Sam Travis fouled off three pitches as he kept himself alive, maintaining a full count. On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, he drew a walk. That loaded the bases for Kyle Schwarber. The freshman catcher took a 1-0 pitch over the left-center field fence to give the Hoosiers a 7-4 lead in the fifth.
It was the first grand slam for the Hoosiers this season, and IU went on to win 10-5 at Thomas Stadium.
Left fielder Zach Thompson made an over-the-shoulder basket catch to rob junior first baseman Michael Basil in the fifth to prevent the Hoosiers from batting around in the frame.
It was plenty for Drew Leininger. The senior pitcher made his first start of the season, and he went 7.1 innings, allowing five runs - three earned - on six hits.
He allowed four runs - all via the home run - in the third inning, and IU trailed 4-1 after three.
Before Travis - a freshman third baseman - drew his team-leading seventh walk of the season, redshirt freshman right fielder Will Nolden began the inning with a walk. He advanced to second on a passed ball. Junior center fielder Justin Cureton drove him home with a double, and the Hoosiers trailed 4-2.
Freshman second baseman Chad Clark reached base on a fielder error by East Tennessee State University center fielder Matthew Scruggs. Junior designated hitter Trace Knoblauch singled. Travis strode to the plate.
Schwarber's slam ended the day of Buccaneers' starter Derek Bushey after four-plus innings.
It also put Leininger in line for the win. He retired the next 10 of 11 Buccaneers' hitters before first baseman Clinton Freeman singled. He would score the Buccaneers' final run of the game.
IU scored a run in three of the final four innings, allowing the Hoosiers to pick up their first win on the road.
Worth noting:
In his first two career starts, Will Nolden is hitting 4-7 (.571) with a walk.
Basil is hitting 1-6 with a walk in the series.
IU committed five errors this game. However, all four runs ETSU scored were earned.
ETSU scored two runs - including the game-winning run - with two outs.
Chad Clark was picked off second in the third; Cureton stole second in the eighth.
Here's Coach Smith's post-game tweet.
