Indiana University Baseball Player Devin Taylor earns third Big Ten Freshman of the Week Award
For the third time this season, Indiana baseball freshman outfielder Devin Taylor Devin Taylor has earned a weekly award from the Big Ten Conference office. Taylor was selected as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday. Taylor’s three rookie awards are tied for No. 2 in Indiana history behind the four Freshman of the Week awards claimed by Logan Sowers in 2015. Three other Hoosiers have won three weekly freshman awards which includes Dustin DeMuth (2011), Kyle Schwarber (2012) and Sam Travis (2012).
Taylor collected multiple hits in each of his four games to move his reached base streak to 25 games and his hitting streak to five games, to tie his season long, which he has done three times. He logged four multi-hit games with three multi-RBI contests on the week. Taylor hit .500 and posted a 1.778 OBP with seven of his nine hits going for extra bases. Of the seven extra base hits, he had three doubles, one triple and three home runs. The three home runs pushed his season total to eight, which is tied with Schwarber (2012) for No. 6 on the all-time freshman list at IU. He scored at least one run, had multiple hits, and drove in at least one RBI in all four games on the week, and posted at least one extra base hit in each contest. Overall, he scored eight runs and drove in 10 RBIs on the week.
Taylor provided all the runs IU would need in the series-clinching victory at Illinois with a third inning grand slam in the second game of the doubleheader. He finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBIs with a single, double, and home run in the game. In the first game of the doubleheader, he tripled, singled, scored one run and drove in one RBI. The left-handed hitter homered twice and drove in three RBIs in the series opener at Illinois for his second career multi-home run game. he opened the week with a two-hit, two-RBI, two-run scored game versus Ball State. Both hits were doubles against the Cardinals. Indiana (25-11, 9-3 B1G) entertains No. 10 Louisville tonight at 6pm at Bart Kaufman Field. After a trip to Cincinnati on Wednesday the Hoosiers will host Ohio University for a three-game series Friday through Sunday.
Indiana University Water Polo wins regular season finale at Santa Clara
The No. 17 Indiana Hoosiers wrapped up its regular season with a decisive 15-1 victory over Santa Clara on Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Aquatic Center in Santa Clara California. Indiana’s offense got rolling early as it put up three unanswered goals to start the game off in the first. Graduate student goalie Mary Askew helped keep the Broncos (10-18) scoreless in-home waters in the first period, racking up five saves. It was more of IU (17-12, 2-4 MPSF) in the second, scoring four more unanswered goals to take an 8-0 lead at the break. Senior Zoe Crouch led the way at the half with a pair of goals. The two teams played a tight third quarter as freshman Louisa Downes started the quarter off with a sprint win. But neither team was able to find the back of the net for most of the frame until sophomore Portia Sasser connected with 20 seconds to go. In the fourth, the Hoosiers tacked on six more goals to increase its lead as Crouch completed her hat trick with 1:55 remaining.
Crouch led the way with three goals and an assist for a team-high four points on the afternoon. She also posted two steals. Seniors Robyn Greenslade and Katherine Hawkins along with freshman Nicole Tyner had two goals each. Indiana had eight assists on its 15 made goals. Askew recorded all 32 minutes in goal and held a 92.3 save percentage on 12 saves and an assist. Also scoring in the effort were Debow, sophomore Grace Hathaway, Sasser, sophomore Sarah Lolli and freshman Grace Klingler. Indiana won all four sprints. Indiana will await the MPSF Tournament hosted by San Jose State on April 28-30 in San Jose, California.
Indiana University Women’s Golf closes the regular season with 13th place finish
The Indiana Hoosiers women’s golf team wrapped up the 2022-23 regular season with a 13th-place effort at the Lady Buckeye Invitational at the OSU Scarlet Course on Sunday. The Hoosiers shot 903 (294-305-304; +39) over the weekend and were led by graduate transfer Alexis Florio, who fired a 216 (68-76-72; E). Florio finished tied for 12th in the individual standings after shooting a 216 (68-76-72; E). Her final round of play included birdies on No. 4 and No. 18. The Columbia transfer has earned fourth top-15 finishes this season.
Senior Valerie Clancy was the second-lowest Hoosiers for the weekend at 225 (74-77-74; +9). Her Sunday round concluded with a team-high four birdies. Junior Dominika Burdová carded a 232 (76-77-79; +16) in Columbus. Her final 18 saw a birdie drop on No. 3. Sophomore Margaret Fernandez finished the tournament at 232 (77-76-79; +16). Her Sunday round came with a pair of birdies on No. 3 and No. 14. Sophomore Beatriz Junqueria played a three-round scorecard of 235 (76-76-83; +19). Her final 18 was eventful with birdies coming on No. 1 and No. 12. Senior Hanna Tanaka turned in her final scorecard at 242 (77-82-83; +26). Junior Morgan Dabagia playing as an individual, finished the weekend at 258 (84-87-87; +42). Her lone birdie over the three rounds came on No. 7 during Sunday’s play. The Hoosiers will close out the season at the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Golf Championship this Friday through Sunday at the Fox Chapel Golf Course in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Ben Davis Boys Basketball Senior Zane Doughty commits to Ball State University
Zane Doughty will play his college basketball in-state, but at a different school than where he originally committed. The 6-9 Ben Davis standout, the Marion County player of the year and one of six finalists for IndyStar Mr. Basketball, announced his commitment to Ball State on Sunday, following a weekend official visit. Doughty was committed to Valparaiso before coach Matt Lottich was fired at the end of March. Ball State coach Michael Lewis showed interest quickly after Doughty was released from his letter of intent, making an in-home visit. Doughty was previously recruited by Ball State prior to his commitment to Valparaiso, but did not have an offer.
Doughty, who averaged 13.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots as a senior for the Class 4A state champion Giants, also picked up offers from Eastern Kentucky, IUPUI, Nicholls State, St. Bonaventure and Southern Indiana after opening his recruitment. New Valparaiso coach Roger Powell Jr. reached out Wednesday to Doughty and made a strong impression, but Ball State quickly became the frontrunner following the in-home visit with Lewis. Going up against Flory Bidunga in the 4A title game against Kokomo, Doughty finished with 20 points on 10-for-13 shooting, three rebounds and two blocked shots. Something about these matchups with five-star prospects like Bidunga and Cathedral’s Xavier Booker seemed to bring out the best in Doughty who became Ben Davis’s all-time program leader in rebounds this season.
Victory Field Classic HS Baseball participants announced for May 12th doubleheader
Four Indiana high school baseball teams will compete in the 14th edition of the Victory Field Classic presented by BSN Sports and U.S. Army Recruiting on Friday, May 12 at Victory Field. The 5:30 PM contest pairs Guerin Catholic (3A No. 4 by Prep Baseball Report) vs. Heritage Christian ahead of the 8 PM matchup between Franklin Community which has the top 2023 high school draft prospect in the country, outfielder Max Clark and Zionsville (4A No. 4 by Prep Baseball Report). Only one ticket is needed to attend both games. Tickets to the doubleheader may be purchased here or by contacting the Victory Field Box Office at Tickets@IndyIndians.com or (317) 269-3545.
The Victory Field Classic is loaded with individual talent. In addition to Clark, a senior outfielder who is committed to Vanderbilt University and projected as a first-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, Heritage Christian outfielder/right-handed pitcher Andrew Wiggins is the No. 2 prospect in Indiana’s Class of 2023. Wiggins will also play the saxophone for the pregame national anthem. Limited parking will also be available at Victory Field for $10 per vehicle (cash and debit/credit card accepted). The lot will open at 3:30 PM. Single-game tickets to the Indians’ 66 remaining home games are available along with group and premium reservations. For more on the Indians, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com.
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