Chris Sujka's first hit as a collegian propelled the Hoosiers to a 3-0 lead, and IU starter Joey DeNato made it stand up as the Hoosiers won their first game of the 2012 season 7-4.
IU held a 3-0 lead through six innings despite two hits off University of Cincinnati starter Andrew Strenge. One mistake cost him, as he hung a fastball to the freshman left fielder Sujka, who hit it over the left field fence.
Strenge allowed two-out walks to redshirt freshman right fielder Tim O'Connor and junior 1B Trace Knoblauch, allowing Sujka to come to the plate.
Sophomore shortstop Dustin DeMuth accounted for the only other hit Strenge allowed in his six innings of work.
IU got back on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh. Junior 2B Michael Basil led off with a single. O'Connor sacrificed him into scoring position. Knoblauch delivered a single to center, and Basil scored easily.
That run allowed DeNato to stay in line to pick up the win.
In the seventh, Cincinnati scored three runs to cut their deficit to one. Joey Bielek walked drew a walk against sophomore reliever Brian Korte to begin the inning. Sam Vandenheuvel reached on a fielding error by freshman third baseman Sam Travis. J.P. Jackson then put down a sacrifice bunt, allowing both runners to advance into scoring position. The Hoosiers ceded the run, electing instead to throw out Matt Williams at first.
Jake Proctor knocked in the second run with an RBI single to right. Justin Glass hit an RBI double. Travis threw out Kline to end the inning.
Each side was retired 1-2-3 in the eighth inning.
In the ninth, IU added three insurance runs. After Basil flied out to Ronald Cotton, O'Connor laced a double to left-center, picking up his first hit as a Hoosier. Junior first baseman Trace Knoblauch reached on a fielding error, and O'Connor advanced to third. He scored on a passed ball during Sujka's fourth at-bat. Sujka delivered an RBI single, scoring Knoblauch from second. Junior center fielder Justin Cureton delivered an RBI single, and Sujka crossed home plate to give IU a 7-3 lead.
Sophomore pitcher Aaron Slegers pitched the final 2 1/3 innings - allowing only one earned run in the ninth - to preserve the win for DeNato.
The sophomore from San Diego pitched six innings for IU. He allowed four hits (all were singles), walked two, and stranded all six base runners he permitted.
He struck out five.
The bullpen preserved the lead, DeNato picked up the win and IU even their record at 1-1.
The Hoosiers take on the Pittsburgh Panthers tomorrow afternoon at 1.
Worth noting
Though he went 1-3 on the day, Knoblauch reached base all four times: An RBI single, a walk and he reached twice via fielding errors.
IU stole two bases on this day. DeMuth was caught stealing second in the first inning. As a team, IU is 3-5 on the young season.
The Hoosiers hit 5-11 with runners in scoring position.
The team emphasized small ball. A sacrifice bunt was instrumental in scoring the fourth run for IU. They've been successful on both sacrifice bunts attempted this season.
The Hoosiers are now 4-4 all-time in the Big Ten - Big East Challenge.
