Hoosier bats come alive in 12-6 win against BSU

Battling 25 to 30 mph gusts of wind that were blowing out to center field all day, the Hoosiers (14-13) offensive attack was not as powerful as Sunday’s, but they did hit five home runs in a 12-6 victory against Ball State (11-16) on Tuesday.

Nine of the 12 runs for IU came via the long ball. Sophomore infielder Ethan Wilson hit two of IU’s home runs, and three other Hoosiers — sophomore outfielder Alex Dickerson, junior infielder Jerrud Sabourin and sophomore catcherJosh Lyon — each followed suit, hitting one a piece.

Dickerson, who extended his hitting streak to 21 games, now ties his 2009 season total at 12 home runs. For IU, the team now has 32 home runs in its past 17 games.

“We are a power-hitting team,” IU coach Tracy Smith said. “But, if you take a look back earlier on in the season when we weren’t hitting for a lot of power, we were stealing bases and manufacturing runs. So, I think even if we’re not hitting home runs, we can find ways to get runs across.”

Along with Sabourin’s home run, he had four hits, pushing his league-leading batting average up to an astounding .480. He also got the start on the mound for IU, going the first two innings and giving up three runs.

Following Sabourin on the hill was junior catcher Dylan Swift, who had only thrown five innings in the past two years. Swift picked up the win on Tuesday, going four innings, giving up three runs on five hits.

He said he hasn’t pitched in a close game since his junior year in high school.

“Well, I knew my stuff wasn’t going to beat them,” Swift said. “But, being a catcher, I can place it really wherever I wanted to and I have a short and quick release that kept the running game intact.”

Tuesday’s victory against Ball State marked the first win over the Cardinals since 1998 — a 3-2 victory in Muncie. Previously, BSU had won the past five games.
The Hoosiers return back to Big Ten play this weekend, when they will travel to Ohio State to take on the Buckeyes.