The second baseman hit his team-leading third home run Wednesday in the seventh inning of IU’s 9-1 win against ?Eastern Michigan.
Rodrigue didn’t hit any home runs last season.
“I’m just more comfortable with it being my second year,” Rodrigue said. “Last year I just tried to get on base because we had guys who hit the ball out of the yard all the time, so I didn’t really have to have that aspect of the game.”
Rodrigue also has a team-leading 15 RBIs after the two-run home run, once again strange for someone batting first in the batting order. He had 22 RBIs all of last season.
He finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored and a stolen base. The steal was his fourth this season.
“He’s had some big swings in those situations and he’s hit with a little bit of power, too, so it’s been nice to see from him,” IU Coach Chris Lemonis said. “But it is a little strange to see your leadoff guy leading the team.”
Both Rodrigue and Lemonis credited the increase in run production to having ample amounts of opportunities because of IU’s depth at the plate.
Lemonis said he has 13 or 14 hitters who are good enough to start.
“Those guys are good, get on base and they see pitches,” Rodrigue said. “It’s good to get more RBIs this season. Obviously, I didn’t have this many at this point last season. It’s just good to hit with people on base.”
Also homering for IU was Wednesday’s No. 9 hitter, junior third baseman Brian Wilhite. His three-run home run in the second inning was the first of his career and his first extra-base hit this season.
The home run also provided the first three RBIs of the season for Wilhite, who finished the game 2-for-3 after an infield single in the seventh inning. He also scored twice.
It was the eighth start for Wilhite at third base this season, his glove being the primary reason he’s seen his name in the starting lineup. But Lemonis said that may begin to change.
“He’s an upper level defender, and he just keeps working on his swing every day,” Lemonis said. “The hitting coaches are happy because he spends a lot of time in the cages trying to get himself out there, so it’s been nice to see that ?progression.”
Eastern Michigan’s only run of the game came in the sixth inning off junior Evan Bell. Bell pitched four innings of relief, striking out two and picking up his first win of the season.
IU’s bullpen combined to pitch seven innings, allowing only five hits and one walk.
“We’ve got one of the best staffs in the country, and we know that everyday they’re going to show up and throw everything they’ve got at the other team,” Rodrigue said.
Senior catcher Brad Hartong added a two-RBI single in the seventh inning for his fourth and fifth RBIs this season.
The single was one of 10 hits IU had Wednesday. It’s the ninth time in its last 10 games IU has had 10 or more hits.
IU has also scored 30 runs in its last three games.
“We’ve got some good hitters, and we’ve got some guys who are getting the right hit at the right time,” Lemonis said. “He hit that ball pretty good. We’ve hit the ball pretty well with runners in scoring position, so that’s pretty exciting.”
