The IUS baseball team improved their winning streak to six games by winning both games of the doubleheader on April 8 with scores of 8-3 and 9-1.
IU Southeast started the season by only winning five of their first 18 games.
Since then, they have rebounded in conference play by winning 15 of their last 16 in route to a 12-2 conference record after taking both games from Brescia University.
IUS head coach Ben Reel talked about the Grenadiers’ recent nine- and now six-game winning streaks.
“If you want to win a lot of games,” Reel said, “you have to start building streaks.”
Reel also talked about the team’s turnaround since conference play started and compared it to getting a new season.
“We opened up with a really tough schedule,” Reel said. “We really underachieved. The cool thing about conference is it really is a new season within a season. It’s almost like you start over.”
Reel said he was pleased with his team’s performance, especially with one of the starting pitchers for game one, Bo Daves, senior pitcher.
“Daves had an operation on his mouth this morning,” Reel said. “He had a tooth that was really bothering him. He’s our ace, and he wanted the ball. We, as coaches, are constantly trying to teach our guys to be mentally tough. That’s what we’re always looking for.
“What other example can you get than that?” he said. “A lot of kids you’re fighting with them to prepare them mentally, and he’s already prepared.”
Brescia head coach Scott Cornett talked about the team’s hitters and pitchers falling behind in the count and cited that as being the biggest issue in the losses.
“Obviously, the first game, we let some guys on base,” Cornett said. “The starting pitching wasn’t great tonight. We were behind in the count too much.
“We put ourselves in the situation where we’ve got to groove a pitch, and IUS hits everything that’s thrown up there,” he said.
Reel also talked about the importance of his guys working themselves ahead in the counts.
“We fell behind on some hitters early in the first game and in the middle of the second game,” Reel said. “You have to get ahead of batters. Trust your defense. When you play good defense and you pound the strike zone, you’re going to win a lot of baseball games.”
Reel also spoke about how well his young team has been playing.
“It’s really exciting because the team as a whole is very young,” Reel said. “They’re learning how to win right off the bat. I couldn’t be happier with them.
“They’re finally starting to understand that when you play as a team and you execute on the mound, you execute on the field, and you situationally hit, you’re going to win a lot of games,” Reel said.
The Grenadiers were led in hitting by Daniel McDonald, senior designated hitter.
McDonald was 5-for-6 from the plate when the day was done.
McDonald also scored three runs, drove in three runs and drew two walks on the evening.
The Grenadiers will look to continue their conference-winning ways when they head to Cincinnati Christian University for four games on Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23.
By BRENT KULWICKI
Staff
bkulwick@ius.edu
