Strong pitching leads IU to win

Prior to Wednesday's game against Valparaiso, coach Bob Morgan said his young pitchers had to step up if IU was to stop its two-game non-conference losing streak. They must have been listening.\nThe Hoosiers (20-7) utilized six strong innings from two pitchers in a 7-2 win Wednesday. \nFreshman Troy Ragle got the nod and gave up just one run in 3.2 innings of work. Sophomore Brian Lortz came in and went 2.1 innings, earning his first victory as a Hoosier. \n"(Ragle) is getting better, and that all comes with experience," Morgan said. "The young guys are improving."\nEarly on the Hoosier bats were as cold as the 30-degree temperatures at Sembower Field. The offense mustered just two hits through the first five innings but took advantage of crucial Crusader mistakes, scattering four unearned runs between the third, fifth and seventh innings. \n"It was not a hitter's day, and we did not swing the bat well early," Morgan said. "They helped us out with a couple wild pitches and passed balls, and we were very fortunate to score some runs early and then extend the lead later on."\nThe Hoosiers tied the game at one on a passed ball in the third, then went ahead for good in the fifth when junior David Hughes scored on a wild pitch.\nThe Hoosiers added three insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to pad their two-run lead. Senior Vasili Spanos delivered a two out, two RBI single to center field to put IU on top 7-2 in the eighth, and senior Ryan Smith came in to close out the ninth.\n"The wind was gusting in so it was a pretty tough day to hit," Spanos said. "They gave us a few runs, but if those pitches would've been strikes, they might've been hits too. We played well"