. He is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA this season.

He stepped in as the fourth starter after the pitching staff suffered some injuries, and he has impressed his teammates.

“He’s been phenomenal,” sophomore pitcher Christian Morris said of Stadler. “He attacks the strike zone, he gets people out, and when he’s on, he is really fun to watch.”

Smith has said all year that attacking the strike zone and throwing strikes are the way to get on the mound. He said Stadler has done a good job of that and will continue to get opportunities.

Smith said he is looking for Stadler to be able to keep locating his pitches and keep using secondary pitches for strikes.

The starting rotation looks to be set for now with senior Joey DeNato, Morris, senior Brian Korte and Stadler. IU has a 2.51 ERA, good for the lowest in the Big Ten.

Sophomore Will Coursen-Carr will still have a chance to earn his spot back, but his command and mindset haven’t been where it needs to be, Smith said.

Coursen-Carr, a native of Fort Wayne, was slated to be a weekend starter at the beginning of the season, has struggled and is now working from the bullpen.

“Our pitchers have been great all year,” junior Will Nolden said. “We’re just looking for another solid performance. Hopefully our bats will stay hot like they’ve been.”

The Hoosiers have won 16 of their past 18 games and are coming off of a series win against Illinois, who is tied with Nebraska for second place in the Big Ten at 10-5.

IU has a three-game lead on both teams. The three teams both have nine conference games remaining.

“We don’t want to have any letdowns,” Morris said. “We just want to make sure we take care of business and play our game.”