Bad weather changes date of IU game

Due to weather conditions expected to deteriorate by Wednesday, the IU baseball team’s scheduled game at Ball State has been moved to 3 p.m today.\nThe Hoosiers (11-11) are coming off a disappointing start to the Big Ten season this past weekend. \nDuring the 1-3 series against Michigan State, the Hoosiers struggled at the plate, scoring a combined 10 runs in the four games. Six of the runs came in the second half of Saturday’s double-header.\nIU coach Tracy Smith was not necessarily upset with the results but instead with how his team looked in the batter’s box.\n“I think our guys need to stay relaxed and stay with the plan and do what you’re supposed to do,” Smith said. “Hopefully, this’ll turn around. We have no choice. It has to turn around. But it starts mentally, competing.”\nIn hopes of injecting some new blood into the lineup Sunday, Smith inserted a pitcher into his batting order. Sophomore Tyler Tufts got his first start as an everyday player, getting the nod in left field.\nTufts went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, the lone run for the Hoosiers on the day.\nThe sophomore has a simple solution for IU’s struggles at the plate.\n“We just have to keep swinging,” Tufts said after Sunday’s loss. “The bats are a little quiet right now.”\nDuring the Hoosiers’ seven-game winning streak that was snapped Saturday, they won with a small-ball mentality, moving runners over while the pitchers kept opponents at bay.\nFollowing a two-game sweep of IPFW two weeks ago, sophomore center fielder Andrew Means said the Hoosiers know they have the ability to hit.\n“Once we get on (base) and steal second, we’re just trying to get the guy over to third like we’ve been doing all year,” Means said.\nBall State comes into the game with a mark of 11-16 and a 2-4 record in MAC play. But just like the Hoosiers, the Cardinals come into the midweek game on a losing streak – four games compared with IU’s three.\nIU’s pitching staff will have its hands full with a Cardinals lineup that features several big power hitters. Ball State has three players with at least four home runs.\nOn the other side of the ball, the Cardinals have struggled on the mound. Their main three starters are all posting ERAs above 4.00.\nAs the Hoosiers travel to Muncie, Smith is banking on his team working itself out of its current funk.\n“I’m a believer in you make your own breaks,” Smith said. “The way you get out of this is through hard work and a belief and a confidence. Right now we’ve got to get the swagger back. It’s certainly missing.”