IU travels to the West Coast this weekend to battle Cal State Fullerton (1-2), which dropped out of the rankings this week following its series loss on the road at Stanford. The former College World Series qualifiers are always a tough matchup and vigorous test early in the season.
“It’s a measuring-stick game,” IU Coach Chris Lemonis said. “It’s one of the best programs in the country. You’re building a resume every week, so hopefully we can get out there and play well and win some games.”
The Hoosiers look to return to their winning ways after pounding Middle Tennessee State in a 10-run victory to open the season but then losing the next two games in extra innings.
Fullerton’s pitching staff put the Titans in position to win each game last weekend by limiting runs and allowing few base runners. Fresno State transfer junior Blake Quinn has taken the reins as the ace of the Fullerton rotation, followed by sophomore John Gavin and freshman Colton Eastman.
Quinn and Gavin both pitched six strong innings, allowing two earned runs in their season debuts, while Eastman lasted 5.1 to win his first college appearance.
The offense was silent for the Titans in its first three games, scoring five runs with two extra base hits. Senior outfielder Josh Vargas, senior infielder Tanner Pinkston and sophomore infielder Tristan Hildebrant combined for 11 of Fullerton’s 18 hits.
Vargas is the top returning hitter from last season, posting a .332 average, but he lacks power. Fullerton’s lineup still yields a hole where former outfielder David Olmedo-Barrera, the team-leader in home runs in 2015, used to bat.
“Fullerton is coming off a really tough series with a great team in Stanford, and they’re going to be ticked off and aggravated just like we are,” senior pitcher Kyle Hart said. “I’m anticipating a really good series if both teams can improve upon their mistakes they made in the first weekend.”
IU’s starting pitching was exceptional in the series opener, but Lemonis said he would like to see them pitch at least one more inning. Hart tossed five scoreless innings while senior pitcher Evan Bell and senior pitcher Caleb Barager allowed two earned runs each through 4.1 and 5.1 innings, respectively.
Senior closer Jake Kelzer and junior right-hander Thomas Belcher, two of the more reliable arms in the Hoosier bullpen, were both tagged with a loss last weekend.
Kelzer lost the first game of the double header, tossing 2.2 innings while striking out four and allowing one unearned run. Belcher pitched 1.2 innings in the early game Saturday before pitching another 0.2 innings in game two of the double header for the loss.
“We’re just trying to figure them out a little bit,” Lemonis said. “We lost some key pieces, and we feel like we have some really key guys out there. We have a lot of talented guys, but we’re looking for guys who are going to give a consistent effort.”
IU’s offense will regain a quality bat this weekend with junior outfielder Alex Krupa, who is returning from suspension to make his Hoosier debut. Lemonis said Krupa could be a table-setter at the top of the lineup for junior outfielder Craig Dedelow and sophomore outfielder Logan Sowers.
“It’s going to be a good test to see how our program actually is,” Dedelow said. “I think we’re going to have a really good chance coming off a couple of losses. We’ll be more than ready for them.”
