Hoosiers split series

After dropping its first two conference series, the IU baseball team split a four-game set at home against in-state rival Purdue this weekend, winning the first two games of the series before losing the final two.\nThe Hoosiers (12-20, 4-8 Big Ten) won the opening game of the series behind three scoreless innings of relief by sophomore pitcher Doug Fleenor and a potent middle of the order.\nThe 3-4-5 hitters for IU went a combined 5-for-9 in the game with five RBIs. Senior designated hitter Zach Boswell led the way, going 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season, a solo shot in the fifth inning. Boswell just missed a home run later in the game, flying out at the wall in the right-center field gap.\n"I got it off the end of the bat; I thought it might have had a shot," Boswell said. "They shifted over and I think that's pretty much how they tracked that one down."\nFleenor (1-1) picked up his first collegiate victory in the 8-4 IU win after starter Clint Crosier went five innings, allowing three runs and David Trager allowed one run in one inning of work.\n"We got the lead, and I just wanted to get back in there and go back at them," Fleenor said. "I just wanted to be aggressive and win."\nSenior starting pitcher Josh Lewis and Boswell led the Hoosiers to a 3-2 victory in the second game of Saturday's double header, assuring a split of the series.\nBoswell hit his second home run in as many days, lining a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence to lead off the second inning and give the Hoosiers a 2-1 lead in the game. Boswell drove in the third run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.\nBoswell went 1-for-2 on the day with two RBIs.\nPurdue added a run and threatened in the sixth, but IU reliever Chris McCombs worked out of the bases loaded jam.\nLewis (3-5) gave up two runs and five hits over five innings, walking one and striking out three for the win.\n"I felt good in warm-ups in the bullpen," Lewis said. "I was working it inside and out and keeping them off balance with my breaking pitches."\nAfter closing out game two, McCombs made the start in game three. McCombs (1-1) didn't fare as well, allowing five hits and four runs, three earned, in two innings of work for the loss.\n"We weren't expecting to get a complete game, but maybe through five with him," IU coach Tracy Smith said. "The time off (in between games) probably hurt him a little bit."\nPurdue starter Brent Coudron held down the Hoosier offense, allowing four hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings. Reliever Chris Toneguzzi closed out the final 1 1/3 innings for the save and a 5-2 Purdue victory.\nThe Boilermakers salvaged a split in game four, pounding out 26 hits in a 25-8 victory. Senior outfielder Reggie Watson went 2-for-4 with one RBI in the final game.