Michael Basil wasted no time.
On the first pitch, the junior shortstop laced a three-run double that bounced against the bottom of the left-center field fence.
Basil's second extra-base hit gave the Hoosiers a 10-7 lead in the bottom of the seventh.
"Just get a pitch and drive it," he said. "Just get a base hit. Just needed a single, really. I was trying to put the bat on the ball. He threw me a fastball right down the middle of the plate on the first pitch and I hit it hard (to) left-center."
Sophomore second baseman Dustin DeMuth - owner of a .186 batting average - got things started in the frame with a ground-rule double to center field. Junior center fielder Justin Cureton bunted for a base hit against Iowa starter Jarred Hippen, advancing DeMuth to third.
Freshman catcher Kyle Schwarber popped up to the first baseman.
Freshman reliever Andrew Hanse came in to relieve Hippen. Cureton stole second, his 12th stolen base of the season, placing him fourth in the conference. Hanse responded, as he struck out sophomore designated hitter Dillon Dooney.
The Hoosiers were at risk of wasting a golden opportunity. Hanse intentionally walked freshman first baseman Sam Travis to load the bases. (This is pure speculation on my part, as I forgot to ask about this, but Cureton's theft denied the Hawkeyes an opportunity to turn a conventional double play. I don't think they walk Travis if Cureton was standing on first.)
It was the second time an opponent had issued an intentional free pass to bring Basil to the plate.
Basil delivered the game-winning hit. With two outs, no less.
"The first time, I kind of understood it a little bit more," Basil said. "This time, I was a little more jacked up, I guess. Took it a little bit personally, and wanted to show it to 'em -- make 'em pay for it."
Travis's walk was - perhaps - made possible by Cureton.
"That was a big play, actually," Travis said. "If he was out there, there'd be a guy on third, one out? He's got a lot of speed. That was good for us."
The Hoosiers' victory placed them in sole possession of first place - for about two hours. Junior reliever Jonny Hoffman earned the win, his second, as he pitched three innings of shutout baseball, allowing only four hits.
Coach Tracy Smith said Basil's hit was quite significant.
"I don't think there was a bigger hit in the season up to this point than the Mike Basil hit, given the fact you have a conference game, home opener, the score's tied, you have a runner at third, nobody (out)," he said. "Next thing you turn around, there's a runner at third, two outs.
"That was a huge hit for us."
Worth noting
After committing five errors Tuesday against Xavier, the Hoosiers committed zero on this day. Travis said it was "great for our team" that they committed zero errors, and it "kept us in the game." Smith said his team had a good practice yesterday, and had committed an error - or more - while being aggressive, "I still would've been pleased with how we go about it."
Joey DeNato was human. He allowed five runs - all earned - on eight hits in four innings. Basil said it was "huge" that his team was able to pick up DeNato. (Of course the wind was a factor. Smith joked that even the Herald-Times' Dustin Dopirak would've been able to hit one out today.)
Travis and Basil, the No. 4 and 5 hitters, respectively, had nine of the Hoosiers' 10 RBIs.
Travis said the team sometimes calls Sembower "Windbower"
