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(09/03/09 4:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After battling a leg injury for the past two years, IU senior running back Demetrius McCray wondered if he would ever have the chance to reach his full potential. Now he has that opportunity. McCray was named the starter for today’s matchup against Eastern Kentucky after a tough competition this offseason for the top backfield spot. He will be followed by freshman Darius Willis, junior Trea Burgess and senior Bryan Payton in a four-player rotation. “It’s totally different out here now than it was the last two years, as far as my ability to run the ball,” McCray said. “But at the end of the day, I have not proved anything yet. I want to go out there on game day and really show what I can do.”Hoosier fans had a glimpse of McCray during the first three games of 2007, in which he ran for 138 yards on only 22 carries. He returned last season but was not the same. McCray garnered a meager 214 yards on 59 attempts in 2008, and his yards per carry average dropped from 6.2 to 3.6. This offseason, he had surgery to repair the sprained leg.Payton said he noticed a new and improved McCray, now healthy, in the second week of camp.“He made some moves I had not seen since 2005,” Payton said. “He would make a jump cut that would have everyone looking silly. I hadn’t seen that in a few years and for him to come out here and do that, I was like ‘ah, he’s back.’”But while McCray earned the No. 1 spot on the depth chart, IU football coach Bill Lynch said the current rankings do not play a major factor in the amount of playing time for each running back.“Trea Burgess and Darius Willis are both the bangers, and if we’re going to have success running the football, we’re going to have to get the tough yards when we need to in those down-and-distance situations,” Lynch said. “Bryan Payton is pretty darn good, and he gives you something too ... I would think they are all going to play.”And with a wide variety of talent in the backfield, the Hoosiers decided to implement a new offense that would better cater to their style of play.“The Pistol,” an offensive scheme that combines the shotgun and I-formation, has the quarterback line up about four yards behind the center with the running back three or four yards behind him. Compared to the traditional shotgun formation (where the running back is next to the quarterback), the new offensive system enables the rushers to see the play better and attack the line of scrimmage with more momentum.“It allows that back to see the blocks being developed and also allows him to get north and south a lot faster,” Dennis Springer, IU running back coach, said. “They have responded to it very well.”All four running backs will be utilized in different ways this season and may be the most important factor in the Hoosiers’ success this fall.“It’s going to be a good rotation,” Willis said. “When you get in, you just have to make the most of the opportunity. We are all talented and have different abilities, but the goal is to go out there and win as a team. That’s what we are going to do.”
(08/31/09 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU senior defensive end Greg Middleton has heard enough.Enough of the talk about his drop in statistics and rankings. Enough of the talk of his team being at the bottom of the Big Ten in almost every defensive category. And he’s ready to do something about it.“I definitely have something to prove,” Middleton said. “Pride is a big thing, and I just want to come out and play better than I did last year. I want to be a dominant player on the defensive side and create plays for my teammates.”Two seasons ago, Middleton was arguably the most dominant defensive player in the conference. He led the nation in total sacks with 16 and finished fifth in the Big Ten with 17 tackles for loss. But 2008 was a different story. Facing constant double teams, Middleton struggled to get to the quarterback last season. He finished the year with only four sacks and 18 tackles on a team that finished last in total defense in the conference.IU defensive ends coach George Ricumstrict said Middleton’s statistics were down partially because of how much the opposition focused on him.“When you lead the nation in sacks and put up the numbers he did, people are going to notice you,” Ricumstrict said. “They are going to design their blocking schemes to account for you. That might have frustrated him a little bit.”But with Middleton as the main attraction for opposing offenses, senior defensive tackle Jammie Kirlew emerged as a star last year. He earned second-team All-Big Ten and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award after recording 10.5 sacks and 74 tackles. Ricumstrict said Kirlew’s breakthrough season will force other teams to alter their strategies and prepare for the pass-rushing duo.“Now when teams start to game-plan for us, they will have to account for both of those guys,” Ricumstrict said. “They both can help each other out by having great years.”And for the Hoosiers to contend this fall, an improved defense is a necessity. Last year IU ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing defense, passing defense and scoring defense. Middleton worked each day this offseason on cardio, gaining strength in the weight room and becoming a leader off of the field. His lifting partner, Kirlew, said he does not expect a repeat story of 2008.“I don’t think he was himself during that time,” Kirlew said. “But this year it was real obvious because he was here all summer busting his butt and working hard. You can see the difference in his game, the difference in his focus and can tell he is ready to play and do big things this year.”On the other side of the ball, IU junior quarterback Ben Chappell said the change in Middleton from last season to now is clear.“I think Greg is a lot more focused,” Chappell said. “He knows that this is his time. He is going to come out here, work hard on every down and be the force that we know he can be.”
(08/28/09 4:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For IU football coach Bill Lynch, there is no place like home. Well, at least when his team does not have a game to play the next day. “On a college campus, particularly a Big Ten campus, it is busy on a Friday night,” Lynch said. “Whether they are in a residence hall or apartment in town, there are some distractions. It is nice to have them together and focused on what they have to do.”For years, the IU football team has stayed in a hotel on the night before a home game.Now, this might change. The Pacific-10 Conference recently proposed a measure that would not allow its football teams to stay in hotels the night before a home game. The cost-cutting rule will be voted on at a January NCAA convention in Atlanta. Depending on the verdict, other conferences might follow suit.IU stays in a team hotel in Bedford on Friday nights to avoid any possible disturbances on campus. The program pays $10,000 per week for rooms for all coaches, players and additional required personnel, according to IU media relations. “In this era, we should not dismiss any potential cost containment,” IU Athletic Director Fred Glass said. “But I do think there are some competitive advantages to having our team all together, away from the noise and disruptions of Friday nights on campus.” For senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew, the team’s time in Bedford gives the players an added benefit on the field. “I think you will have a better performance in the game,” Kirlew said. “It’s important to get away, get your mind set and be focused. I’m sure they have economic reasons why they shouldn’t, but if it’s possible, it is very important to do it.”The players are using their time for mental preparation. Chris Carr, sport and performance psychologist for IU athletics, works with the team each week to get the players’ minds ready for the gridiron. “On Friday nights, we have what he calls a ‘focus session’ where we get together and try to visualize plays that we are going to see tomorrow,” junior quarterback Ben Chappell said. “We realize that the mental part of the game is huge. It’s not just going out there and banging heads.”Senior defensive end Greg Middleton said the extra time shared with players is crucial for success and adds a bonding experience. “You get to be with your teammates before the game,” Middleton said. “That builds camaraderie and helps us focus more. We are all together in a quiet place away from everything. That’s how it should be.”
(05/08/09 2:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When IU senior outfielder and New York native Chris Hervey stepped foot on the Bloomington campus for the first time, he described it as a “culture shock.” Four years later, there is no place he would rather be. “I had heard it was going to be different (in the Midwest), but you don’t really know until you get out here and experience it,” Hervey said. “Coming from Long Island, everyone is trying to do 100 things at once, but here it was not the case at all. In the end, it all worked out really well. I could not ask for anything more.” His fellow senior teammate and three-year roommate, pitcher Joe Vicini, will also be ending his collegiate career this season.Though Hervey initially had a tough adjustment to the town because of its laid-back nature, Vicini had the opposite problem. “It really was not that much of a change for me, because I was moving into a much bigger area,” Vicini, from Rural Valley, Pa., said. “I came from a really small town in Western Pennsylvania and (going to school in Bloomington) was a change. Any time you go from one culture to another, it’s going to be different.”On the season, Hervey is batting .288 with 30 hits and 12 RBI. Vicini, hampered with injuries since March, has only taken the mound three times.But while the two seniors may not be the most potent players on the field, IU coach Tracy Smith said their contributions to the team have been immeasurable. “I can’t say enough about these two kids,” Smith said. “Hervey’s a very emotional guy, a fun guy to coach, because he brings a lot of energy every single day to the ballpark. (Vicini) always wanted the baseball. He was never a guy we questioned (putting) in tough situations, to get the job done.”Looking back on their careers as Hoosiers, both players said last year’s magical run in the Big Ten Tournament was one of the most memorable moments in their four years. In that post-season, IU made it to the semi-final round after a first-round loss, before falling to rival Purdue in the end.Vicini said after he graduates from IU, he might be working for a Pittsburgh-area sports team in the marketing and sales department. Eventually, he would like to use his sports communication degree to find a job in the broadcast industry. Hervey, though he has used his four years of eligibility, will be on campus next year taking classes in the fall and as a student teacher in the spring. He said after graduation, he sees himself working in the sport of baseball.For Hervey and Vicini, their future career endeavors will always be there. Now it is time for baseball.IU (22-24) has a Big Ten record of 11-6 and currently sits in fourth place in the conference standings. The post-season tournament will begin May 20 in Columbus, Ohio. “Joe and Chris are guys who love the game, and that just rubs off on all of us,” junior pitcher Eric Arnett said. “They’ve seen this team change a lot over their four years, going from last place to competing for a championship, and we want to send them out on top.”
(05/04/09 3:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Down 3-2 in the eighth inning Sunday against Purdue, junior outfielder Evan Crawford stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs.Though he swung for the fences, the hard-hit fly ball was caught in center field to end the Hoosiers’ best offensive chance to win the game and earn their fifth consecutive Big Ten series.The 5-2 loss for IU was the second in three games against the Boilermakers and dropped the Hoosiers’ record to 22-24, 11-6 in the conference.“Our starting pitching and defense is what has been carrying us through the Big Ten season,” IU assistant coach Ty Neal said. “I would say we were not sharp as a whole this weekend.” Because of inclement weather Friday afternoon in West Lafayette, IU played a doubleheader Saturday at Lambert Stadium.In the first matchup, the Hoosiers fell by a score of 15-8 after five different pitchers could not contain the Purdue offense. Freshman starter Blake Monar pitched four and one-third innings, giving up four earned runs and six hits. The loss went to sophomore Joey O’Gara, who allowed three earned runs and five hits in one and two-thirds innings. Freshmen pitchers Wyatt Hoff and Drew Leininger and junior pitcher Chris Squires closed the game out with a combined six earned runs given up. Despite 12 total team hits and a breakout game by freshman third baseman Vince Gonzalez – who had two hits, a run and three RBI – IU could not overcome the large deficit. Immediately following the loss, junior pitcher Eric Arnett took the mound and earned his Big Ten-leading 10th victory of the year as the Hoosiers took care of the Boilermakers, 7-6. The right-hander threw all nine innings, giving up six earned runs on 10 hits. The pivotal play of the game for IU came in the top of the eighth inning. With the game tied 6-6 and two outs, sophomore first baseman Jerrud Sabourin stepped to the plate and smashed a solo home run over the right field wall. In the final inning, Arnett struck out three of five Purdue batters to secure the victory. While the Hoosiers swung the bat well on Saturday, Sunday’s loss was a different story.Only five IU players managed a hit against Purdue starter Matt Morgan, and the Hoosiers did not score their first run until the seventh inning. In that inning, freshman designated hitter Alex Dickerson came home after Crawford reached first base on a fielder’s choice. A throwing error to first base allowed Crawford to score two batters later.Junior Matt Bashore picked up the loss after giving up four earned runs on eight hits. Sabourin said the lack of production at the plate was partially because of effective pitching by the Boilermakers.“The Purdue pitchers did a great job of mixing it up and threw a lot of off-speed pitches,” he said. “Today we just could not hit it as well as we usually do. Hopefully we see them in the (Big Ten) tournament, and the outcome will be different.”For Arnett, the series loss was not only important because it was a conference game, but also because it came against the Boilermakers. “Every loss hurts, but when it’s against your rival it hits home a little bit more,” he said. “We just have to keep that same mind-set we have had all year and go out and do our thing.”
(05/01/09 3:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When the Hoosiers take the field this weekend against Purdue in West Lafayette, one thing will be on their minds: getting even. After all, not only are the Boilermakers major rivals, but they were also the team to end IU’s storied run in the Big Ten tournament last season. The three-game conference battle will begin at 4 p.m. Friday at Lambert Field. “We are looking for revenge,” sophomore outfielder Brian Lambert said. “I have been here for three years and it is getting more and more heated every year. Throw the records out because it is going to be a tough series, and it’s good to have momentum going into it.” This added confidence stems from a dominant 17-2 victory against Western Illinois on Wednesday, in which sophomore pitcher Joey O’Gara pitched a no-hitter and 12 Hoosiers reached base. In addition, IU has not lost a Big Ten series this season.Two players who emerged this week as key offensive threats are Lambert and freshman Josh Lyon. Lambert tied a school record for hits in a single game with five against Western Illinois. In his last two games, Lyon has five hits, three runs and four RBI. IU coach Tracy Smith said he is proud of the way both players have stepped up as of late. “Brian has been swinging the bat really well lately for us, so to see him get five hits was really great,” Smith said. “With Josh, it’s been tough to get him playing time, so we were really glad that he responded with some really hard-hit balls, too.”Freshman Blake Monar (4-3) will take the mound Friday to face Purdue ace Matt Bischoff (3-4). Junior pitchers Eric Arnett (9-1) and Matt Bashore (4-3) will face the Boilermakers on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. At Purdue, the Hoosiers will take on a team that is 18-21 on the season and 5-9 in the conference. Despite the losing record, 10 players have a batting average higher than .300. Outfielder Brandon Haveman leads the Boilermakers in average (.392) and hits (49). O’Gara said the matchup in West Lafayette is crucial for team momentum. “It’s definitely a rivalry in baseball,” he said. “We need to pitch and play defense like we have the last couple of weekends. We have to keep it going.”
(04/30/09 4:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sometimes, teams are just overmatched.Just ask Western Illinois, which was dominated in all aspects of Wednesday’s 17-2 loss to the Hoosiers at Sembower Field. IU scored 13 runs in the first two innings against Western Illinois. Sophomore pitcher Joey O’Gara (2-2) earned the win after throwing a no-hitter in five innings. He had six strikeouts and did not walk a batter on the afternoon.“The biggest thing today was that I had my slider working,” O’Gara said. “I had good plays behind me. (The early runs) allowed me to focus on throwing it up and into the zone.”After O’Gara’s dominating performance, freshmen pitchers Wyatt Hoff and Marshall Gorham took the hill and gave up only two earned runs and six hits to close the game.While the relievers pitched well, IU coach Tracy Smith raved about O’Gara’s day on the mound. “Joey did a great job of coming there and setting the tone right away and throwing strikes,” Smith said. “When your offense jumps out to a lead like that in the first inning, it’s very important that your pitcher bears down like it’s a 0-0 game.”The Hoosier bats were just as impressive against the Leathernecks.Sophomore centerfielder Brian Lambert tied the IU record for most hits in a single game, with five. Freshman catcher Josh Lyon added to the offensive attack with three hits, three runs and four RBI. IU began its scoring onslaught in the first inning. Lambert singled on the fifth pitch of the game to shallow left field and followed with a stolen base. Sophomore first baseman Jerrud Sabourin had a similar hit to left field, driving in Lambert from second base and providing a 1-0 lead. After a walk by junior catcher Josh Phegley, freshman left fielder Alex Dickerson hit a three-run homer to left field. The Hoosiers added to their total in the second inning behind seven hits and three errors by Western Illinois.Lyon, junior shortstop Jake Dunning, and Lambert led off with a trio of singles. Sabourin’s deep sacrifice fly ball in the next at-bat allowed Lyon to tag from third base. With the bases loaded, a pair of sacrifice fly balls by Dickerson and sophomore outfielder Kipp Schutz brought in two more Hoosier runs. A single by senior outfielder Chris Hervey drove Phegley in for an 8-0 advantage.After a Leatherneck pitching change, Lyon doubled down the right-field line and a throwing error allowed IU to score junior second baseman Tyler Rogers, Hervey and Dickerson. Three more IU runs would score in the inning, pushing IU’s lead to 13-0 to end the second inning. “We had good approaches today,” Lambert said. “We saw balls up and took good swings on them. Anytime you do that, you have a good chance of winning.”IU focused on its defense for the remainder of the game and only allowed two runs to score – both came in the sixth inning. While Western Illinois struggled at the plate, IU had ten different players tally a hit on the afternoon. “Guys swung the bat well, got pitches to hit and did something with it,” Smith said of the offense. “It’s good to get guys feeling good about themselves before we head into the Purdue series.”
(04/24/09 2:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For IU assistant coach Ty Neal, the matchup between the Hoosiers and Big Ten foe Michigan this weekend can be summed up in one word: battle.“Michigan knows how to win and have a great tradition,” he said. “We are facing (Michigan senior pitcher Chris) Fetter, who quite frankly could have been the pitcher of the year in the conference last year. It’s going to be three good pitching matchups.”IU (18-20, 8-3) travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., on Friday for the beginning of a three-game series against the Wolverines (22-17, 5-7). The opening contest, which will begin at 6:35 p.m., features a pitchers duel between IU freshman Blake Monar and Fetter. Junior pitchers Eric Arnett and Matt Bashore will take the mound Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Michigan, the defending conference champion, was chosen by many in the pre-season to win the Big Ten again. Though currently tied for sixth place in the conference standings, the Wolverines have taken two of their last three games.A major reason for Michigan’s recent success has been Fetter’s pitching. The Carmel, Ind., native is third in the Big Ten with an ERA of 2.07 and boasts a 5-1 record.In addition, Fetter will be on two weeks’ rest when he faces the Hoosiers on Friday. “He throws from a couple of arm angles and can bring it up in the low 90s,” junior second baseman Tyler Rogers said. “He’s a very good pitcher and one of the best in the conference. Being an Indiana boy at Michigan, we would like to put it to him a little bit.”Rogers is one IU player who could do damage against the Wolverines. The Lafayette, Ind., native, who had two home runs against Indiana State on Wednesday, is batting .349 this season. In his past five games Rogers has eight hits, five runs scored and seven RBI. Junior catcher Josh Phegley said Rogers’ recent play has been monumental for the team. “He has gone up there ready to hit,” he said. “Defensively he has been solid for us all year long. The way he comes to the field everyday, you know what you are going to get out of him.”Monar (4-2) is coming off a no decision last week against Penn State, in which he gave up nine hits and seven earned runs in four and two-thirds innings. Neal said he expects Monar to get back on track against the Wolverines on Friday. “Last week he didn’t have his best stuff,” Neal said of the 9-7 loss. “His biggest asset is the competitive spirit that he possesses. He’s a big game guy, and he will be ready.”
(04/23/09 3:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Not even two home runs by junior second baseman Tyler Rogers were enough for the Hoosiers on Wednesday as they fell 7-4 to Indiana State at Sembower Field. The loss drops IU’s record to 18-20 on the year.Early poor pitching by freshman Wyatt Hoff forced the Hoosiers to battle from behind the entire game. Hoff (1-2) pitched four innings, giving up nine hits and six earned runs. IU assistant coach Ty Neal said the main reason for the loss was a lack of hitting with runners in scoring position. “I thought we hit some balls hard but with nobody on,” he said. “We didn’t get a ball in play or a big hit throughout the game when we needed it.”The pivotal point of the afternoon for the Sycamores came in the fourth inning. Tied 2-2 with the bases loaded, Indiana State outfielder Ryan Strausborger singled to shallow right field to score catcher Bronco Lafrenz. The Sycamores’ right fielder Kyle Burnam hit into an RBI fielder’s choice, allowing first baseman Joe Meggs to come home. Indiana State’s next batter, left fielder Brady Shoemaker, singled to right field to score shortstop Ben Ferrell. Burnam scored from third base after outfielder Nick Ciolli singled to left field to take give the Sycamores a 6-2 advantage.Down five runs after a Strausborger home run in the sixth inning, Rogers stepped to the plate hoping to reduce the 7-2 deficit. Despite heavy wind blowing toward right field, the Lafayette native crushed the ball past the center field wall for a solo home run. Rogers added to the Hoosiers’ score again in the eighth inning with another home run to center field, cutting the Indiana State lead to only three. “My first two at-bats kind of got off on my front toe a little bit,” Rogers said after the game. “When I came up for my third and fourth at-bat, I wanted to stay back and let the ball get deep. The greatest thing about that memory-wise is I probably have not hit two home runs in one game since I was about 12 years old.”Trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, IU put itself in position to make a late comeback attempt. With sophomore outfielder Brian Lambert on third base and sophomore first baseman Jerrud Sabourin on first base, freshman left fielder Alex Dickerson stepped to the plate with two outs.The Hoosiers’ top home run hitter, Dickerson swung for the fences but came up just short, flying out to Indiana State’s Strausborger in center field just shy of the warning track. Despite the loss, junior catcher Josh Phegley said his team is still thinking positively before an important conference series against Michigan this weekend. “Last year we split two of four with them, and we have a better squad this year,” he said. “I would stack our three starters against anybody else’s. I think we will be just as confident going into this weekend than any other one.”
(04/20/09 3:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU coach Bill Lynch stressed last week the importance of an improved rushing attack.The Hoosiers’ renewed emphasis on the backfield was evident Saturday afternoon, as Demetrius McCray and Darius Willis led the Crimson team to a 28-27 win in the Spring Game. McCray rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown, while Willis added 80 yards and a touchdown of his own.The Cream team’s running backs were equally impressive in the four 12-minute quarters. Junior running back Trea Burgess rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and senior running back Bryan Payton gained 47 yards on the ground.“We’re getting a lot better,” Willis said. “The blocking has been good, we were reading our keys good, and the running backs are just playing tough right now. Everybody wants the rock, but we are just going to go out there and work as a team.”IU junior quarterback Ben Chappell was 14-22 with two touchdowns and 205 yards in the air for the Cream team.The first score in the game came with 4:03 remaining in the opening quarter. McCray took a handoff from sophomore quarterback Teddy Schell and scampered four yards to the left portion of the end zone for a touchdown. Chappell responded with 4:47 left in the second quarter, tying the game with his 5-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Troy Wagner.The Crimson team entered halftime with a 14-7 lead after Willis scored from 17 yards out with 3:36 remaining.While the third quarter had little offensive firepower, the fourth was a different story.On the first play from scrimmage, Crimson freshman quarterback Adam Follett threw a 30-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Damarlo Belcher for a touchdown and a 14-point advantage.The Cream team evened the score at 21 after Burgess rushed for two touchdowns of 30 and 35 yards.With 1:01 remaining in the game, Schell threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Chris Banks for a 28-21 lead.Just 18 seconds later, Chappell connected with Payton down the right sideline for a 48-yard touchdown and a chance to send the game into overtime. But rather than kick the field goal, the Cream team elected to try for a two-point conversion run by Burgess.Tackled almost immediately after he received the ball, Burgess and the Cream team failed to score and fell one point short of a victory.Despite his team’s loss, Chappell said he was pleased with how both teams looked Saturday.“I think we have improved a lot this spring on offense, and we have to keep going this summer,” he said. “The line played great, and we ran the ball really good. All of those guys up front have improved, and I feel really comfortable with them all.”One noticeable difference from last year’s team is a much-improved offensive line. The improved protection allowed Crimson running backs to gain 181 yards on the ground and 138 for the Cream.Belcher, who had 82 yards receiving and a touchdown, said the offensive line’s protection led to a high-scoring game.“We only had 10 linemen, and they played the whole game without breaks,” he said. “(The offensive line) has improved a lot since last year. They got stronger, faster, worked hard during the offseason and came out here and proved it today.”Lynch said Chappell has made great strides during the offseason and looked sharp during the Spring Game.“He’s such a smart guy, and it translates on the field,” Lynch said of his quarterback. “He sees all 11 on defense, and there are few I have ever coached that have the ability to do that.”
(04/18/09 10:42pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On a warm and sunny afternoon at Memorial Stadium, the Crimson defeated the Cream 28-27 in the IU football Spring Game. Crimson sophomore quarterback Teddy Schell threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Chris Banks with 1:01 remaining in the game to secure the victory.Leading the Crimson was the running back tandem of senior Demetrius McCray and freshman Darius Willis. McCray rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown while Willis added 80 yards and a touchdown. Additional offensive production for the Crimson came from sophomore wide receiver Damarlo Belcher. The Fort Wayne native made six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.For the Cream, junior quarterback Ben Chappell was 14-22 with 205 yards in the air and two touchdowns. Junior running back Trea Burgess made a significant impact on the ground, rushing for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
(04/17/09 3:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU baseball coach Tracy Smith does not take the phrase “defense wins championships” lightly.“The turning point for us was when we started pitching the baseball and settling in defensively,” he said of his team’s recent four-game win streak. “Good pitching is contagious.”The Hoosiers (16-17) are currently tied for first place in the Big Ten and look to continue their conference reign when they face Penn State at 3 p.m. Friday at Sembower Field. Freshman Blake Monar will pitch game 1, followed by juniors Eric Arnett and Matt Bashore on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.Since the 12-5 loss to Minnesota on March 27, IU has won nine of its last 11 games.Sophomore first baseman Jerrud Sabourin credits improved pitching for his team’s recent success.“All three starters had great performances last weekend, and our relief was good,” he said. “It gives us a lot of confidence, and we will be ready to go this weekend. You can’t really ask for anything else.”One of those starting pitchers, Monar, continued his strong season with a dominant complete game against Iowa last Friday.Against the Hawkeyes, the Rockport, Ind., native (4-2) earned the win after allowing only two earned runs and striking out nine.“I had one bad start against Minnesota, and that was really the only bad outing that I have had,” he said. “I have been doing the same that I have all year. (Against Iowa) it felt good to win, but we still have a lot of work to do and are not satisfied yet.”The next test for IU will be against a Nittany Lion team that is 20-14 overall and 5-5 in the conference. Penn State freshman Jordan Steranka leads the team in batting average and hits.One player Smith immediately mentioned as a tough competitor is Penn State senior pitcher T.J. Macy. The right hander, who is slated to pitch Friday afternoon, is 2-2 this season with a 3.20 ERA.“He is as good as there is in the league,” Smith said of Macy. “You are not going to get a lot of good pitches to hit, so when you do, you have to take advantage of it. We have to continue to get better, our bullpen has to develop and understand as a team that even though we are in first place, there is a lot of baseball left to play.”
(04/15/09 4:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a three-game sweep of Iowa this past weekend, IU coach Tracy Smith stressed the importance of weekday games to future success. “We need to pitch better and play better defense during midweek,” he said. “I was a little disappointed with how we have thrown the ball during the midweek games, and those guys need to improve and come up with a better performance. I’d like to see these guys show that we can have the confidence to use them on the weekend.” IU looks to build on a four-game win streak at 3 p.m. today in Muncie when they take on Ball State (15-15). The Hoosiers (16-17) are currently tied for first place in the Big Ten with a 6-2 conference record. Hoping to answer Smith’s challenge against the Cardinals is sophomore pitcher Joey O’Gara. The Cincinnati native is 1-2 this season with a 7.89 ERA in nine appearances. Though he had a rough start early on, O’Gara is coming off of a win April 1 against Cincinnati in which he allowed only three hits and struck out three in three innings. Along with O’Gara, Smith said sophomore pitcher Matt Carr and junior pitcher Chris Squires might also make appearances against Ball State. Carr is 1-3 with an ERA of 4.91 while Squires is 1-1 with an ERA of 4.73.Outside of the solid starting pitching this weekend by freshman Blake Monar and juniors Eric Arnett and Matt Bashore, one hitter that had a breakout series against the Hawkeyes was sophomore outfielder Kipp Schutz. In the away game in Iowa City, Iowa, Schutz had five hits, four RBI and scored two runs. The Evansville native credited a different approach at the plate for his recent success. “We didn’t have a ton of hits, but we got the hits when we needed them and drove in the runs,” Schutz said. “I was staying through the ball a little bit more. I just needed to start driving balls, and I was able to do that this weekend.” In the Cardinals, the Hoosiers will face a team that is currently on a three-game losing streak. Ball State junior center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker leads the team in batting average, hits and runs. Bashore said the latest victories have helped bring a more upbeat attitude to the clubhouse. “Right now we feel that we are in good position,” he said. “We know what we want and are going to keep after it, trying to get that Big Ten Championship.”
(04/13/09 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With eight returning players who batted at least .300 last season, the IU baseball team entered 2009 certain that hitting would be its biggest strength. But it was superb pitching against Iowa this weekend by freshman Blake Monar, junior Eric Arnett and junior Matt Bashore that allowed the Hoosiers to sweep the conference series in Iowa City, Iowa.“They were outstanding,” IU coach Tracy Smith said. “To get two complete games (by Monar and Arnett) and for Bashore to take it into the ninth, it is a heck of a job by all three of those guys. They really carried the burden for us this weekend.”Smith’s team is 16-17 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers are tied with Minnesota for first place in the conference.On Friday, Monar’s complete game effort on the mound led the Hoosiers to a 6-2 victory against the Hawkeyes. The Rockport, Ind., native moved to 4-2 on the season after giving up only two earned runs and throwing nine strikeouts.The first IU run came in the second inning after junior second baseman singled to center to drive sophomore outfielder Kipp Schutz home from second base. The run tied the game at 1-1. Schutz contributed again in the sixth inning, as his single to center field scored junior catcher Josh Phegley and sophomore first baseman Jerrud Sabourin.A two-RBI triple by Sabourin in the ninth inning cemented the first win of the series for IU.Arnett’s good start to the season continued Saturday in a 5-1 win. Arnett improved to 7-1 (3-0 in the Big Ten) after pitching the full nine innings, giving up only one earned run and two hits while striking out 11 Hawkeye batters. Phegley began the Hoosier attack in the fourth inning with a one-run home run, tying the game at 1-1. Later that inning with Rogers and Schutz on base, junior outfielder Evan Crawford singled to drive both players home.In the eighth inning, freshman DH Alex Dickerson knocked a double down the right-field line, scoring Phegley. Rogers hit into a fielder’s choice, reaching first base and bringing home Dickerson two batters later.The final game of the series Sunday proved to be crucial for the confidence of Bashore, who started the season 1-3 after being selected first-team All-Big Ten in 2008. The left-hander helped lead the Hoosiers to an 8-4 win after giving up only two earned runs and six hits in eight and one-third innings pitched. Bashore also struck out 10 batters.“We made them beat us instead of beating ourselves this weekend,” Bashore said. “I have just been doing a better job of getting the ball down and working the corners. I have executed pitches better and have been getting the results.”Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, freshman third baseman Vince Gonzalez singled to bring home Crawford. Later that inning, Gonzalez scored after a Phegley pop fly was dropped by the Iowa second baseman. With senior outfielder Chris Hervey on second base, Dickerson hit an RBI single to make the score 3-1.In the fifth inning, Hervey scored from third base after a wild pitch by Iowa senior Nick Erdman.The Hoosiers scored four more runs after the sixth inning to clinch the series sweep.For Schutz, the wins this weekend against Iowa were crucial for future success.“We got a few hits in timely situations, and our pitchers went out and threw well for us,” he said. “We just went out this weekend and played ball. Our confidence is at a high right now.”
(04/08/09 4:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Freshman pitcher Drew Leininger entered Tuesday’s game against
Louisville with hopes of earning his first collegiate victory.
Unfortunately, all did not go as planned.
Leininger (0-2) gave up nine runs on nine hits after just three and
one-third innings on the mound. The rough start early on for IU (12-17)
resulted in a dominant 15-1 win for the Cardinals (21-9). IU coach
Tracy Smith summed up the reason of his team’s loss in one word:
“pitching.”
“We didn’t pitch well,” Smith said after the game. “We got to do a
better job in our midweek stuff of getting more quality out of some of
those guys. (Leininger) was up in the strike zone today and got hit
around.”
IU fell behind early, with seven runs scored by Louisville in the first
two innings. In the first inning, Louisville sophomore left fielder
Phil Wunderlich began the offensive attack with a triple down the
left-field line, scoring junior first baseman Andrew Clark. A single by
freshman third baseman Ryan Wright scored Wunderlich. Later in the
inning, senior shortstop John Dao singled to left center field to bring
Wright home.
More trouble came for the Hoosiers in the second inning. Louisville
sophomore right fielder Josh Richmond doubled to left center field,
scoring senior designated hitter Alec Lowrey. Two batters later, Clark
brought home Richmond and junior second baseman Adam Duvall with a
three-run home run.
Louisville added to its total with two runs scored in the fourth inning and six more after the sixth inning.
“It just seemed like we couldn’t get anything by them,” sophomore
catcher Dylan Swift said of Louisville’s hitting. “Whenever we made a
mistake, they took advantage of it. They just pounded it.”
While Louisville generated plenty of offense at Jim Patterson Stadium,
IU struggled to get on base. Of the 17 Hoosier players with an at-bat,
only five recorded a hit.
IU’s lone run came in the eighth inning, as sophomore first baseman
Kipp Schutz’s RBI single to right field scored sophomore center fielder
Brian Lambert.
The Hoosiers will have a chance to redeem themselves at 4 p.m. today as
they take on Valparaiso at Sembower Field. The Crusaders are 10-14 on
the season and are currently on a two-game losing streak.
“It stings a little bit to lose 15-1,” senior outfielder Chris Hervey
said. “In the grand scheme of things, it’s not that big of a deal ...
it’s baseball. We can come out tomorrow against Valparaiso, beat them
and feel good going into the weekend.”
(04/03/09 4:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A tough three-game road trip begins Friday for the IU baseball team, as the Hoosiers face conference-leading Illinois at 7:05 p.m. in Champaign, Ill. The Fighting Illini boast a 17-5 record this season and are a perfect 8-0 at home. They have won their last five matchups, including a three-game sweep of Big Ten opponent Michigan State. While Illinois has been playing well as of late, so has IU. In their last three games, all victories, the Hoosiers have outscored their opponents by a three-to-one margin. “It’s been a long time coming,” said senior outfielder Chris Hervey about his team’s recent offensive production. “We are a better hitting team than we have shown this year."Last week, IU coach Tracy Smith changed part of the starting lineup and certain field positions, hoping a new look would revitalize the then-slumping Hoosiers. The biggest difference has been a move from third base to shortstop for junior Jake Dunning. Not only has Dunning played well defensively since the move last Saturday against Minnesota, but the Orange Park, Fla., native has also contributed greatly to the Hoosiers’ run support. In the last two games, Dunning has had seven hits, five RBI and four runs scored. He is currently on a 12-game hit streak. IU junior catcher Josh Phegley said the team is confident Smith’s changes are for the better. “(Smith) has made a few changes here and there, but I think some injuries kind of set us back,” he said. “We trust that what he is doing is right for the team and gives us the best possibility to win.”In the Fighting Illini, IU will take on a team that has eight players with batting averages higher than .300. Hitting will be a challenge as well, with the Illinois starting rotation having a combined record of 13-1. IU will start freshman pitcher Blake Monar on Friday. He is coming off of a tough 12-5 loss to Minnesota on March 27, and is 2-2 on the season with a 4.88 ERA. Junior pitchers Eric Arnett (5-1) and Matt Bashore (1-3) will take the mound Saturday and Sunday, respectively. “Right now we just need to believe that we’re going to win every time we step on the field,” Smith said. “Rolling into the Illinois game with some wins under our belt isn’t going to hurt.”
(04/02/09 4:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After his team’s 3-2 win against Minnesota last Saturday, junior catcher Josh Phegley said his biggest concern was a lack of early scoring in games. His teammates responded against Cincinnati on Wednesday night, as the Hoosiers scored five runs in the first inning en route to a 16-4 victory. The win was IU’s third in a row and brings their season record to 10-15.Sophomore pitcher Joey O’Gara (1-2) earned his first win of the year after giving up only one earned run in three innings. “It was just one of those days where everything came together,” sophomore first baseman Jerrud Sabourin said after the game. “Their pitcher was having some problems throwing strikes, and we took advantage of that. We hit the ball all over the field during that first inning, so it’s a good sign.”The first inning saw plenty of offensive firepower from the Hoosiers. Senior outfielder Chris Hervey scored the first run when freshman outfielder Alex Dickerson hit an RBI single into left field. Junior shortstop Jake Dunning followed with an RBI single to center field to score Sabourin. Dickerson later scored after junior left fielder Michael Earley doubled down the left-field line. Dunning and Earley also scored later that inning. Rogers gave his team a 6-4 lead when he hit his second home run of the year in the fourth inning. The Hoosiers further extended their lead, scoring 10 more runs in the final three innings. Hervey said the hitting-pitching combination made the victory one of the Hoosiers’ best of the still-young season. “It has been a while since we have had a game like that,” he said. “(O’Gara) basically did it all. He came in, threw strikes and got ahead. We are now on a little roll going into a fairly important Big Ten weekend against a good Illinois team.”With the Big Ten season now in full swing, the recent winning streak could not have come at a better time. The month of April features matchups with conference foes Illinois, Iowa, Penn State and Michigan.After a tough stretch early in the season, IU coach Tracy Smith said the positive play this week has been monumental for his team’s morale. “It helps get our confidence up where it needs to be,” Smith said. “Given we had a miserable spring break and just didn’t play well, you don’t want to go into the Big Ten doubting. I thought we played fairly well tonight and, hopefully, we will carry that momentum into the weekend against Illinois.”
(03/31/09 2:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Coming off a 3-2 win against No. 25 Minnesota on Saturday, the IU baseball team will look to build on its momentum against Chicago State at 3 p.m. today on Sembower Field. The Hoosiers (8-15, 1-1) lost eight of their past nine before earning the victory to split the Big Ten opening series. IU’s third game against the Golden Gophers was canceled due to inclement weather. IU sophomore outfielder T.C. Knipp said his team’s weekend performance proved they could compete with anyone in the country. “Coming out and getting a win on Saturday was huge for us,” Knipp said. “(IU junior pitcher Eric) Arnett threw well, pounding the zone in the second game, and our hitting is coming along. Going into the season, one of our main goals was to become Big Ten champs, and that is still controllable.” The recent success might come as a result of IU coach Tracy Smith’s altering the starting lineup and fielding positions. Among the key changes were junior Evan Crawford moving from second base to center field and junior Jake Dunning also shifting from third base to shortstop. IU sophomore outfielder Sterling Mack and freshman third baseman Vince Gonzalez were both moved into the starting lineup on Sunday and made significant contributions to the win. Mack played well defensively, and Gonzalez drew a key walk that brought home IU sophomore outfielder Kipp Schutz for the Hoosiers’ initial run. “We are trying to find the best way to strengthen the middle of the diamond defensively,” Smith said. “I thought Vince had one of the most key at-bats in the game as a freshman. Vince is going to make the routine play, and right now that is what we need to do.”While the recent win was much needed for the Hoosiers, junior catcher Josh Phegley said the biggest problem the team must address is a lack of scoring early in games. “The early lead gives our pitchers confidence,” he said. “We cannot come out and feel our way through it and then turn it on in the fifth or sixth inning. I think that is one difference from this year to last year’s team. Our bats are cold early in the game.” In Chicago State, IU will take on a team that has been struggling this season. The Cougars are 2-22 on the year and are currently on a three-game losing streak. CSU senior infielder and pitcher Patrick Hernandez leads the team in hitting with a .348 average. The Hoosiers will have 2008 All-Big Ten pitcher Matt Bashore on the mound to face the Cougars. The Tipp City, Ohio, native will look to improve on a 0-3 record and 7.24 ERA. Smith said he has faith Bashore will bounce back after a tough early part of the season. “We may go two, three innings with him and then use the bullpen to shape up for the weekend,” Smith said. “He would definitely be on a strict, low-pitch count because it’s more important what he does on the weekend for us. He is going to get it going; he is too good not to.”
(03/27/09 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With a career ERA of 5.78 and six total wins, IU junior pitcher Eric Arnett entered the 2009 season near the bottom of most scouting reports.Things have changed.By means of a dominant fastball and slider, the Pataskala, Ohio, native has quietly transformed into one of the most feared pitchers in the Big Ten. Arnett currently leads the Hoosiers in wins (4-1), ERA (2.57), strikeouts (35) and innings pitched (35).The right-hander credits a change in mentality for this recent success.“I approach everything a little different,” said Arnett, who will start Sunday against Minnesota. “This year I have settled in a little more. I worked on my breaking ball the most and have really been going after hitters.”While the rest of the Hoosiers spent the off-season hitting line drives and snagging fly balls, Arnett’s off-season training was anything but conventional. Earlier in the fall, IU coach Tracy Smith ran into IU basketball coach Tom Crean at a tournament in Bedford and mentioned the size and ability of Arnett. After trying out for the team with six other players, Arnett was the only one selected to become a full-time practice player. Fellow IU baseball teammate Kipp Schutz later joined Arnett on the basketball court. “I knew they were lacking in size and I said, ‘I have a guy that might help you,’” Smith said of Arnett’s 6-foot-5 stature. “He definitely came back a different guy (after basketball). I think it helped him focus and realize that it really comes down to being confident in your abilities.”IU junior catcher Josh Phegley said Arnett’s attitude is the biggest difference from his first two years with the Hoosiers.“I see more confidence in his stuff out there on the mound,” Phegley said. “He goes out there everyday knowing that he is good enough to beat the hitters we face. His fastball has a lot of movement and is thrown extremely hard.”One aspect that might have helped Arnett has been the lack of attention from opposing teams. With IU junior pitcher Matt Bashore – a 2008 First-team All-Big Ten – garnered most of the spotlight early on, Arnett felt more relaxed on the mound.“It takes a lot of the pressure off of him to perform,” Phegley said. “Not a lot of talk about him, so he is just going to go out there and throw his game. It is paying off for him.”Despite the dramatic change in pitching statistics, Smith said he is not surprised by Arnett’s breakout season.“He is fun to coach because he is very willing to listen and works hard,” Smith said. “At the end of the season, I am expecting that he will have pretty good numbers and be one of the guys we lean on.”
(03/26/09 3:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A walk-off home run in the 11th inning was the difference in the Hoosiers’ 7-6 loss to Xavier Wednesday in Cincinnati. It is IU’s seventh defeat in eight games. The mid-week loss dropped the team’s record to 7-14.“We didn’t execute a couple of pitches in key situations,” said IU coach Tracy Smith. “One of our goals this year was to win the Big Ten Championship and that is still well within our grasp. If we are going to have bad execution, I would rather have it happen now than before the Big Ten.”Musketeer sophomore pitcher Ben Thomas hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning off IU sophomore pitcher Matt Carr to tie the game at six. Thomas contributed again in the 11th inning to earn Xavier the victory.Carr picked up the loss after allowing two runs and three hits in 2 and 2/3 innings.IU junior Chris Squires pitched effectively in eight innings and earned a no-decision. The Fort Wayne native gave up five runs while striking out four. “I felt I did okay,” he said. “I was getting ahead of people, throwing a lot of strikes and getting a lot of ground balls. But I left two on base in the last inning that eventually scored. I could have done a better job closing it out.”IU junior catcher Josh Phegley led the Hoosiers with four hits and added an RBI. Freshman designated hitter Alex Dickerson, sophomore outfielder Kipp Schutz and junior shortstop Tyler Rogers also drove in a run each.IU junior infielder Michael Early, who had two RBI, said the team’s overall confidence is high as it enters conference play. “We would rather go through it now, instead of in the Big Ten like we did last year,” Early said of the poor start. “We are just going through a little bit of a bad patch. Once the Big Ten starts we have to be playing better baseball.”The Hoosiers open the Big Ten regular season 3 p.m. Friday at Sembower Field against Minnesota. The No. 25 Gophers boast a 13-6 record.UM’s top hitter is sophomore Michael Kvasnicka, who is batting .462 and is on a 24-game hit streak that started last season.“They are playing about as well as anybody in the conference,” Smith said. “They are pitching very well and are a solid baseball club. We are falling on some tough times right now, but we just have to stay positive.”