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(09/24/12 4:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Freshman forward Andrew Oliver’s first career goal extended No. 15 Indiana’s unbeaten streak in Big Ten openers to 22, as the Hoosiers won 2-0 against Ohio State on Sunday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.Sophomore midfielder Kerel Bradford possessed the ball five yards from midfield on the Hoosiers’ right side. He served a ball to the edge of the Buckeyes’ 18-yard box, just to the right of the semicircle. Ohio State defender Chris Gomez and goalkeeper Alex Ivanov exposed the net, and Oliver got his right foot on the ball just under Gomez’s left.Gomez chased the ball toward the left-side post and slid in an attempt to clear. He was unsuccessful, as the ball bounced off the post and in, giving IU its first opening-half goal of September.“It was a pretty awesome feeling,” Oliver said. “I had a lot of good chances this season that I haven’t put away yet, so finding it in a real big game for us is a great feeling. Really exciting.”Oliver said the drought was not an oft-discussed concern because the Hoosiers have always seemed to find good chances. They have just been unable to convert.Sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta converted on his second penalty kick goal in as many attempts to double the Hoosiers’ lead in the 47th minute. Buckeye midfielder Austin McAnena’s challenge against Oliver in the box allowed Zavaleta an opportunity from the penalty spot, and he converted on the opportunity.Ivanov made his fourth career start for the Buckeyes. IU Coach Todd Yeagley said his team wanted to attack the new goalkeeper.“We knew they had some instability with the goalkeeper in particular,” he said. “We wanted to make the goalkeeper a part of the game as much as we could. We wanted to test this goalkeeper.”Defensively, the Hoosiers shut down Buckeyes forward Chris Hegngi. The 2011 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year attempted five shots, his closest opportunity coming in the 50th minute.Ohio State forward Raymond Olavarria provided the cross from the right side. Senior goalkeeper Luis Soffner saved Hegngi’s header from six yards away. Zach Mason’s follow-up shot was deflected away by Hegngi, and an offsides call helped the Hoosiers escape.“In our game plan, (Hegngi) was one of the key players,” Bradford said. “We were able to keep him in front of us and away from our goal.”Entering play Sunday, Indiana possessed an all-time series lead of 36-4-3. The Buckeyes had won three of the last four matches. With their first win in Columbus since 2008, IU has now won the last two.The Hoosiers won despite junior midfielder Nikita Kotlov missing the game due to illness. Kotlov scored the only goal in the Hoosiers’ 1-0 victory against the Buckeyes last season.“It comes to show that we have a great, deep team,” Oliver said. “We can bring players off the bench, and they can come in and have a positive effect every game.”OSU had an opportunity to score first in the 12th minute, as Gomez got a header on the Buckeyes’ first corner kick. Soffner, moving to his right, dived to make the save.Soffner finished with six saves and earned his fifth shutout of the season.Yeagley said Sunday’s shutout could have significant ramifications regarding the postseason.“Every goal and every shutout is really important,” he said. “It might be the difference when it comes to seeding.”Bradford said people haven’t seen everything the team has to offer.“As we go forward, people are going to be pleased and shocked at what we can do for a full 90 minutes,” he said.
(09/18/12 3:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Coach Tracy Smith called his team’s 2013 schedule a “beast.” To improve the Hoosiers’ chances of making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009, the Hoosiers’ skipper beefed up his team’s nonconference schedule.“Our thought was, we scheduled strong hoping that we get some wins early in the season, have another good season in the Big Ten and not have to win the Big Ten Tournament to pursue an at-large bid if we trip up in the tournament,” Smith said.The schedule is highlighted by a three-game set in Gainesville, Fla., against the Florida Gators on March 8-10, 2013. Last season, the Gators began the season as the No. 1 team in the country. They spent seven weeks in that slot, before dropping to No. 7 on April 9. They recaptured the top spot on May 28.Indiana won 10 of its final 12 Big Ten games to earn the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament.Purdue defeated the Hoosiers in the championship game.“I don’t think there were 25, 30 teams in the country better than us at the end of the season, and we didn’t get an at-large bid,” Smith said. “We didn’t do what we needed to do early in the season.”To begin the 2012 season against Connecticut, Smith started three freshmen position players. By season’s end, five freshmen had played in at least 43 games, and three freshmen started at least 50 games. Sophomore starting pitcher Kyle Hart established himself in the second slot of the Hoosiers’ rotation.The Hoosiers struggled with errors early in non-conference play, and their 18-21 nonconference record was ultimately why they did not reach the tournament.March 20, the Hoosiers are scheduled to play in Bart Kaufman Field against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, Smith’s alma mater.Smith, in his seventh season in Bloomington, said it was unintentional.Penn State, Illinois, Michigan and Northwestern will be the first conference foes to play at Kaufman Field.The Hoosiers will play Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska and Ohio State on the road.It will be the Hoosiers’ first trip to Lincoln to play the Huskers as a Big Ten foe.For the second-consecutive season, the Hoosiers will not play the Boilermakers or Minnesota in the regular season.In 2012, Louisville outscored the Hoosiers 34-8 in a home-and-home series. Indiana will have three chances against the Cardinals in 2013: Feb. 17 in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge, March 26 at home and May 8 in Louisville, Ky.The Hoosiers will make a trip to Lexington, Ky., six days later. The Wildcats came to Sembower Field this past season as the No. 7 team in the country and escaped, scoring the game-winning run on a 12th-inning balk.Indiana will travel to Statesboro. Ga., on the second weekend of the season to complete a home-and-home series against Georgia Southern. Smith praised the Eagles’ program after the Hoosiers won game one of their April series in Bloomington.“That’s a good opponent,” he said. “I don’t think our regular fans realize what a big win that is. That’s a very, very established, good baseball program.”The Hoosiers will participate in the Coastal Carolina Tourney in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on the third weekend of the season.Indiana will play its first midweek game of the season on March 6 in Terre Haute, against Indiana State. Two days later, they’ll play the Gators.The rest of the Hoosiers’ spring break schedule has yet to be announced.
(09/14/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With seven NCAA titles since 1973, Indiana is known as a place for men’s soccer. However, only seven universities in the Big Ten field varsity men’s soccer teams.Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska do not participate at the varsity level. Consequently, all seven teams play in the Big Ten Tournament in November. The regular season conference champion earns a bye.Sources from each of the five institutions said they don’t expect changes in that format anytime soon, despite revenues from the Big Ten Network.Purdue, for example, has never fielded a varsity team.Tom Schott, Purdue associate athletics director, said he thinks the Boilers have, other than or the same as Northwestern, the fewest sports of any Big Ten athletic department.He said when Morgan Burke became athletics director in 1993, Purdue was not at the NCAA allotment in all sports. While not explicitly referencing Title IX, it is a factor, he said.“We would love to have more programs, but obviously financial considerations have to be taken into effect,” he said. “We very much understand the popularity of men’s soccer. To add a men’s sport, we’d have to add a women’s sport. While we’d love to and probably will at some point, men’s soccer certainly is one we would consider.”Instead, the Boilers have upgraded current facilities.“We had to make sure we take care of the sports we have,” Schott said.He said Purdue has one of the smaller football stadiums, and the university has “undergone massive and major facility upgrades the last 15, 20 years that have taken a lot of our resources.”“We are at the low end in the Big Ten,” he said. “That hurts us nationally in the Director’s Cup. Obviously, Indiana has a tremendous program. It would be a great and natural rivalry. Hopefully, that day will come at some point.”IU Coach Todd Yeagley agreed and said he would love to see more conference schools add the sport. However, he is taking advantage of the current situation by playing regional rivals each season. It allows for balance and quality midweek opponents, he said.“We certainly enjoy the current format,” Yeagley said.Nebraska’s situation is unique, as the Huskers joined the Big Ten on July 1, 2011. Their former conference, the Big 12, had no men’s soccer teams.“In order to comply with Title IX, if we added a men’s soccer team we would undoubtedly have to add a couple of women’s sports,” Huskers Athletic Director Tom Osborne said in an email. “We are not in a financial position to do so at the present time.”Minnesota Director of Athletic Communications Garry Bowman said in an email that by adding a men’s sport, the university’s Title IX numbers would “move out of balance.”The Gophers have all the same men’s varsity sports as IU except hockey and gymnastics.Bowman said gymnastics has “been here a long time. It’s a traditional sport that we’ve had here.”University of Iowa Director of Athletic Communications Steve Roe was succinct.“At this time we have no plans to increase the number of sports,” he wrote in an email.A November 2008 story from the Daily Illini newspaper quoted University of Illinois Assistant Athletics Director Kent Brown.“There’s no question that Title IX plays a part in the status of all varsity sports,” he said in the article. “At this point there are no plans to add a men’s sport, and Title IX does play a part in that.”That story hasn’t changed, he said.“We’re continually reviewing the varsity sports that we offer,” Brown said. “If we are to add a sport at this point, I would assume it would be a women’s sport. If we were to add a men’s sport, we’d have to add a women’s sport. In today’s economic climate, when you start adding sports, you’re talking about a significant jump in your budget. It’s difficult to add a sport unless there would be a situation kind of like at Penn State in regard to men’s hockey.”Brown said Illinois has not added a varsity men’s sport for decades.Revenue from the Big Ten Network, about $7 million per school in 2009-10, cannot be counted on to fund new sports.“Any time there’s additional revenue, like any institution in the Big Ten, there’s a priority list of projects that need to be completed,” Brown said. “We all feel very comfortable in the number of sports that we offer at the varsity level. It just does not seem to be a prudent economic move to add another male sport considering what we’re offering right now.”The Hoosiers’ path to a regular-season conference championship remains at six Big Ten foes.
(09/14/12 3:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Eriq Zavaleta is tied at six goals with three other players for the Division I lead. However, of the four games in which Indiana (4-1-1) has scored, the sophomore forward delivered the tying or deciding goal in each match.Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (5-1), in contrast, features a suffocating defense. It’s allowed three goals in six matches and notched four shutouts. The Cougars’ junior goalkeeper John Berner has started all six matches and allowed 0.50 goals per game. In their last two victories, the Cougars blanked each opponent, limiting the Missouri-Kansas City and DePaul to six shots apiece.Those wins vaulted the Cougars into the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, where they stand at 22nd.Junior midfielder Jacob Bushue dismissed their poll presence.“We treat every game the same,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re unranked or if they’re ranked number one. We’re going to treat it the same.”Sunday, Oregon State became the first opponent this season to score twice against IU. The Beavers’ two goals doubled what the Hoosiers had allowed through five matches. However, IU scored three times in 4:48 in the second half to earn a 3-2 win, culminated by an OSU own goal in the 66th minute. Junior midfielder A.J. Corrado’s corner kick deflected off a Beaver defender and into the back of the net.It was the second time an opponent’s goal proved to be the game-winning tally.Entering play Friday, the Hoosiers and Ohio State lead the Big Ten in corner kicks attempted with 42 each.Oregon State’s own goal marked the first time the Hoosiers scored from that set piece.“It was real nice seeing it come off the set piece,” Bushue said. “We were really pressing them the entire half. It was a real big goal, got us momentum, and that’s what sparked the comeback.”Redshirt freshman forward Kyle Sparks said he and his teammates are staying positive.“We’re creating the opportunities, and we feel like they’ll come,” he said. “We feel dangerous on every corner kick. We’re getting a head on the ball. We’re getting a shot on goal, and we’re getting the rebound. We’re just not finding the back of the net as much as much as we’d like. We think it’ll come.”The Hoosiers’ match against the Cougars is the first time since 1989 that these squads have played one another.It’s also IU’s last game before Big Ten play begins. IU Coach Todd Yeagley said he wants his team to continue to make strides.“We’ve put really good moments together,” he said. “We’ve just not been consistent enough in 90-minute matches. We’re sitting in a good spot, and there’s been good performances, considering who we’ve played. But there’s more in it for us.”Bushue said converting from set pieces will separate the Hoosiers from other teams.“If we can put the ball in the back of the net during set plays, we’ll be able to beat way more teams,” he said.
(09/06/12 4:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>T.J. Popolizio had to convince Mike Noonan, the men’s soccer coach at Brown in 2008. Noonan was skeptical that this prospect, this wrestler from Rexford, N.Y., could play Division I college soccer.“Wrestling is the real reason I went to Brown,” Popolizio said. He competed all four seasons on the soccer and wrestling teams.“We knew that he was a good soccer player,” Noonan said. “It came to a point in his second year where I told him, ‘Pop, you’re not in the first line wrestling, and you’re not in the first line soccer. You need to dedicate yourself one way or the other.”Noonan said he didn’t want to take Popolizio away from the wrestling team. Popolizio asked for a chance. During a preseason game, he scored the only goal.“I said from that point forward, we had to have him,” Noonan said. “It’s the character of the kid that means most to me about Pop. He makes everybody around him better. He’s one of my favorites.”***As a senior, Popolizio led Brown in scoring. Brown advanced to the third round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.There was no providence in Rhode Island’s capital on Nov. 27, 2011. St. Mary’s College won 3-2 in overtime.Popolizio’s undergraduate career ended abruptly.“I can remember watching the ball going into the net, and when it happened, for a second, you’re praying that there’s a call, a whistle, an offsides, something,” he said.“And then it hits you that the season’s over. There was a really special group of people that I’ll hold dear for the rest of my life. We had a great team. To see that end was sad. But I wouldn’t have given it up for anything in the world. It was four of the most incredible years.”He finished as an all-Ivy League player.***Popolizio said he wasn’t thinking about soccer following his senior season.“I didn’t know if I was going to use the year of eligibility,” he said. “I was getting ready to start my career. I didn’t know how a fifth year could tie in to what I was trying to do. (The coaches) were unbelievable in getting me out here and showing me what Indiana soccer’s all about. It was a perfect fit.”IU Coach Todd Yeagley said Popolizio initially contacted him. Yeagley talked to Noonan, who told the IU coach he thought Popolizio would be a good fit.Yeagley said he does not have an established policy concerning graduate student transfers.“If we feel it can help, I think anytime you bring a player for a year, you want to make sure it fits your team,” Yeagley said. “He’s a wonderful young man with an unbelievable amount of maturity. I knew only that he would positively impact the group. I felt his involvement with our program would be a positive on our young players and certainly our upperclassmen.“He’s fit in perfect.”Senior forward Tim Wylie said Popolizio brings in a little different flair.“He’s quicker,” Wylie said. “We’ve really liked having T.J. around with his style. It blends well with the rest of the team. We love having him here.”***Popolizio, pursuing his MBA in the Kelley School of Business, said the first thing he did was research the school’s national ranking.“Once I saw how great the school is, the fact that they were able to get me into the MBA program, was the real driving force,” he said. “You see the banners, you walk through the halls, it’s unbelievable. I’ve known Indiana soccer was something special since I had a ball at my feet.“You told me I would’ve been here, I would’ve said you were crazy. It was pretty cool to step on this field tonight (Aug. 31).”He gave credit to the people who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.“The whole process has been amazing,” Popolizio said. “It’s an extra year of eligibility to play at one of the elite programs in the whole country.“Growing up, you asked me if I could do this, I would’ve paid any money in the world, I’d have given up everything to have a shot to be at a program like this and play with kids like this in this environment. I feel like I’m one of the luckiest players in the world. I’ve been through difficult times at Brown, come a long way as a player, but, to be here to end my competitive athletic career is pretty special.“I’m going to look back on this season, hopefully, and say it was one of the happiest moments of my life.”***On Friday, Popolizio’s Hoosiers played against Clemson, the team Noonan now coaches. This was not just another game for Popolizio.“Coach Noonan kind of instilled what it took to be a D1 college soccer player in me,” Popolizio said. “It was a long road. He’s one of the people that I’ve really tried to convince I can play at this level. He’s been huge in my development as a player.” Popolizio said he remembered not playing as a freshman. In fact, he said his status on the team was tenuous.“To go from a position where I wasn’t getting a lot of time for Brown, and really struggling to stay on the team, to now, getting to play with this program against him is something really special.”He said on August 29 that playing against Noonan’s Tigers Friday night was the culmination of a process.“It’s been an interesting ride with me and Coach,” he said. “Playing for him was something special, something I’ll never forget. It’s kind of come full circle.”He played approximately 10 minutes in the second half. He made them count.Popolizio entered the game in the 67th minute, giving sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta his first rest of the match. Three minutes later, Popolizio delivered a key pass to Femi Hollinger-Janzen, as the freshman forward/midfielder made a run down the left side. Hollinger-Janzen’s shot was saved, but redshirt freshman forward Kyle Sparks converted on the rebound. The Hoosiers doubled their lead to 2-0.Popolizio did not officially earn an assist. He didn’t care.“I was able to make an impact right when I got out there,” he said. “Femi made a great run. He was really cued in. I saw him early, (and) made up my mind: I was going to try to play a pretty difficult ball. I was able to put it into space, and credit to Sparks. He’s able to knock it back in.“It’s great to come off the bench and make a real big impact, especially against Clemson, against my old coach. It meant a lot. We took care of business. It’s a great night."***Popolizio said it is “an unbelievable feeling” and “icing on the cake to be at a program like this,” where he can “work for one season to try to get the eighth (IU national championship).”This opportunity would have never come to fruition without wrestling. Popolizio’s cousin, Pat Popolizio, is the head coach at North Carolina State. His other cousin, Frank Popolizio, runs Journeymen Wrestling, one of the biggest clubs in the Northeast.“It’s been in my family’s blood for awhile,” he said. “They know me as a soccer player in the family. It is a tough sport. It really takes a full commitment. It’s one of the toughest things I think you can do as a college athlete. I see the Indiana wrestlers in the weight room, I think back and say, ‘Man, I don’t miss all of that.’ You’ve got to be a real special person to be able to do it. To be able to do it for four years, I’m just as proud of that as I am of all the soccer success I’ve had.“It was tough. Doing the two sports, you have days where you’re working out three, four times a day. I wouldn’t be the soccer player I am without the wrestling aspect. I really am thankful for the whole sport.”***Yeagley said his team needed some experience.“He brings great positive energy,” Yeagley said. “He makes plays. He’s already done that in the Cincinnati game. He’s been a spark for a lot of good results for Brown during his career. We thought he’d be a great fit for us this year.”Popolizio has made Noonan a fan.“Coach Yeagley’s using him very, very well,” Noonan said. “I hope he has a great year, because I love him so much.”
(08/31/12 4:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In different environments, IU won both games of last weekend’s Billiken Classic. Its record is unblemished in two matches, but IU Coach Todd Yeagley said his team needed to learn from their 3-0 victory Sunday against Cincinnati.The team was not sufficiently aggressive in the final pass during the first half Sunday, Yeagley said.The Hoosiers open the home portion of their 2012 regular season schedule on Friday against Clemson. Senior forward Tim Wylie said one lesson from last weekend will be to minimize the role the environment plays.“Friday night, we’re going to have a great atmosphere,” Wylie said. “Sunday afternoon games, neutral sites, only a couple hundred people, it’s a lot different than playing on a Friday night. It’s tougher to get going.“That’s one thing we’ve had to learn to adjust to, to not worry about the atmosphere. You gotta play the same way as if you’re playing in front of 10,000 people.”Last season, the Hoosiers won the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic for the first time since 2005.“We want to come out on Sunday night with a 4-0 record, but we gotta focus on Friday first.” he said. “We gotta go one game at a time, which is important to us this season. From there, go focus on Sunday.”In the Hoosiers’ four contests this season, three players have started at left back.In exhibition contests against the University of Illinois-Chicago and the Chivas de Guadalajara U23 team, sophomore defender Patrick Doody earned the start. Against Saint Louis on Aug. 24, sophomore defender Drew Schall got the starting nod. In a pre-game change, sophomore midfielder Dylan Lax started there Sunday against Cincinnati.“We’ve felt that we needed to have depth in our back line,” Yeagley said. “We found out we have it... Maybe it’s committee until someone really takes full control of that position. We’ll decide as the week progresses on what we’ll go with Friday. I’m excited that all three can step in and do really well.”However, graduate student forward T.J. Popolizio will be on the opposite sideline from his former coach at Brown. Mike Noonan is in his third season as the Clemson head coach.Popolizio said that to him, this isn’t just another other game because he started his career playing for Noonan.“Coach Noonan kind of instilled what it took to be a D1 college soccer player in me,” he said. “He’s one of the people that I’ve really tried to convince I can play at this level. He’s been huge in my development as a player. Playing for him was something special. It’s kind of come full circle now, getting to play them in our home opener.”
(08/28/12 3:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Eriq Zavaleta announced his arrival in his second career collegiate game last season, scoring a goal and assisting on the game-winner in the Hoosiers’ 3-1 victory against Saint Louis on Sept. 2, 2011.The Westfield, Ind., native, now a sophomore forward at IU, led the team in goals, points and shots in his freshman campaign and collected an abundance of individual awards, including Big Ten Freshman of the Year.In the offseason, Zavaleta worked to help avoid a sophomore slump.Zavaleta said what he learned last season gave him something he could build on.“Freshman year, I came in a tad uncomfortable,” he said. “I didn’t really understand the college game. I think I have a better sense of what the game is and what kind of team we want to be. I know this year, whether the stats don’t go on the table, I will make my team better.IU Coach Todd Yeagley said he is also unconcerned his forward will slump.“(There’s) no indication that he’s going to drop at all,” Yeagley said. “Not only do I see him getting goals and assists, but he’s going to make teams have to adjust. That’s going to create other opportunities, whether it shows up on a stat sheet.“Eriq’s going to have a really nice sophomore year. I’m not concerned one bit. Numbers aren’t the only thing that he provides to our group.”Junior midfielder Nikita Kotlov, the team’s second-leading scorer with nine goals from 2011, also returns to the team.Zavaleta said if defenses make a concerted effort to shut him down, he will be ready.“It was no secret last year that I put up numbers,” he said. “I accept that challenge of trying to do it amongst more people. “But I also think it might be best for our team, because other guys can step up and it’s easier for them because the numbers are in their favor. That’s an opportunity that we relish.”Yeagley said if his counterparts game-plan to stop Zavaleta, his teammates will have opportunities to score.Zavaleta said he learned about the physicality of college last season and used the offseason to prepare for it.“It’s something that’s really hard to prepare for,” he said. “The physicality was something different. I took that into this offseason and I got stronger. I was able to work on my post-up game and things of that nature.”He spent a month in Los Angeles, training with Chivas USA, an MLS team. Zavaleta said his time spent in Southern California was important.“It’s vital,” he said. “I’m playing with guys of that caliber and playing under coaches like (assistant coach) Greg (Vanney) and (head coach) Robin (Fraser). I think it’s really important in my learning. I think it’s definitely something that helped me in the physicality. Those are all big guys, but they’re all savvy, smart soccer players.“Coming in here this year after playing with them for a month, I wasn’t so concerned or scared by coming here. I was ready to come here and deliver.”Zavaleta said he also gained a greater appreciation for delivering on his chances because they’re infrequent.“When you get ‘em, you gotta put ‘em away,” he said.Senior defender Caleb Konstanski said Zavaleta will thrive on the increased attention.“He’s a different kind of forward,” he said. “He’s a big guy, but really good with his feet. You don’t really know what he’s going to do because he uses his body so well.“The big thing for him is to keep his head when people try to get chippy with him. He fuels off stuff like that. I’m not too worried about him.”Yeagley said Zavaleta’s ability to handle adversity this season is improved.“I think he’s getting stronger mentally,” Yeagley said. “He’s a very confident young man. But when things weren’t going right, he could get affected a bit.“I think this year, he’s learning how to handle that.”
(08/26/12 10:19pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>ST. LOUIS — In its first action of regular season play, the IU men’s soccer team beat Saint Louis on Friday and Cincinnati on Sunday to win the Billiken Classic title.While not officially credited with an assist, graduate student forward T.J. Popolizio found sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta in the center of the box, 10 yards from goal. Zavaleta’s first offering was blocked, but he buried the rebound in the lower left-hand corner of the goal to give Indiana the lead in the 68th minute. It was a lead the Hoosiers did not relinquish, as they won 3-0 Sunday afternoon at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.The Westfield, Ind., native’s second goal in as many games won the Billiken Classic for the Hoosiers.Zavaleta scored his third goal on a penalty kick in the 85th minute.“Me and Joe (Tolen), we came in and talked about changing it a little bit, bringing some energy,” Popolizio said. “Luckily, the ball came to the back post. I made a good run, outjumped the defender and was able to knock it back to Eriq. Eriq held him off and was able to finish.“He did a great job, and he’s going to finish that every time.”Senior goalkeeper Luis Soffner preserved the tenuous lead in the 78th minute with his first of two saves. The Bearcats’ Cole DeNormandie attempted his team’s fourth shot, a free kick from 35 yards away, just right of the middle of the field.The Hoosiers added two more goals in the final eight minutes.IU Coach Todd Yeagley said the game should have been decided sooner.“We needed to play with more urgency,” he said. “We had too much of the ball in the first half to not get more good finishes and good looks. We weren’t aggressive enough and sharp enough in the final pass.“We’ve got to learn from this game. We should’ve been up a couple in the first half, and this game should’ve been over. That’s the mentality.”Indiana doubled its lead on a corner kick in the 83rd minute. Junior midfielder Harrison Petts found junior midfielder Jacob Bushue at the intersection of the six yard box and the end line on the left side. Bushue crossed the ball to Caleb Konstanski, and the senior defender doubled IU’s lead.Zavaleta added a penalty kick two minutes later.In total, IU outshot Cincinnati 16-5 and attempted nine corners to the Bearcats’ three.Indiana rallied to defeat Saint Louis on Friday, surviving a barrage of early pressure from the Billikens“It’s so tough to come out here on opening night for SLU,” junior midfielder A.J. Corrado said. “They had an unbelievable crowd, and that fueled them. They were extremely tough to play against. That first 30 minutes, they were all over the place. They went up early. We were calm.”Billikens’ defender Jon Roeckle led Saint Louis to a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. His shot was deflected, but senior goalkeeper Luis Soffner could not recover back to his right to make the save.Corrado’s hustle helped IU equalize 12 minutes later as he assisted on Zavaleta’s goal, his first of the regular season.“I took a glance up. We had a couple guys in the box,” Corrado said. “Eriq’s a great finisher. I know if I can find him in the box, something good’s probably gonna happen.”
(08/17/12 3:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU men’s soccer team will conclude preseason play Saturday night in Fort Wayne, Ind., against Chivas de Guadalajara, a professional team from Mexico’s Liga MX.The game will be televised nationally on Fox Soccer Channel.IU Coach Todd Yeagley said exhibition games provide more flexibility to schedule matches against elite competition.“The goal of our preseason is to get different looks,” Yeagley said. “The Chivas game is as talented of a team we’re going to play in a college. Everything will be exploited. You might take a lump, but you’d much rather know now because we leave both these games (with) zeroes.”In IU’s two most recent exhibition matches, the Hoosiers played Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday and the Under-20 Mexican National Team on April 29.Mexico’s Alfonso Gonzalez scored in the 82nd minute to propel the Mexican National Team to a 2-1 victory. The loss left a bitter taste in players’ mouths, senior defender Caleb Konstanski said.“We try to approach each and every game the same way, focusing on doing the things we’ve been working on in practice,” Konstanski said. “You can’t help but get a little extra juice going when you’re playing pro teams, especially on national television.”Konstanski said the Hoosiers felt they should have defeated Mexico in April and now have something to prove.Yeagley said if his team can execute against Chivas, it should translate well against Saint Louis on Aug. 24 in the team’s first regular season game. “It’s a way to bring to speed young players,” Yeagley said. “We’ll see quickly how we are in some spots.”Sophomore defender Patrick Doody said taking the field opposite Chivas is an incredible opportunity.“The big thing for me is game speed,” Doody said. “The professionals play so quickly, and the runs off the ball are so quick, even compared to the top college programs in the country. To be able to watch their attacks and the way they move off the ball, that’s I think the biggest change. It’s just a different level that they have.”Junior midfielder Nikita Kotlov didn’t play against Mexico in April due to a fractured foot.Still, he said he noticed a difference in play from the sideline.“It seemed that they liked to possess more,” Kotlov said. “In college, it’s more of a fitness and strength game. These Mexican teams that we’ve played and will play are more technically sound.”Though the style of play differs, junior midfielder Harrison Petts said the Hoosiers expect to win.“I don’t think, as long as I’ve been at Indiana University, we’ve ever gone into a game expecting not to win and get a result,” Petts said. “The only difference might be the first five or 10 minutes when you really get caught up in all the atmosphere.“But after you settle down, soccer’s soccer. I don’t think, after the first five or 10 minutes, we’ll even be thinking about ‘Wow, these guys are professionals.’ We’re just going to be out there playing a soccer game.”
(08/15/12 4:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Within minutes of IU assuming a 1-0 deficit, redshirt freshman forward Kyle Sparks tied Tuesday’s preseason game against Illinois-Chicago in the 72nd minute.UIC defensemen continued to block shots as the game wore on, and the Horizon League school preserved a 1-1 tie against the Hoosiers at Bill Armstrong Stadium.“We need to find ways to score some ugly goals,” IU Coach Todd Yeagley said. “We were looking for the perfect goal tonight.”In the 67th minute, the Horizon League’s leading scorer, senior midfielder Ivan Stanisavljevic did what the Hoosiers could not – converted his opportunity. His goal bounced off the post to senior goalkeeper Luis Soffner’s left and into the back of the net.Five minutes later, Sparks tied the game with a shot that rolled under the outstretched arm of Flames’ goalkeeper Goran Ikic, whom was substituted in during the second intermission. Sparks won the one-on-one battle. Sophomore midfielder Dylan Lax’s through ball earned him an assist.“When things happen, the script can show a lot,” Yeagley said. “Tonight was an example of (when) you dominate a lot of areas that you want to. We created so many good opportunities, and you don’t put one away, and you let a team linger, it’s a good lesson ... How you respond is so important.”IU possessed a four-shot advantage to begin period number three. The Hoosiers were unable to put shots in the back of the net until Sparks’ tally.In the 31st minute, Flames’ goalkeeper Piotr Kikolski and one of his backs had a miscommunication. IU could not capitalize, as a shot from sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta bounced off the right post and out of bounds.Senior defender Caleb Konstanski had an opportunity to give the Hoosiers the lead 19 minutes later, but missed an open shot wide left.Kikolski had earlier moved to his left to field a long ball in the 50th minute, but missed then as well.Junior midfielder Nikita Kotlov said he couldn’t be mad at Konstanski for missing his opportunity.“I think we did a good job creating chances and possessing the ball for the majority of the game,” Kotlov said. “We need to connect our chances. We need to score goals to win games. Hopefully we get a better killer instinct in the box. If we create chances and possess the ball like we did today, we should be able to connect on those.”
(05/04/12 1:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>An Indiana offense that scored 30 runs in a weekend sweep of the University of Michigan might receive a boost in this weekend’s series against the Nebraska Cornhuskers — the first time the teams have played in 106 years.Baseball America preseason All-American second baseman Micah Johnson has been cleared to play this weekend. Whether he will, IU Coach Tracy Smith said, remains to be seen.“I haven’t (decided) until we go through practice today,” he said. “He’ll be available whether he plays second (base) or left (field), we’re not sure yet.”The Hoosiers are coming off their first series sweep of the season. Their three victories against the Wolverines took them from a tie for fifth in the Big Ten into a tie for second.The Hoosiers have won six of their past eight games.Smith said Johnson’s reinsertion into the lineup should improve the team.“Before the season, he was one of the best players in the Midwest,” Smith said. “We’re still under .500 overall, so I think if we take one of the best players in the Midwest and throw him in there, we’re probably better.“I understand the whole chemistry piece and all that, but it’s not like he’s disappeared. He’s been around. We’re glad to have him back. He’ll be in there and hopefully help us win some games.”Senior pitcher Chad Martin allowed three runs on 10 hits in five innings of work in game two of Sunday’s doubleheader. The Lexington, Ky., native also struck out seven.“We’re going to run him out there on Sunday,” Smith said. “He gave us a chance to win. He pitched himself into and out of some jams, so it was good to see. He grew up a little bit and gave us five strong innings, which is something we haven’t had on a Sunday.”The Hoosiers earned their first win on Sunday since defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 10-5 on April 1. “It was big because all the conference games are very, very important,” Smith said.
(04/30/12 4:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As announced Feb. 15, the new baseball facilities were named after student athlete alumnus Bart Kaufman. After years of anticipation, University officials said they hope to break ground on Bart Kaufman Field in early May.IU Coach Tracy Smith has lobbied for new facilities for years.“It’s going to be huge because it’s going to add a sense of professionalism to what we’re trying to do,” he said. “Kids these days like the frills. When you have a new stadium and the amount of money that we’re investing, I think people are going to be really, really impressed with this.”For the Indiana baseball team’s seven juniors, it’s another thing to consider when deciding upon their futures in the game. Center fielder Justin Cureton, second baseman Micah Johnson and shortstop Michael Basil are all eligible for the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft, according to mlb.com.Johnson, the team’s lone preseason All-American, spent the first five games as the designated hitter before deciding to undergo surgery on his elbow. His surgery took place March 7. Though it was successful, it has limited him to the roles of pinch runner and, more importantly, mentor to a team with many freshmen.“(We’re) going in the right direction,” Johnson said. “These kids are young. Playing a lot of freshmen, my injury and some other injuries have forced (them) to play right away. ... We’re probably hitting a stride.“Not being able to play is really tough, but I’ve accepted my role of helping these kids out.”Basil said he hasn’t decided on his future yet as the 2012 campaign has yet to be completed. Another factor in his decision, though, would be the new stadium.“I would say yes, probably,” Basil said. “I haven’t really been looking into the draft that much. I’m thinking about coming back regardless. Having that stadium is definitely going to play a big role in it because you want to have a chance to play in that.“I remember getting recruited here. We were told about the stadium, and that was one of the big reasons why I wanted to come here. Being able to have a season on that would be fun.”The potential development of this team will be a big factor in Basil’s decision too, he said.“I think we’re going to have an unbelievable team next year,” he said. “We have a chance to make a run at the Big Ten Tournament this year, and next year I think we’ll be one of the favorites in the Big Ten.”Johnson said he is not looking that far ahead. Instead, he’s thinking about this year’s team.“If it happens, it happens,” Johnson said. “If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. If you start thinking about it and worrying about it, then you get away from the team. Right now, I’m just focused on the team. We’re still in the Big Ten hunt, and that’s all I really care about at this point.”Johnson said new facilities would make an impact.“It’d be nice,” he said. “Sembower’s always been good to me. A field’s a field. It’s going to be really nice for recruiting. We have a locker room up there and an indoor hitting facility. That’s really going to develop kids. If they get bored one night, you can just go over there and hit.”IU recruits against some successful programs with very good people, Smith said.“We always say we build our program around people, but I’d be a fool to think facilities don’t impact recruiting at some level,” Smith said. “The one thing (other schools) have that we don’t is a nice facility. I think it’s going to put us all on the same level.
(04/27/12 2:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the six nonconference games since the Hoosiers’ series against Michigan State ended, sophomore second baseman Dustin DeMuth is hitting .500, going 10-20.DeMuth said he hasn’t requested to be moved up in the order leading to playing Michigan this weekend, saying it’s a decision made by IU Coach Tracy Smith.“We’ll see,” Smith said. “I’d like to move him up a little bit — I really would — because we need his maturity and veteran at-bats more often in a game. The further we move him up, the more ABs he’s going to get. I can see that being something we’ll probably do here in the weekend.”In contrast, junior center fielder Justin Cureton has been mired in a 2-20 slump in his last six games. But his slump is no ordinary one, as he has been hit in the head two times in the six nonconference games.After the game against Louisville, he had a tissue in his nose.DeMuth said he isn’t worried about Cureton.“I think he’s alright,” DeMuth said. “He did get in the face twice. He’s in a little slump right now, but I think he’ll bust out of it pretty soon, and he’ll be fine.”Smith said Cureton will probably stay atop the order.“He gives us a little maturity there,” Smith said. “We want him to have better at-bats and understand what type of hitter he is. We don’t have a true leadoff guy anyway. Honestly, I hate to say I don’t think it really makes a difference who’s there. We’ll probably keep him there, at least for the time being.”Smith praised sophomore pitcher Ryan Halstead’s outing against Miami (Ohio) on Wednesday. The contest in Ohio was the Hoosiers’ first competition on the road since April 8 and ended the team’s longest stretch of nonconference games between Big Ten series.The Hoosiers posted a 3-3 record in that span.“After the Michigan State series, we needed to figure some stuff out,” Halstead said. “Having the bye week right after that series was huge for us. (We were) able to work on some stuff, get guys some opportunities that wouldn’t usually have them and work everything out as a team.”The six nonconference games benefitted DeMuth, who was second in the Big Ten with 85 hits last season. He said he is reverting to what made him successful as a freshman.“(I’m) seeing the ball well, letting it get deep and driving it the other way like I did last year,” he said. “I’m starting to feel more comfortable in the box, which is a good thing. (I’m) trying to just get on base and score some runs. Any time I can get on base, I’m happy to do it.”
(04/26/12 2:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>OXFORD, Ohio — A six-run second inning gave Indiana all the runs necessary to support sophomore starting pitcher Ryan Halstead as the Hoosiers won 6-3 at McKie Field.Seven of the eight Hoosier hitters Miami starter Alex Brown faced put the ball in play by the third pitch. Sophomore second baseman Dustin DeMuth said that was part of the game plan.“We faced him last year, so we noticed that he liked to work his fastball early in the count,” DeMuth said. “All week long, Skip’s been preaching to us, ‘Get on top of the ball, drive the ball. Quit trying to pull the ball.’ We worked on that, and put some good swings on the ball.” Junior shortstop Michael Basil began the second with a single on the first pitch from Miami starter Alex Brown. Two pitches later, freshman third baseman Chad Clark singled. Then, freshman right fielder Chris Sujka's sacrifice bunt advanced his teammates 90 feet.Junior designated hitter Trace Knoblauch delivered a two-run single through the left side to give IU a lead it would not lose. A single by DeMuth scored Knoblauch from third. Brown’s day was done.After junior center fielder Justin Cureton laced a sacrifice fly to left field, freshman catcher Kyle Schwarber came to the plate. His ground ball through the shortstop’s legs brought freshman first baseman Sam Travis to the plate. Travis clubbed a two-run double to left field, and the Hoosiers took a 6-0 lead.Basil, batting for the second time in the inning, was retired to end the frame.If Scott Slappey had retired Schwabrer, Travis wouldn’t have come to the plate in the inning. DeMuth said it was a significant play.“It was big,” he said. “Getting Sam to bat in any inning is big for us. He’s a really good hitter. Any time we can get him to bat, that’s a plus for us.”IU Coach Tracy Smith said his team’s at-bats were much better tonight.Halstead gave the Hoosiers a great outing, Smith said.“Halstead was the key tonight,” the seventh-year skipper said. “We didn’t bring a lot of pitchers over. It was a huge outing by him to give our bullpen a shot in the arm, to allow them some ample rest. I was really pleased and proud of Halstead’s outing today.”Halstead threw 80 pitches through 6.2 innings. He said he was behind Smith’s decision to bring in sophomore southpaw Brian Korte to relieve him. In the eighth, Korte ran into a jam. Basil committed two errors in the inning that loaded the bases. Korte induced pinch hitter Jacob Wolf to bounce out to DeMuth to end the threat.“That inning was the turning point,” Halstead said. “They could’ve came back and made it close. We were able to shut it down. DeMuth made a huge play. That helped the momentum of the game in our favor.”The victory gave Indiana a 3-3 record in their six non-conference games since the Michigan State series.
(04/24/12 3:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Homesickness opened the door for Kyle Schwarber.After IU Coach Tracy Smith’s team lost catcher Wes Wilson to graduation after the 2011 season, Smith thought Ty Downing would step in to the starter’s role this season. But Downing, a Bowling Green, Ky., native, felt homesick and decided to transfer during the semester break.Enter Schwarber. Though he was penciled in to start in the outfield, he has entrenched himself behind the plate. The freshman from Middletown, Ohio, has started all 40 games — 39 of them behind the plate.“If Kyle can go, we’ll go with Kyle,” Smith said.Smith said the tools were there. In the first game Smith went to see Schwarber play, Schwarber hit three home runs against one of the best lefties in Cincinnati, Smith said.“It was at that point I knew that we liked him,” Smith said. “I’d heard good things about him. He was facing quality pitching and knocked three balls out. He possesses all the qualities you look for in a good catcher.”Schwarber said the coaches wanted him to be an offensive force.“(It was) kind of a weird recruiting process for me,” Schwarber said. “We had a good catcher in Ty Downing, so they were going to want me to try somewhere in the outfield. So I got myself ready in the outfield. Then Ty transferred. That’s how I ended up behind the dish.”As a catcher, he’s adapted. He said he began preparing for catching duties in the fall.“I was preparing for the outfield in the summer when I was back at home,” he said. “They had me working (on) catcher stuff during the fall season. In the fall, we had Downing. He was injured, so they were still working me behind the dish.“I was working hard, trying to get better being a catcher and being an outfielder.”Then Downing transferred. Schwarber said he felt mixed emotions when he learned of Downing’s decision.To be successful as a catcher, one needs to have a good rapport with the pitching staff, Schwarber said.“As a freshman, you’re coming in, and you don’t know any of the guys,” Schwarber said. “You have to try to build a personal relationship with all the guys. (At) practice, you just talk to them, ‘Hey, what would you do in this situation? What would you do in that situation?’”Offensively, Schwarber leads the team in home runs and slugging percentage, and he is third on the team in batting average and on-base percentage. He is able to maintain that delicate balance due to his preparation, he said."You’ve got to have good pitch selection,” he said. “When you’re going in there, you don’t want to swing out of your butt. You’ve got to have a good eye, know what you’re looking for. You’ve got to look at the guy’s tendency, look at the scouting report, see he’s more of a fastball kind of guy, or this guy, his out pitch is a slider.”Schwarber is listed at 6 feet tall and 230 pounds, but once he gets on base, which he does at a .391 clip, he is capable of wreaking havoc: He has successfully stolen a base in seven of his 10 attempts. He said after the game against Iowa on March 30 that, despite his looks, he finds himself “a little bit speedy, too.”He leads the team in triples and said he loves when opponents underestimate his speed.“The other teams, when you don’t get a good scouting report, they’re going to be ‘There’s kind of a big guy, you know? He’s going to be a slow runner.’ Once I hit a ball in the gap, I’m on three. It’s really fun to look at their reactions after and say, ‘Damn, you’re fast, you know?’”In the first game of the team’s most recent Big Ten series, Michigan State starter Tony Bucciferro hit him with a pitch in the fifth inning. The ball hit his toe.“It’s sore,” Schwarber said this past Friday. “The nail’s split. We don’t know if it’s broken. There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s going to hurt, but there’s nothing you can do. I’m just going to have to play through it.”Smith’s thoughts were a bit more blunt.“‘Get up,’” he recalled saying. “‘You’re not allowed to be hurt.’ He’s a tough kid. He’s banged up, playing through some things. But I was like, ‘Get up!’”Smith said Schwarber’s toughness has helped him carry a large role.“We’re on him, not only the physical part of being tough but also mentally tough because there’s so much put on the catcher that they’re supposed to do,” Smith said. “It’s like the quarterback or the point guard. When things aren’t going well, who’s going to bear the brunt of that from me? He responds very well. He doesn’t make excuses.”Sophomore pitcher Joey DeNato knew Schwarber was OK after he’d been hit.“I thought he was fine,” DeNato said. “He’s a bulldog. I knew he’d brush it off.”DeNato, in his brief IU career, has learned about durable catchers. Wilson started every game but two during DeNato’s freshman season. Schwarber’s durability is not to be questioned, DeNato said.“Schwarber’s done a great job taking over the role,” DeNato said. “He’s a freshman. He’s learned a lot, and he’s had to learn fast. He’s done pretty well with that.”When DeNato learned of Downing’s decision to transfer, he knew it was Schwarber’s time.“I knew Schwarber was going to have to step up big time because Ty was a great catcher for us,” he said. “We were planning on having him be our starter. Schwarber’s been doing a great job of taking over the role.”Downing’s transfer meant that Smith had only two catchers — backup Danny Sader is also a freshman. Schwarber said he picked up pointers from IU alumni Wilson and current AAA catcher Josh Phegley.“I worked my butt off to try to start,” Schwarber said. “It’s just a little bit of a change — a little bit better pitching. But there’s not a big change there. It’s just being more competitive.”Now that he’s there, DeNato described how Schwarber’s improved.“Controlling the running game,” DeNato said. “His arm’s gotten a lot better. Also just being a leader behind the plate. He’s been a lot more vocal. He’s gotten a lot smarter behind the plate, too. He’s a good guy to throw to. He’s been doing a great job.”Smith said Schwarber is gaining respect from opponents, as well.“He’s earning respect even from other coaches,” he said. “At the end of the series, guys are saying, ‘Boy, I really, really like your catcher. That kid’s going to be a good one.’“That’s a good thing for him. I don’t think he understands yet how good he can be. I want to make sure we keep him focused on that because truly he can be one of the better ones in the country.”
(04/23/12 2:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A five-run seventh inning for Georgia Southern broke a 1-1 tie, and the Eagles won 9-1 to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the Hoosiers Sunday at Sembower Field.GSU sent 10 batters to the plate in the seventh, took advantage of a couple errors in the frame and used a slash play to pull ahead for the first time in the series. A slash play occurs when a batter squares to bunt and pulls the bat back and swings normally in the last possible seconds.“It’s one of the exciting plays in baseball,” IU Coach Tracy Smith said. “They executed it, did a good job. I said it at the time, ‘They’re probably going to slash here.’ From a defensive standpoint, you don’t really worry about that because it’s a tough play to execute. But they got it done.”Smith said he was upset about the two errors his team made after that play.“It destroyed a very good baseball game,” he said.Senior pitcher Chad Martin gave the Hoosiers a great opportunity to earn the sweep, as he pitched six innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out three. The Lexington, Ky., native threw four one-two-three innings.“Just not trying to overthrow,” he said. “Focusing on hitting spots, working the knees. I’ve been up in the zone a lot this year. I was throwing harder earlier in the year, but that wasn’t working too well for me. Going back to the basics — repeating my mechanics, keeping the ball down and hitting all my spots.”In the seventh, sophomore Matt Dearden came in to relieve Martin. He surrendered two base hits, and Smith brought in junior Jonny Hoffman for the second time this series.The Hoosiers missed an opportunity to extend their lead in the fifth, as Eagles’ second baseman Tyler Avera snagged a line drive off the bat of junior center fielder Justin Cureton. With two outs and sophomore second baseman Dustin DeMuth on second, Cureton laced a hard line drive that seemed destined for center field.Avera had other ideas, as he ranged to his right and made a diving catch at the edge of the outfield grass to preserve the Eagles’ 1-0 deficit.“That was an unbelievable play,” freshman first baseman Sam Travis said. “That seemed like it was slow motion, didn’t even seem like it was real. You’ve just got to tip your hat to him.”The Eagles tied the game in the next half inning and took their first lead of the series in the seventh by executing the slash play.Smith said the Hoosiers, looking for their first series sweep of the season, came out a bit too relaxed.“It’s a relaxed feeling,” Smith said. “But it’s that catch-22. You want to be relaxed, but you also want to be focused. We made numerous mental mistakes today. I almost think we were too relaxed. That’s the part that disappoints me. Some of that is the young team. We’ve got to grow up and stop doing that.”Martin said his outing will help him in the near future.“That’s going to help a lot,” Martin said. “I really needed that for my confidence. (I’ve) been working constantly with Coach (Ty) Neal and Coach Smith, repeating my mechanics. That’s my big thing — not trying to do too much, just throwing strikes, making the hitters get themselves out.”For coverage of Friday’s and Saturday’s games, click here.
(04/20/12 2:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers said this is a perfect time for them to face a nonconference opponent, as Georgia Southern University comes to Sembower Field this weekend.The Eagles are coming off an 8-2 loss against the No. 1 Florida Gators, and they have a top-10 MLB Draft prospect in starting pitcher Chris Beck.These games won’t affect the Hoosiers in the Big Ten standings, as they’re currently tied for fifth.This series is an ideal time for the Hoosiers to heal and improve in areas that have betrayed them, IU Coach Tracy Smith said. For example, opponents have outscored the Hoosiers 41-14 in the last two contests.“I think it’s a perfect time for an off weekend because we’ve clearly got some issues that we need to get straightened out,” Smith said. “That’s going to come with good practices and good focus. We’re going to go with guys that want to compete. If guys are going to nibble and pitch behind in the count, they’re not going to get the baseball.” Part of the Hoosiers’ struggle is that they have not found a consistent third weekend starter.“I’m very concerned about it and very upset about it,” Smith said. “My concern, and the fact that I’m upset, has to do with there’s guys that are capable. We have to take a long, hard look at what we’re doing from a coaching standpoint — starting with me — as to why these guys aren’t ready. I will still say it’s not as much physical as it is mental.”Junior shortstop Michael Basil said the Hoosiers must move on from the past two games. Those games have been difficult, Basil said, because the Hoosiers haven’t been able to string together base hits. Basil added that the Hoosiers’ energy level suffered as Louisville’s run total ballooned.“(Tuesday) was the first time it was recognizable to me,” he said. “We need to address that as a team. That’s something we can’t do if a team gets up on us. We know we have the ability to come back. We’ve done it in the past. We need to understand that we’re good enough to come back.”Junior first baseman Trace Knoblauch said baseball has a certain beauty and that baseball’s quicker turnaround is a blessing.“You have 50-something games,” he said. “You’ve just got to put this behind you. Learning from it is the important thing and not make the same mistakes again. There’s always the next day, and you have another chance to come out and prove yourself.”But Smith said mindsets have to change before the results can change.“Hitting’s contagious,” he said. “Pitching’s contagious. Poor performances are contagious. What we need is ... to understand this isn’t acceptable. This isn’t even Little League pitching at this point. I’m very upset because we have some capable guys. I’m hoping it’s just a funk and they realize that they’re capable.“We’re nibbling around the strike zone. That tells me one thing — you’re not pitching to contact, which is our philosophy. It ain’t going to get any easier this weekend.”
(04/16/12 3:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A 35-minute interval between games did not cool the Michigan State bats, as the Spartans wasted no time scoring four runs in the top of the first against sophomore starter Matt Dearden and senior reliever Drew Leininger en route to a 20-10 win.MSU’s Ryan Jones singled to begin the game. Torsten Boss followed with a single to right field. He took second base, as freshman right fielder Will Nolden threw to third.Ryan Krill continued to torch the Hoosiers’ pitching staff. The Michigan State first baseman hit 6-10 against IU pitching in the doubleheader.After Krill’s hit, Dearden’s first career start was over.Leininger relieved him and surrendered two more singles to load the bases. Justin Scanlon singled up the middle to double the Spartans’ lead.Following a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, the Spartans continued to tack on runs.Boss hit an RBI single to score the fifth run for Michigan State. Jones, who hit an infield single, advanced to third. The rout was on.MSU’s Jordan Keur hit an RBI double down the third base line and knocked Leininger from the game.Sophomore Walker Stadler’s wild pitch scored Boss from third. After Krill grounded out, designated hitter Jared Hook increased the Hoosiers’ deficit with a two-run home run, his first of the season.The Hoosiers now trailed 9-0.“We were connecting with balls,” said junior first baseman Trace Knoblauch, who hit his first career home run in game two. “They were right to guys. Theirs were falling. Ours weren’t. I don’t think we gave up. We just couldn’t shut them down offensively.”IU Coach Tracy Smith said Friday this series marked the halfway point in conference play.“We were flat all day,” he said. “We didn’t play with the sense of urgency and focus that we needed to against a quality opponent like that after taking the first game. That’s the part that I’m most upset about.”Junior pitcher Hunter Brown was the only pitcher to hold Michigan State scoreless in an inning, as he did so in the sixth and eighth innings.Smith said Brown was not doing anything different than the other four Hoosiers pitchers.For the Spartans, starter David Garner was outstanding, as he allowed only two runs through six innings — both earned — on five hits. He also struck out seven batters, despite throwing only 60 pitches.Freshman catcher Kyle Schwarber said Garner was locating his pitches.“Location is the biggest part of pitching,” he said. “If you hit your spots, you’re going to do pretty well.”The Hoosiers had a bit more success against him in the seventh, scoring four runs on four hits.Smith said he doesn’t put too much stock in those runs.IU cut its deficit to 16-8 after eight innings, but the Spartans added four against Brown in the ninth to notch their season-high run total.Schwarber wasn’t happy with the result for a couple of reasons.“We’re at home,” he said. “That’s the most important thing. We were in second place. It’s disappointing when we drop two to put us in the middle of the pack. We’re a better team than what we showed today. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
(04/13/12 3:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Michigan State has played one less Big Ten series than Indiana, which only adds to the importance of this weekend’s series at Sembower Field against the Spartans. Junior shortstop Michael Basil said the Hoosiers cannot afford to come out sluggish this weekend.“That’s definitely going to be a big issue,” he said. “Although (Indiana State University was) 26-7 (coming into Wednesday’s game), I think Michigan State is obviously tougher competition. “It’s going to be very important to come out with a good start, especially defensively.” A big focus for the team will be to minimize the amount of free Spartan base runners, Basil said. On Sunday, IU Coach Tracy Smith said he wanted his team to be more consistent at the plate. Basil said the Hoosiers accomplished that against the Sycamores.“I thought we did pretty well,” he said. “I don’t think many people were swinging at pitches that were too far out of the zone. I can recall one or two, which isn’t too bad throughout the span of a game. It’s a big deal in hitting. If you’re getting a good pitch to hit, if you’re not swinging at good pitches, you’re not going to drive the ball.”Freshman right fielder Chris Sujka delivered the game-winning hit, a walk-off bunt single. Smith said he hoped the hit would help Sujka going into the weekend, and Basil said he believed in his freshman teammate.“Sujka’s been struggling lately, but he’s a good hitter,” Basil said. “I have all the confidence in the world in him. He is the best bunter on our team, too. That was a perfectly placed bunt.”In a close game such as Wednesday’s, when a Hoosier reaches base, Smith can call upon junior Micah Johnson to pinch run.When the Baseball America Preseason All American is on base, batters behind him will probably see more fastballs, as pitchers and catchers are worried about his ability to steal bases, Johnson said, like he did Wednesday when he stole second.“I think (the pitcher) kind of had to rush,” Johnson said. “It gets him out of his element, too, because when I got to second he had to worry about, ‘OK, is he going to steal third?’ That causes the hitters to get better pitches. A fastball for a strike? We can hit those. Base-running and base-stealing can lead to a better approach at the plate.”The Spartans lead the Big Ten with a 3.01 ERA. The Hoosiers’ ability to steal bases could play a big role in this series, Smith said.“We’d missed (Johnson) so much this year, to get on there, be able to steal a base and not have to give up an out and put us in a position to win a baseball game,” Smith said.
(04/12/12 1:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A mid-week contest against a nonconference opponent gave IU Coach Tracy Smith the opportunity to play some team members who do not play often.Junior shortstop Michael Basil said such chances are good for the team.“When you have some guys who watch the games a lot of the time and don’t get in, it makes them feel sometimes like they’re not a part of it as much,” he said. “When everyone gets to come in and play, it really makes everyone feel like they’re a part of what’s going on. It gets everyone into the games throughout the rest of the season, too, to know that, ‘Hey, I might get a crack at this.’ It keeps them into the game. It keeps the dugout up.”A lack of effort by freshman catcher Kyle Schwarber gave backup catcher and fellow freshman Danny Sader extended playing time.In the fourth inning, Schwarber was charged with a passed ball. Pinch runner Lucas Hileman, on first base at the time, took advantage of Schwarber’s lackadaisical pursuit of the ball and hustled to third.With left fielder Kyle Burnham at the plate for the Sycamores, Schwarber was pulled in the middle of the at-bat.“That’s stuff you can’t put up with 30-something games into the season,” junior Micah Johnson said. “We’re trying to prove you can’t play like that. It’s nothing against them. He’d do that for anybody. I’ve been benched before. If you’re not giving a full effort, he’s not going to put up with it.”Smith said he hopes the bench is not a motivating factor.“We were taking guys out just for the number of mental mistakes we had,” he said. “I think it was guys that haven’t played and got an opportunity to play, to me, showed what can happen if you play with a little intent and a little focus. It was what we weren’t doing early. For whatever reason, I guess it takes me to substitute guys to get guys to focus and concentrate. Hopefully we grow up on that in the future and not have to use substitutions to be ready to play.”In the bottom of the ninth, with the game tied at seven, Johnson pinch ran for freshman Ricky Alfonso. Off his surgery, the Hoosiers’ lone preseason All-American promptly stole second on the first pitch of Basil’s at-bat.“Skip told me you got to go in the first three pitches, which I usually do anyways,” he said. “I definitely think that was something I had planned.”Redshirt freshman outfielder Tim O’Conner was the only available position player who did not see action that day.Junior pitcher Hunter Brown, a junior college transfer from Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif., made his first career appearance, in the sixth inning.Though he faced one batter more than the minimum, the Encinitas, Calif., native pitched a perfect frame — including a strikeout. However, right fielder Robby Ort reached on a throwing error by Sader. After a balk advanced Ort to second, Brown got Hedges to line out to junior center fielder Justin Cureton.Sophomore reliever Ryan Halstead earned the win for the Hoosiers, their second consecutive Wednesday walk-off win.