IU @ Minnesota, Game 3: IU rebounds to take series with 18-8 win...

[ptrich]

It is RHP Brayden Risedorph on the mound with an ERA of 8.26 in 28.1 Ip and a WHIP of 1.52 with an OBA of .254. The only change in the batting order is Bode in at DH in the No. 8 spot and Taylor moving up to the No. 3 spot.

It's LH Tucker Novotny on the mound for the Gophers with an ERA of 6.08 in 37.0 IP.

1st inning:

T1st:

Mathison walked on a full count. Pyne Kd for the first out.

Taylor was hit by a pitch to put runners on 1st and 2nd and one out.

Unlike the first game, IU came through in the 1st and a three-run homer to LF by Cerny, which was his first hit of the series, put IU up 3-0.

Mitchell doubled to the wall in left center to put a runner in scoring position with one out. The Gophers had a pitcher warming up in the bullpen.

Brenczewski grounded out for two outs with Mitchell taking 3rd.

Stadler came up with a clutch hit which was lacking in the first game to score Mitchell and that chased the Gopher starter who couldn't get out of the 1st.

The Gophers brought in RHP Kyle Remington with an ERA of 5.88 in 26.0, and he would face Bode in the No. 8 spot.

B1st:

The leadoff hitter reached on a single. Risedorph got a K for the first out.

A lineout to 2B was the 2nd out with the runner still at 1st. Risedorph then walked a batter on four pitches to put runners on 1st and 2nd.

A pop up to 1B ended the inning.

End of 1st: IU 4 Gophers 0

 

[TomEric4756]

“Stadler came up with a clutch hit which was lacking in the first game to score Mitchell and that chased the Gopher starter who couldn't get out of the 1st.”

4 runs in the top of the 1st in the nightcap is a good start.

 

[ptrich]

2nd inning:

T2nd:

It was the 2 thru 4 hitters up with Pyne leading off. Pyne singled to put a runner on.

Taylor hit into a DP with the Gophers in the perfect spot on a shift. Cerny Kd to retire the side.

B2nd:

Risedorph faced the 6 thru 8 hitters. Risedorph gave up a solo homer to make it 4-1 IU.

A groundout got the first out. Risedorph got the 2nd out on a K. A two-out single put a man on and the top of the order was up. A flyout ended the inning.

End of 2nd: IU 4 Gophers 1

 

[ptrich]

3rd inning:

T3rd:

It's the 5 thru 7 hitters up with Mitchell leading off. Mitchell doubled to put a man in scoring position.

Brenczewski singled to put runners on the corners with no outs.

Stadler hit a SAC fly to score Mitchell and IU was back up by four at 5-1 and one out with Brenczewski holding at 1st. Bode grounded out with Brenczewski taking 2nd and two outs.

Oliver Kd to retire the side.

B3rd:

Risedorph would face the 2 thru 4 hitters. The leadoff hitter reached on an infield single.

Risedorph got a K for the first out with the runner at 1st. A base hit put runners at 1st and 2nd.

A flyout moved the runner on 2nd to 3rd and runners on the corners with two outs.

Risedorph got a K to get out of the jam and end the inning.

End of 3rd: IU 5 Gophers 1

 

[ptrich]

4th inning:

T4th:

It was the top of the order up for IU with Mathison leading off and the Gophers went to the bullpen to bring in LHP Justin Thorsteinson with an ERA of 2.45 in 25.2 IP.

Mathison Kd looking on a full count to lead off and Pyne followed with another K for two outs. Taylor grounded out and IU went down in order.

B4th:

Risedorph faced the bottom of the order. Risedorph got the leadoff hitter on a K.

Risedorph walked the next batter on a full count to put a runner on with one out.

On a batter's interference on an attempted steal, the batter was called out with the runner back at 1st.

A two-run homer that was just 347 feet down the LF line put IU's lead at 5-3 with two outs. All three runs by the Gophers so far were scored off two homers.

Risedorph then gave up a walk on a 3-1 count and IU went to the bullpen and brought in RHP Drew Buhr with an ERA of 3.86 in 18.2 IP and a WHIP of 1.45, and he would face the No. 3 hitter with two outs.

A groundout ended the inning.

End of 4th: IU 5 Gophers 3

​

 

[ptrich]

5th inning:

T5th:

It's the middle of the order up with Cerny leading off. Cerny Kd to lead off.

Mitchell reached on a single with one out.

Brenczewski walked on four pitches to put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out.

Stadler also walked on four pitches to load the bases with one out and Bode up.

Bode couldn't put the ball in play and he Kd with two outs and the bases still loaded.

Oliver who had been in a slump, got a huge two-out, two-RBI single to put IU up 7-3.

With runners on 2nd and 3rd and two outs, Mathison doubled down the LF line to score Stadler to make it 8-3 with runners on 2nd and 3rd and two outs.

Minnesota went to the bullpen and brought in RHP Seth Clausen with an ERA of 4.50 in 16.0 IP, and he faced Pyne. Pyne grounded out to retire the side.

B5th:

Buhr was back out there to face the middle of the order. Buhr got the leadoff hitter on a three-pitch K.

Buhr got a flyout for the 2nd out. Buhr then put a runner on with a full count walk and two outs.

A K ended the inning.

End of 5th: IU 8 Gophers 3

 

[ptrich]

6th inning:

T6th:

It was the 3 thru 6 hitters up with Taylor leading off. Taylor Kd to lead off.

Cerny flied out for the 2nd out and Mitchell walked on a full count to put a runner on.

Brenczewski grounded out to retire the side.

B6th:

Buhr faced the 8 thru 1 hitters. Buhr got the leadoff hitter on three-pitches. A flyout to RF resulted in the 2nd out and we were at the top of the order. A flyout ended the inning with Buhr puttng them down in order.

End of 6th: IU 8 Gophers 3

 

[ptrich]

7th inning:

T7th:

It was the bottom of the order up for IU with Stadler leading off. The Gophers went to the bullpen and brought in LHP Will Whelan with an ERA of 5.23 in 10.1 IP.

Stadler got a leadoff hit. Bode walked on a full count to put runners a 1st and 2nd and no outs with Oliver up.

Oliver had broken out of his slump after a 2-run single in the 5th, and now a 3-run homer to RF to make it 11-3 and the Gophers went to the bullpen again.

The Gophers brought in RHP Caden Capomaccio with an ERA of 2.70 in 10.0 IP, and he faced the top of the order with Mathison up. Mathison Kd for the first out.

Pyne was hit by a pitch and he then stole 2nd with one out and Taylor up.

Taylor clubbed a two-run homer to make it 13-3 and IU can pay the Gophers back with a 10-run rule win if they can hold the Gophers down in the bottom of the inning.

Cerny was up with one out. Cerny and Mitchell Kd to retire the side.

B7th:

Buhr was back out there to face the 2 thru 4 hitters and a chance to end the game on the 10-run rule.

Buhr walked the leadoff hitter on a 3-1 count. A flyout got the first out with the runner still at 1st.

A single put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. A three run homer made it 13-6 and IU will have to continue the game. The runs were the first given up by Buhr against B1G competition.

A groundout and flyout ended the inning.

End of 7th: IU 13 Gophers 6

​

 

[TomEric4756]

5th inning:

Oliver who had been in a slump, got a huge two-out, two-RBI single to put IU up 7-3.

With runners on 2nd and 3rd and two outs, Mathison doubled down the LF line to score Stadler to make it 8-3 with runners on 2nd and 3rd and two outs.
End of 5th: IU 8 Gophers 3

3 Insurance runs in the 5th are nice to have … throw strikes … and close out the game.

 

[ptrich]

8th inning:

T8th:

It was the 6 thru 8 hitters up with Brenczewski leading off. Brenczewski singled to put a runner on.

Stadler hit into a DP for two outs. Bode was up and he was the only Hoosier to not have a hit in this game.

Bode singled to put a runner on with two outs. Oliver reached on a full count walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs and the top of the order up.

Mathison flied out to retire the side.

B8th:

RHP Aiden Decker-Petty relieved Buhr and he had an ERA of 7.80 in 15.0 IP, and he faced the 8 thru 1 hitters.

D-P gave up a solo homer to a .193 hitter on his first pitch of the inning.

IU has given up 7 homers in the series and they easily lead the B1G in homers given up at 73.

D-P got an infield foul out for the first out with the top of the order up.

A single put a runner on with one out. D-P got the next batter on a flyout for the 2nd out.

The runner stole 2nd with two outs. A double scored another run to make it 13-8 with two outs and D-P is not fooling the batters as the Gophers feel they now have a chance.

An error at 2B on a hard-hit ball put runners on the corners with two outs. D-P hit the next batter to load the bases and Mercer finally decided to get D-P out of there.

LHP Ryan Kraft came in with an ERA of 7.80 in 15.0 with the bases loaded and two outs and the tying run in the on-deck circle. Phillips was warming up in the bullpen.

Kraft went 3-1 on the next hitter but got a groundout to finally end the inning.

End of 8th: IU 13 Gophers 8

 

[TomEric4756]

7th inning:
End of 7th: IU 13 Gophers 6

Let’s give thanks for the crooked numbers at the top of the 7th …. turns out they were needed.

 

[ptrich]

9th inning:

T9th:

It was the 2 thru 4 hitters up for IU with Pyne leading off. Pyne singled to put a runner on.

Taylor doubled to score Pyne to make it 14-8. The Gophers went to the bullpen again to bring in RHP Thomas Gross with an ERA of 8.31 in 17.1 IP.

Cerny flied out to RF with Taylor moving to 3rd and one out.

Mitchell hit a SAC fly to score Taylor to make it 15-8 and two outs and the bases empty.

Brenczewski walked on a full count to put a runner on with two outs.

Stadler walked on a 3-1 count to put runners on 1st and 2nd and two outs.

Bode was hit by a pitch to load the bases with Oliver up and two outs.

Oliver doubled to clear the bases and he took 3rd on the throw. Mathison flied out to retire the side.

B9th:

Kraft was out there to close it out and he faced the bottom of the order.

Kraft got a groundout for the first out. A grounder to Kraft got the 2nd out. Kraft got a K to end the game.

Final: IU 18 Minnesota 8

 

[TomEric4756]

Close it out Kraft …. And Kraft put the gophers down in order

IU wins the series 2-1.

 

[ptrich]

IU's up and down season continued today with IU playing about as poorly as they can in the first game today before rebounding in the second game although the bullpen showed some hiccups in the 7th and 8th inning which could have been disastrous in a close game. Mercer would not have stuck with a couple of those pitchers in the 7th and 8th if it wasn't for the big lead IU had, although it became a little uncomfortable in that stretch.

In one stretch of game one today, the Gophers scored on a K that would have ended the inning but Stadler couldn't handle the pitch and a run scored with the batter reaching 1st. In that same inning, a run was scored on a catcher interference call, and another run scored behind that with a WP.

IU pitching continued to cough up homers like they were pitching batting practice and the 7 homers hit by the Gophers in the series, a weak offensive team, put IU's total on the season at a B1G leading 73 homers given up.

Oliver had 8 RBIs in the 2nd game which is the most by a Hoosier player since 1992. Oliver went 1 for 6 in the first two games of the series so he probably won't be in the running for the B1G Player of the Week or Freshman of the Week. Bothwell will definitely be in the running for Pitcher of the Week with his performance in Saturday's game.

Added: IU starts what is probably their toughest stretch of the B1G season with three of their final four B1G series against teams that are currently ahead of them in the standings. They have an opportunity to finish strong or finish the season floundering while trying to make the B1G tournament.

Box score for the first game of today's DH:

Baseball vs Minnesota on 4/21/2024 - Box Score - Indiana University Athletics

The official box score of Baseball vs Minnesota on 4/21/2024

iuhoosiers.com

Box score for the second game of today's DH:

Baseball vs Minnesota on 4/21/2024 - Box Score - Indiana University Athletics

The official box score of Baseball vs Minnesota on 4/21/2024

iuhoosiers.com

 

[Bucket Getter]

IU's up and down season continued today with IU playing about as poorly as they can in the first game today before rebounding in the second game although the bullpen showed some hiccups in the 7th and 8th inning which could have been disastrous in a close game. Mercer would not have stuck with a couple of those pitchers in the 7th and 8th if it wasn't for the big lead IU had, although it became a little uncomfortable in that stretch.

In one stretch of game one today, the Gophers scored on a K that would have ended the inning but Stadler couldn't handle the pitch and a run scored with the batter reaching 1st. In that same inning, a run was scored on a catcher interference call, and another run scored behind that with a WP.

IU pitching continued to cough up homers like they were pitching batting practice and the 7 homers hit by the Gophers in the series, a weak offensive team, put IU's total on the season at a B1G leading 73 homers given up.

Oliver had 8 RBIs in the 2nd game which is the most by a Hoosier player since 1992. Oliver went 1 for 6 in the first two games of the series so he probably won't be in the running for the B1G Player of the Week or Freshman of the Week. Bothwell will definitely be in the running for Pitcher of the Week with his performance in Saturday's game.

Added: IU starts what is probably their toughest stretch of the B1G season with three of their final four B1G series against teams that are currently ahead of them in the standings. They have an opportunity to finish strong or finish the season floundering while trying to make the B1G tournament.

Box score for the first game of today's DH:

Baseball vs Minnesota on 4/21/2024 - Box Score - Indiana University Athletics

The official box score of Baseball vs Minnesota on 4/21/2024

iuhoosiers.com

Box score for the second game of today's DH:

Baseball vs Minnesota on 4/21/2024 - Box Score - Indiana University Athletics

The official box score of Baseball vs Minnesota on 4/21/2024

iuhoosiers.com

Thanks as always ptrich. Your work is appreciated, even though I'm not sure how you do it. This team has worn me out this year. First time in 12 years I can say that. It's just bizarre how they can split a double header in such dramatic fashion.

 

[ptrich]

Thanks as always ptrich. Your work is appreciated, even though I'm not sure how you do it. This team has worn me out this year. First time in 12 years I can say that. It's just bizarre how they can split a double header in such dramatic fashion.

It's been a really frustrating season for me as a fan and there's no doubt to everyone else. Even before some of the injuries, this team has been unpredictable and you don't know what you are going to get from one game to the next. As I have said several times already, this team's pitching and hitting seems to consistently run hot/cold, and we can't seem to get any traction to make an extended run. With the conference schedule getting more difficult for us, it's possible we could be fighting just to make the B1G tournament down the stretch with the inconsistencies of this team.

On an unrelated note:

I saw that Luke Hayden had another excellent start for Indiana State over the weekend and we sure could have used his arm this season. One thing we will never know is if he would have continued to be a pitcher with control problems and an elevated ERA if he continued to wear a Hoosier uniform. He's a different player now.

Hayden's numbers on a Sunday win over Illinois State were 7.0 IP, 6 hits and no earned runs, 11 Ks, and 1 BB.

Hayden's season numbers are 50.2 IP with an ERA of 2.84 and he has given up just two homers on the season. Indiana State could host another regional this season and they appear to be a lock for the Field of 64 as things stand right now.

 

[Bucket Getter]

It's been a really frustrating season for me as a fan and there's no doubt to everyone else. Even before some of the injuries, this team has been unpredictable and you don't know what you are going to get from one game to the next. As I have said several times already, this team's pitching and hitting seems to consistently run hot/cold, and we can't seem to get any traction to make an extended run. With the conference schedule getting more difficult for us, it's possible we could be fighting just to make the B1G tournament down the stretch with the inconsistencies of this team.

On an unrelated note:

I saw that Luke Hayden had another excellent start for Indiana State over the weekend and we sure could have used his arm this season. One thing we will never know is if he would have continued to be a pitcher with control problems and an elevated ERA if he continued to wear a Hoosier uniform. He's a different player now.

Hayden's numbers on a Sunday win over Illinois State were 7.0 IP, 6 hits and no earned runs, 11 Ks, and 1 BB.

Hayden's season numbers are 50.2 IP with an ERA of 2.84 and he has given up just two homers on the season. Indiana State could host another regional this season and they appear to be a lock for the Field of 64 as things stand right now.

Wow! That's a total indictment of Dustin Glant. Some might even call what he has done here MALPRACTICE. But I will say I heard the ISU head coach on the local radio last year as they were preparing for the super regional (remember those?). He was as impressive as any coach I've heard in a long time. So maybe he gets the credit for creating an incredible, winning culture in TH that players just automatically perform at a higher level.