WHAT HAPPENED:
In the final game of the Hoosiers' 20 straight road games to start the season, IU overcame early errors in a 6-4 victory over Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Check out the game story here.
WHAT IT MEANS:
After a disappointing start to the season, the Hoosiers (7-13) got important victory against the Colonels. It was important in two major ways.
First, the Hoosiers' (almost) month-long road trip that saw them go from St. Petersburg, Fla., through the Midwest (Johnson City, Tenn., Louisville, Ky. and Terre Haute, Ind.) and California (Northridge, San Diego, Los Angeles) is finally over. Wednesday's game signifies the beginning of a new season for IU. It's a season that actually has home games. Even more importantly, it is about to be the beginning of the Big Ten season--the time for a team to sink or swim.
Second, the victory was important for the Hoosiers to get some confidence and momentum going with the Big Ten season looming. IU coach Tracy Smith was very pleased to see the impact freshman left fielder Chris Sujka made after resting for a game. Sujka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two RBI, a walk and two runs. Jonny Hoffman came in to relieve starter Luke Harrison and worked his way out of a tough bases loaded no out situation in the fifth. Hoffman got the win and Matt Dearden got the save in the ninth.
Overall, it was a good team-win for the Hoosiers in a game that Coach Smith said IU "was fortunate to have won", but a home-and-home sweep of the Colonels Wednesday would give the team even more confidence going into the Big Ten season. You have to play the games on the schedule one at a time, so IU will take this win in hope of now starting a streak.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE HOOSIERS:
Wednesday, IU will finish their home-and-home series against Eastern Kentucky. It will be the Hoosiers' first home game of the season and it is also the last game before the Big Ten season, which starts Friday against Penn State.
The first home game of the year at Sembower Field is something all of the team's personnel has been waiting for--especially because this will be the final season at the field.
Here's what coach Tracy Smith had to say about playing 20 straight road games to start the season: "We went 20 straight games of people yelling nasty things to you from the stands," Smith said. "I know the guys will be very excited to finally get to play a game in front of their friends and family."
STAT OF THE GAME:
Including redshirt freshman Will Nolden, the Hoosiers had five freshmen position players (Chad Clark, Kyle Schwarber, Sam Travis, Chris Sujka, Nolden) start out of the possible eight. The freshmen went a combined to go 6-for-19 with 4 runs, 4 RBI and a walk, but more importantly combined to only strike out 4 times.
