Second baseman Keith Haas stole a career-high four bases in four attempts to go along with two hits, two RBI and a run in IU's win. |
Indiana Steals 10 Bases, Runs By Hartford in Home Opener
March 24, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Keith Haas stole four bases, collected two hits and drove in two runs to lead the Indiana baseball team over Hartford, 6-4, in the Hoosiers' home opener at Sembower Field on March 24. IU stole 10 bases in 11 attempts to spoil Hartford head coach Jeff Calcaterra's return to Bloomington. Calcaterra spent 17 years at Indiana as a player, volunteer and assistant coach. The Hoosiers are now 5-10 on the season, while the Hawks fell to 1-14.
"It was good to see him," Indiana head coach Tracy Smith said of coaching against Calcaterra. "He is a good friend, and he really has his guys playing hard. They did not give up today. He is going to do a great job at Hartford."
Haas became the third Hoosier (fourth time) in school history to steal four bases in one game and the first since Dan Haegele stole four bags vs. Iona on March 16, 1999. Haegele also swiped four bases against IUPUI on March 5, 1998 - the last time a Hoosier accomplished the feat at Sembower Field.
Along with Haas, left fielder Jay Brant went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and one run, and center fielder Reggie Watson turned in a 2-for-4 effort with a pair of steals and one RBI. He now owns a nine-game hitting streak.
The offense gave starter Josh Lewis (2-3) more than enough to work with. Earning his second win in three starts, the right-hander threw seven strong innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Chris McCombs tossed the final two innings of scoreless baseball to secure his first save of the season and the second of his career.
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IU held a 5-3 lead in the eighth when Watson, shortstop David Trager and catcher Jon Fixler turned in a momentum-changing play. With runners on second and third, right fielder Ben Sobocinski doubled over Watson's head. Frank Cipolla scored and pinch-runner Andres Dorman attempted to tie the game, although he did not get a good read on the ball. Trager received Watson's relay and threw a strike to Fixler, who laid down the tag to get Dorman at the plate and keep the Hoosiers in front, 5-4.
Haas added an insurance run in the eighth, singling home Josh Richardson, and McCombs left Bryan Propst standing on second to end the contest and give the Hoosiers a 5-4 victory.
"It is good to win the first one, but we just need to keep playing hard and keep doing the little things," Haas said. "Coach always says we have to do the little things to win games. I think we did that today by running the bases and doing a good job with situational hitting. We just have to keep doing that in order to be successful the rest of the weekend."
A sacrifice fly off the bat of designated hitter Tad Reida moved Indiana in front in the third, and IU used a three-run fourth to grab a 4-0 lead. First baseman Michael Nilles, who went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI, started the rally with a double down the left-field line to plate third baseman Steve Head.
After Haas knocked in Nilles with a single back through the box, the North Olmsted, Ohio native stole second, advanced to third on a fly out and stole home against southpaw starter Pete Moraski (0-4).
Hartford threatened prior to Indiana's three-run outburst, but Lewis escaped a first and second, nobody out jam. Lewis rolled through the first six innings, limiting the Hawks to just three hits with no walks.
In the seventh, Hartford broke through with a pair before Watson doubled in Brant to make it 5-2.
The Hawks were never able to overcome the Hoosiers on-slaught on the basepaths. Indiana's 10 stolen bases marked its highest total this season, and the team has stolen 32 of its last 33 bases successfully. Haas is 8-for-9 on the season, while Watson leads the team with 14 steals in 17 attempts. Additionally, Brant is 10-for-12 this year.
The teams hit the field tomorrow afternoon, March 25, for the second of the three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. The finale is slated for a noon start on March 26.
Game Notes
-Indiana stole a season-high 10 bases in 11 attempts. The team has swiped 32 bases in its last 33 attempts.
-Second baseman Keith Haas stole a career-high four bases in the contest. He is now 8-for-9 on the season. Haas became the third Hoosier (fourth time) in school history to steal four bases in one game and the first since Dan Haegele stole four bags vs. Iona on March 16, 1999. Haegele also swiped four bases against IUPUI on March 5, 1998 - the last time a Hoosier accomplished the feat at Sembower Field.
-With two steals in as many tries this afternoon, left fielder Jay Brant has swiped his last nine bags successfully. Overall, Brant is second on the team with 10 steals in 12 attempts and has stolen two bags in a game three times this season. Brant is now in sole possession of 10th place on the Indiana career steals ledger with 54.
-Center fielder Reggie Watson also stole two bags in today's game and also has swiped nine consecutive bags. He increased his team-leading total to 14 in 17 attempts. Watson has stolen at least two bases in one game five times this campaign. The Cincinnati native moved into sixth place on IU's career stolen base list and now has 68 in his career.
-The Hoosiers entered the Hartford series leading the Big Ten with 35 steals in 44 attempts. With 10 swipes in 11 tries this afternoon, IU is now 45-for 55 on the year, good for an 82-percent success rate.
-IU collected 13 hits in the ballgame, marking the seventh time this season the Hoosiers have reached the 10-hit plateau.
-Center fielder Reggie Watson extending his hitting streak to nine games.
-Starter Josh Lewis moved into ninth place on the all-time innings pitched list. He now has thrown 239 2/3 innings in his four-year career.
-Right-hander Chris McCombs earned his first save this season and the second of his career.
-Hartford head coach Jeff Calcaterra spent 17 years with the Hoosiers as a player (1989-92), volunteer assistant (1994-97) and an assistant coach (1997-04). He spent two seasons (1995 and 1996) with Indiana skipper Tracy Smith when Smith was the team's pitching coach.
-Today marked Indiana's first home game after 14 contests away from Bloomington.
-IU is now 2-0 all-time against Hartford.
