Bashore sizzles in lone Hoosier win

After losing two of three contests to Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. this weekend, the IU baseball team’s dreams of climbing back into the Big Ten Tournament picture are quickly becoming nightmares.\nIU (22-28, 10-17) finds itself scrambling toward the bottom of the Big Ten. With only five conference games left on their schedule, the Hoosiers will need to sweep Michigan State next weekend and hope for more Northwestern (20-24, 13-14) losses. \n“I think if we lose the next one we are out of it,” said freshman Jerrud Sabourin. “We are trying to keep it positive and trying to win this next game while we still have a chance.”\nThe Hoosiers threatened a game one comeback Friday, but never mounted a rally as the Wildcats edged the Cream and Crimson, 8-5.\nDown 8-4 with two outs in the eighth inning, the Hoosiers managed to put two men on base. Sophomore infielder Tyler Rogers stepped in and blasted a shot to right field, but the rope was cut off by the NU outfielder, ending the rally. \nWith one down in the ninth, IU loaded the bases for sophomore slugger Josh Phegley, who drew a walk to bring the match to its final tally. The Hoosiers stranded the remaining runners after a fly out to left and grounder to third ended the frame. \n“We are going to score runs, because we are never out of it offensively,” said IU coach Tracy Smith. “Game one and three was our inability to get it done on the mound.”\nThe lone high note of the weekend came in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader as sophomore lefty Matt Bashore continued his dominating pitching. \nBashore (6-3) threw a complete game 3-hitter, allowing only one unearned run while striking out five. The Hoosiers took the contest thanks to Bashore’s efforts as the team managed to plate two runs.\n“I didn’t really have my best stuff, but I was trying to keep it in the zone and the defense behind me really helped me,” Bashore said. “We have to take on every game from here on out to try and make (the Big Ten Tournament).”\nThe Hoosiers lost game three of the four-game series in the nightcap of the doubleheader Saturday. It was a complete night and day change from the first game that day as IU fell 10-8. \nThe Hoosiers came from behind to knot the contest at seven, but Wildcat Chris Lashmet blasted a three-run home run giving NU an insurmountable lead. \n“We came back and tied it late, but had a walk and error at a critical time in the game, and you just can’t have that when you are trying to climb back into this thing,” Smith said.\nThe fourth and final game against Northwestern was scheduled for Sunday, but was rained out. The Big Ten forces teams to wrap-up their series in four days and because IU arrived in Evanston on Thursday, there will be no opportunity for a make-up game.\nAs for the remainder of the Hoosiers’ climb back into the conference tournament, it will be against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., starting Friday. The Hoosiers’ next contest will be against Butler at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Bloomington.