This is not a good sign when our No. 1 starter gets knocked around in the first two innings. In 2 IP, Perkins has given up 6 hits and 7 runs to include two homers, 3 ERs, 3 BB, and 2 Ks. An error by Pyne at 3rd in the 2nd, led to 3 unearned runs when Perkins gave up a double with two outs and the bases loaded to a .224 hitter. There's a long way to go, but IU can't afford to give up any more runs. IU got a couple of runs in the 1st on a couple of singles and a double to go along with an intentional walk to Ellis, as UE decided to pitch around him with one out.
Evansville@IU, Game 1: UE 17 IU 14 as ineffective pitching and errors cost IU...
- Thread starter ptrich
- Start date
In IU's 2nd, a K by Murrison, a single by Jessee, and a flyout by Doanes left a man on and two outs. Then the bottom fell out for UE as IU scored four unearned runs with two outs, as a walk put two on with two outs. An error by the 3rd baseman scored Jessee and put runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. A double by Ellis scored two runs, and then a single by Pyne scored Ellis from 2nd for the final run.
In UE's 3rd, Perkins finally had a good inning as he got the first two batters on a pop up and a ground out, gave up a two-out walk and got the final out on a flyout.
In IU's 3rd, Tibbetts led off by homering to tie the game at 7-7. Mathison flied out and Murrison grounded out for the first two outs, and Jessee singled to put a man on. Doanes then hit a 2-out, 2-run homer to put IU up 9-7. It's raining at The Bart right now, but not enough to delay the game. The radar shows just one small rain cloud and not much behind it, so it shouldn't last long. After a walk to Glasser, UE is going to the bullpen and have brought in a RHP with an ERA of 6.19 in 15 IP. Glasser got caught leaning off 1st for the final out.
In IU's 3rd, Tibbetts led off by homering to tie the game at 7-7. Mathison flied out and Murrison grounded out for the first two outs, and Jessee singled to put a man on. Doanes then hit a 2-out, 2-run homer to put IU up 9-7. It's raining at The Bart right now, but not enough to delay the game. The radar shows just one small rain cloud and not much behind it, so it shouldn't last long. After a walk to Glasser, UE is going to the bullpen and have brought in a RHP with an ERA of 6.19 in 15 IP. Glasser got caught leaning off 1st for the final out.
In UE's 4th, a ground out and a walk put a runner on 1st with one out. Pyne was charged with his 2nd error of the game when he couldn't handle a grounder had no play to put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. A double by a .208 hitter scored both runners to tie the game and both runs were unearned. Mercer has gone to his bullpen and is bringing in LHP Grant Holderfield. It wasn't one of Perkins better starts as he went 3.1 IP and gave up 7 hits, 4 ERs, 5 BB, 2Ks. He was also hurt by the two errors committed at 3rd which accounted for 5 unearned runs. Holderfield struck out the first two batters faced to end the inning for UE.
IU goes down in order for the first time to end the 4th.
IU goes down in order for the first time to end the 4th.
In the T5th, Holderfield gave up a two-out single, but that was it as he got the third out on a foul out.
In IU's 5th, Tibbetts got a leadoff single, his third hit of the game. At least we know we have someone that can bunt the ball as Mathison put down what was described as a perfect bunt and reached for a hit, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. A fielder's choice on a Murrison grounder put the runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Jessee walked to load the bases with one out. Doanes struck out looking for the 2nd out. Glasser ran the count full and then walked to bring in the go-ahead run, 10-9. An infield single by Whalen scored another run to make it 11-9. Whalen slipped and hurt his right leg as hale started to fall with rain, and we were looking at a weather delay, but the weather cleared quickly with not much of a delay. Whalen was able to stay in the game and UE went to their bullpen again with a RHP with decent numbers of 3.48 ERA in 10.1 IP, but he walked Ellis on five pitches to give IU an 11-9 lead with the bases still loaded and two outs. Pyne popped up to SS for the final out to end the inning.
In IU's 5th, Tibbetts got a leadoff single, his third hit of the game. At least we know we have someone that can bunt the ball as Mathison put down what was described as a perfect bunt and reached for a hit, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. A fielder's choice on a Murrison grounder put the runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Jessee walked to load the bases with one out. Doanes struck out looking for the 2nd out. Glasser ran the count full and then walked to bring in the go-ahead run, 10-9. An infield single by Whalen scored another run to make it 11-9. Whalen slipped and hurt his right leg as hale started to fall with rain, and we were looking at a weather delay, but the weather cleared quickly with not much of a delay. Whalen was able to stay in the game and UE went to their bullpen again with a RHP with decent numbers of 3.48 ERA in 10.1 IP, but he walked Ellis on five pitches to give IU an 11-9 lead with the bases still loaded and two outs. Pyne popped up to SS for the final out to end the inning.
In the T6th, the No. 3 hitter, Tanner Craig, led off with a no-doubt homer, his 8th of the season, to cut the lead to 12-10. Holderfield then gave up a single to put a runner on and no outs. A walk put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs, and it looked like that long half inning in the B5th as well as that very short rain delay, may have affected Holderfield as he was going through heart of UE's lineup. A long ball aided by the wind sailed out for a 3-run homer to give UE the lead again 13-12. Holderfield then walked the next batter to put a man on and still no outs as IU brings in Braydon Tucker in relief. Our two most consistent pitchers so far in the season in Perkins and Holderfield have had really bad outings today in rainy conditions. Tucker got a K, a foul out, and a flyout ending UE's half of the inning up 13-12.
Tibbets and Mathison led off IU's 6th by striking out and Murrison popped out as IU goes down in order.
Tibbets and Mathison led off IU's 6th by striking out and Murrison popped out as IU goes down in order.
In the T7th, it was a great inning for Tucker as he struck out the side, and this was the part of UE's lineup that hurt IU in the previous inning. It's the 7th inning stretch time.
In the B7th, Jessee flied out to bring up the top of the order. Doanes then struck out and Glasser grounded out as IU goes down in order as UE has found a pitcher we are having trouble hitting.
In the B7th, Jessee flied out to bring up the top of the order. Doanes then struck out and Glasser grounded out as IU goes down in order as UE has found a pitcher we are having trouble hitting.
In the 8th, as well as Tucker pitched in the previous inning he was equally as bad in the 8th as he gave up two walks and a single to load the bases with no outs as IU goes to the bullpen to bring in RHP Nathan Stahl who has an ERA of 6.17 in 11.1 IP. IU is on the verge of falling farther behind when they have just six outs left in the game. Stahl struck out the first batter he faced for one out and bases still loaded, and then popped up the next batter for two outs. However, Stahl plunked the next hitter to give UE another run and a lead of 14-12. A double down the left field line emptied the bases as UE leads 17-12. Well, with everything else going wrong we might as well have a balk which Stahl did to move the runner to 3rd. A K finally ended UE's half of the inning. IU has to come up with five runs over the next two innings.
In IU's 8th, Whalen got a leadoff single, but Ellis hit into a DP for two outs. Pyne then singled to put a man on and two outs. Tibbetts tripled to bring in Pyne to make it 17-13, but Mathison lined out to the CF in what was described as a great diving catch to end the inning for IU.
In IU's 8th, Whalen got a leadoff single, but Ellis hit into a DP for two outs. Pyne then singled to put a man on and two outs. Tibbetts tripled to bring in Pyne to make it 17-13, but Mathison lined out to the CF in what was described as a great diving catch to end the inning for IU.
In the 9th, Stahl got them out in order on a pop up and two Ks. IU has to come up with four runs with just three outs to do it in.
In IU's 9th, Murrison led off with a single to left center and then reached 2nd on a passed ball. Jessee struck out looking for the first out. Doanes grounded out to the pitcher for the 2nd out with the runner advancing to 3rd. Murrison then scored on a wild pitch to make it 17-14 UE with two outs. Glasser grounded out to end the game.
In IU's 9th, Murrison led off with a single to left center and then reached 2nd on a passed ball. Jessee struck out looking for the first out. Doanes grounded out to the pitcher for the 2nd out with the runner advancing to 3rd. Murrison then scored on a wild pitch to make it 17-14 UE with two outs. Glasser grounded out to end the game.
When you have 16 hits and 14 runs, you have an expectation of winning a game, but that wasn't enough today. When our best pitcher in the weekend rotation in Jack Perkins can only go 3.1 innings before getting pulled, you know we may be in for a rough day. We gave up four homers and five unearned runs with two errors at 3rd playing a big part in the game. No sense in dissecting this one since there is just too much to bring up, so I will let the box score do the talking on this one when it is posted. Evan Berkey, a grad student transfer from CSU-Bakersfield had a huge day for UE going 3 for 6 with a 3-run homer and 6 RBIs on the day. Everyone in IU's lineup had at least one hit but still stared up at a loss. We have played two straight series with teams coming in with losing records, losing 3 of 4 to Xavier and the opening game of this series and we have lost the 7 of the last 9 games.
Here's the box score:
iuhoosiers.com
IU's last losing season was back in 2007 in Tracy Smith's second season at the helm. We have pretty good hitting up until this point in the season, but if we don't find some answers with the pitching staff, we are heading for our first losing season in 15 seasons.
Baseball vs Evansville on 3/25/2022 - Box Score - Indiana University Athletics
The official box score of Baseball vs Evansville on 3/25/2022
IU's last losing season was back in 2007 in Tracy Smith's second season at the helm. We have pretty good hitting up until this point in the season, but if we don't find some answers with the pitching staff, we are heading for our first losing season in 15 seasons.
Last edited:
Evansville 158 rpi….. IUs in a spot where they are gonna have to win the B10 regular season and tourney to get in NCAAs. Not looking good, and talent isn’t the issue.
Well, that could be a long winded conversation. In short, the talent is on the roster. It’s more about the coaching aspect of things. Being able to have good scouts on your opponent, and most importantly the pitching and defensive scouts. The defense has been a big gripe of mine since Mercer has been here. You want to compete nationally you have to play great defense. This is true in most sports as we know.
For all the heat Lemonis took on here for having guys on the field who were elite level defensively and very average offensive players (ie Jermey Houston), it’s evident that he valued certain positions defense over the bat. Lemonis won a national championship last year with a SS just like Houston in Lane Forsythe. Forsythe is a sub .200 hitter, but he didn’t commit an error all post season. He played because his impact is felt at an important defensive position, not his bat.
What I see with Mercer is he values the bat over defense at most positions. Also, being good definitely at this level you have to scout/recruit that side. And also you have to develop that side. Something that seems to be lacking when a lot of your coaches are “offensive” coaches.
All this doesn’t even take into account the way you play defense against certain players. That goes back to where you are getting your scout from. What the tendencies are, spray charts, pitches in certain counts, defense alignments (shifts, no doubles defense, bunt Ds,etc). It’s all about preparation for your opponents, and implementing and communicating that to your guys. It’s something that’s seriously lacking. It doesn’t surprise me though as Mercer had only been a coach for a short amount of time before the IU job. The experience at a high level wasn’t there before he came here.
There’s so much more to touch on, especially when it comes to game management. It’s something that is hard to spell out on a message board 😂
Last edited:
