Andrew Saalfrank indicates upside in big win for IU baseball

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Jake Burlingame went down searching, Conner Morro struck out swinging, and Jacob Victor observed Morro in an equal fashion. Those were the first three names on the Canisius College lineup card, and they had no St. Patrick’s Day good fortune against IU junior pitcher Andrew Saalfrank within the first inning. The fashion could be kept for the group during the afternoon. The southpaw struck out a profession-high 14 batters in seven innings, en course to a 12-1 IU victory. Saalfrank has shown flashes of dominance with his breaking ball all through his three seasons at IU, but he said his fastball command was given him in favorable positions Sunday. “In the times that I haven’t completed nicely, it’s just because I can’t throw the fastball when and where I need to,” Saalfrank stated. “Fastball command makes the curveball higher simply because they ought to admire both pitches.”

Saalfrank persisted in assaulting the strike region against Canisius, throwing just 37 balls on 103 pitches. The seven innings pitched marked Saalfrank’s longest outing of the season, his most effective one longer than 3. “He can attain lower back for ninety-three. However, he didn’t because he didn’t need to,” IU Coach Jeff Mercer said. “When we try to throw through our stuff and over-strength the game, the whole lot becomes harder. Today, he didn’t.” Like the closing season, Saalfrank has struggled to earn a starting role with the Hoosiers. With sophomore Tommy Sommer out for a few weeks with a non-throwing-arm injury, Saalfrank was given the start last Sunday at the University of San Diego and struggled through, giving up three runs in 3 innings.

Andrew Saalfrank indicates upside in big win for IU baseball 1

“We had the self-assurance in him to do it,” Mercer stated. “You know it’s in there, intending to have the potential to get better this week changed into surely desirable,” Saalfrank confirmed up towards Canisius for his first impressive begin for the reason that ultimate season’s NCAA Regional loss in opposition to the University of Texas when he gave up two runs in five. One innings pitched. “The mechanical troubles are a pretty big element,” Saalfrank stated. “Moving forward, the consistency comes with the mechanics.” With pitching personnel that has been inconsistent behind senior Pauly Milto, Saalfrank stringing together great outings may want to pass a protracted way for IU heading into Big Ten play. IU will have a midweek recreation Tuesday at Indiana State University before returning to Bart Kaufman Field for a weekend collection with Iowa.