Hoosiers increase win streak to 12 games

The IU baseball team obliterated the University of Detroit Mercy in Saturday's doubleheader 22-2 and 15-4, but squeaked by with a 7-6 victory in Sunday's game. \nThe sweep increased IU's win streak to 12 games and improved its record 16-3, while Detroit dropped to 4-10.\nIn the opener, the Titans leadoff hitter, senior Zak Voit walked and later scored the first of his two runs. IU had no answer in the bottom of the inning, and the win streak looked to be in jeopardy.\nBut junior Jacob Cary (4-1) settled down on the mound, and only allowed one more run on four hits in six innings of work, striking out seven.\n"It helps your confidence because this team scores runs," Cary said. "Last year you felt like you had to pitch a perfect game or push it to extra innings just to get a win."\nIU's offense did the rest, taking the lead with a four-run second inning and continued to build a bigger league each inning. \n"The whole team was focused with everyone contributing in the wins," senior shortstop Eric Blakeley said. "We did a good job of getting on top and increasing our lead each inning."\nEven though the Hoosier offense did not need any help, the Titans defense and pitching provided some aid in the fifth inning. IU scored ten runs on just four hits because Detroit pitching hit three IU batters and walked three more.\nJunior Vasili Spanos, sophomore Cody Wargo and freshman Jay Brant each homered for the Hoosiers.\nIn the nightcap, the game started off similarly to the opener, with Detroit scoring two runs in the first inning and holding the Hoosiers' hitters at bay.\nBut that did not last long as IU tied the game at two in the second inning and then erupted for nine runs in the third led by Blakeley, who knocked in five runs on a home run and double in the third inning alone.\nSophomore Ryan Donley came off the bench to notch two hits and two RBIs. Senior Gibran Hamdan and junior Kenny Marrs also added two hits apiece.\nSenior Zach Otte (3-1) picked up the win for the Hoosiers in a solid outing.\n"We just played well, especially in the first game," coach Bob Morgan said. "I think we just demoralized them, and it carried over to the second game."\nFollowing Saturday's games, the Hoosiers wondered how Detroit could have beaten a top-notch team like Ohio State just a week ago, but they found out how in Sunday's game and needed a late-inning rally to earn the sweep.\nDetroit led 4-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but IU was not about to let its win streak end.\nDonley led off with a seeing-eye single between shortstop and third base, and Brant followed with a walk. Junior Kennard Jones stroked a double to deep left field scoring Donley. Jones had three hits in the game.\nMarrs knocked in both Brant and Jones and later scored on Blakeley's single. Junior Nick Evans drove in Blakeley making the score 7-4.\nWith two outs in the ninth, Detroit put on their rally caps and scored two runs on Mark Moehlig's home run and Roger Wechter's single, but junior Ryan Smith closed the door on the Titans, striking out the final batter.\nThe Hoosiers are back on the field today to take on Indiana Wesleyan at 3 p.m. at Sembower Field.