IU@Missouri St., Game 1: Horrendous 5th cost IU the game, 9-7...

[ptrich]

Modugno on the mound, and there have been no hits yet. Modugno didn't waste any time hitting a batter as he plunked one in the first, but no damage was done except maybe a bruise on the Bears batter. We seem to average at least one hit batter a game.

 

[ptrich]

In the 2nd, after a ground out by Ellis, Colopy walked and Tibbetts doubled to put men on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Then it was the Bears turn to hit a batter as they hit Mathison to load the bases with one out. Pyne singled to score two runs. Mathison eventually scored on an unearned run after an error allowed Pyne to reach 2nd. IU up 3-0 in the B2nd.

 

[ptrich]

In the 3rd, a couple of singles by Whalen and Ellis started off the inning. Colopy hit into a DP, but Whalen scored from 2nd on it. IU up 4-0 B3rd.

 

[ptrich]

Modugno has cruised through the first three innings. He gave up his first hit after two outs in the 3rd and that's been it. He has faced just 10 batters so far.

 

[ptrich]

IU continues to put it to the Bears early on. Mathison walked and Pyne then singled to left field and advanced to 2nd on an error in LF, which also scored Mathison for an unearned run. With Pyne on 2nd, Serruto reached on an error by the pitcher with Pyne reaching 3rd. Doanes popped up for the first out and Glasser walked to load the bases with one out and that finally chased the starter as the Bears went to the bullpen. Whalen then struck out for the 2nd out with the bases still loaded and Ellis fouled out to end the inning. IU got one run, but they missed out on a golden opportunity to blow this game wide-open.

 

[ptrich]

Modugno continues to cruise, taking them down in order in the 4th. IU batting in the 5th.

 

[ptrich]

Well, the Bears got to Modugno in the 5th. After opening the inning with a K, a double, a single, and a 3-run homer cut into IU lead at 5-3. After that, Modugno walked the next batter with one out, so he might be running out of gas. After a fly out for the 2nd out, Modugno hit a batter to put men on 1st and 2nd forcing Mercer to go to the bullpen bringing in Reese Sharp. Sharp gave up a single to SS to load the bases, and then gave up another single to score a run making it 5-4 with the bases loaded with 2 outs. Sharp then walked in another run to tie it. Sharp then gave up another single to left field scoring two runs to give the Bears a 7-5 lead, before he got a K to end the inning. Sharp did not have good numbers coming into the game and they will be even worse after this outing although some of the runs will be charged to Modugno. The Bears scored 7 runs in that inning and with IU missing that big chance in the top of the inning, that may come back to haunt them at the end of this one. You never know what you are going to get when you have a pitching change and this one did not end well.

 

[ptrich]

IU left a man at 2nd in Doanes in the 6th, but couldn't bring him in. IU still down 7-5.

 

[ptrich]

Colopy hit a solo homer to cut the lead to 7-6 with the Bears up in the bottom of the inning.

 

[ptrich]

Mathison homered with one out in the 8th to tie the game. Doane walked with two outs, but Glasser ground out to end IU half of the inning. Sharp has stayed in the game after the horrendous 5th, and has pitched pretty well since then.

 

[mk24]

Just tuned in. That HR by Mathison was a bizarre series of reviews. How in the world do we give up 7 in an inning to a Mo Valley squad? This pitching staff is gonna cause me to start drinking bourbon a little too early today.

 

[ptrich]

Mathison homered with one out in the 8th to tie the game. Doane walked with two outs, but Glasser ground out to end IU half of the inning. Sharp has stayed in the game after the horrendous 5th, and has pitched pretty well since then.

Well, just as I posted this, Sharp gave up a two-run homer to make it 9-7. After that, a walk, a passed ball, and a fielder's choice put a man on third with two outs, but a K ended the inning.

 

[ptrich]

Just tuned in. That HR by Mathison was a bizarre series of reviews. How in the world do we give up 7 in an inning to a Mo Valley squad? This pitching staff is gonna cause me to start drinking bourbon a little too early today.

Forest Gump said "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get", and the IU pitching staff may be like that this season.

 

[ptrich]

IU went down in order in the 9th. That awful 5th cost them the game.