Gorilla Netting designed and installed engineered backstop netting systems for both the baseball and softball fields at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. The project featured large-span tie-back systems with custom-diameter steel poles and caisson foundations, built to 30 feet above grade on both fields.
Client: Rose-Hulman University
Location: Terre Haute, IN
Services: Baseball Netting
Challenge
Rose-Hulman's baseball and softball facilities needed professional-grade backstop netting systems capable of matching the scale of a competitive university athletic program. The baseball field had an existing concrete wall suitable for a tie-back anchor, while the softball field was having a wall constructed concurrently. Both systems needed to meet institutional design standards, with no prevailing wage requirements and tax-exempt procurement — and the university was soliciting competitive quotes from multiple general contractors.
Solution
Gorilla Netting engineered and installed 30-foot-high backstop netting systems on both fields. The baseball backstop configuration measured 60' (wing) + 30' (center) + 60' (wing), and the softball backstop measured 50' + 20' + 50'. Each system used 12.75-inch diameter steel poles, 0.375-inch wall thickness, 40-foot overall length, painted black, with 24-inch caisson foundations at 9 feet deep.
Outcome
The backstop systems were installed successfully at both fields, delivering professional-grade protective netting infrastructure for Rose-Hulman's varsity athletic program. The project stands as a strong example of Gorilla Netting's university sports netting capability, from engineered design through field installation.