Hey folks,
My trusty live feed broadcast just filled me in on a rather interesting situation in IU's game tonight against Fresno State.
It would appear that, up 8-0 in the top of the eighth, Josh Phegley stepped in and was promptly drilled in the back with a fastball from the Fresno State pitcher.
Tracy Smith came out to argue that the hit was intentional, and apparently things escalated into something of a bench-clearing affair. I hesitate to call it a brawl, seeing as I did not see it my own eyes. The one reliable piece of information I have is that Andrew Means did a good job of playing peacekeeper, despite some lusty objections from the Bulldogs' bench.
IU pitcher Chris McCombs did hit Fresno State batter Steve Detwiler in the bottom of the eighth, though no extracurricular activity occurred as a result.
Now, you can debate the intentionality of Fresno State's actions (I will point out that, when trying to hitting a batter, the back is an often-used target). And again, I can't speak to specifics, but it is fair to say things got a little warmer out in Cali than perhaps anyone anticipated before tonight's game.
It's currently 11-0 IU in the top of the ninth. The Hoosiers dropped their first two contests against Fresno State during their trip out west, and it wouldn't be too off-base to predict these two teams won't meet again any time soon, but I could very easily be wrong - it happens plenty.
We'll have a final wrap of the game in this space later, and we'll try to get with coach Smith some time in the next few days to discuss tonight and the Hoosiers' overall trip out west.
Until then, take it easy.
