DIPRIMIO: ‘Suffocating’ – Indiana Pitching Rules

IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget fair. Indiana has the pitching to buckle knees, freeze bats and suffocate aggression.

Even with relievers who normally aren't pitchers.

"I have incredible confidence in our bullpen," coach Jeff Mercer says.

For good reason, and not just because guys such as Matt Litwicki barely give up hits let alone runs.

Consider redshirt senior Grant Macciocchi, a reserve infielder (hitting .241 in 10 games and 29 at bats) who pitched for the first time in his IU career Friday against Minnesota. In 2.1 innings of relief, he allowed no runs and no hits, and struck out three.

That followed an 11-strikeout, five-hit, 6.2-inning starting effort by Tommy Sommer to highlight…