IU @ Nebraska, Game 2: Walk-off extra inning homer beats IU, 5-2...

[ptrich]

This game in on BTN.

It's RHP Connor Foley on the mound for IU with an ERA of 4.53 in 47.2 IP and a WHIP of 1.22 with an OBA of .162. The batting order is the same as last night.

RHP Mason McConnaughey on the mound for Nebraska with an ERA of 3.19 in 48.0 IP and a WHIP of 1.27 with an OBA of .253.

79 degrees and mostly sunny.

The game on Sunday has been moved up an hour to 12 noon ET with rain expected to move in on late Sunday afternoon.

1st inning:

T1st:

For the second straight game, Taylor lead off to start the game with a solo homer. Pyne Kd and Mitchell singled to put a runner on. Cerny Kd and Brenczewski flied out to retire the side.

B1st:

Foley Kd the leadoff hitter. Foley got the 2nd out on a shallow pop up to Taylor in left.

Foley then walked a batter on a 3-1 count to put a runner on with two outs. A groundout ended the inning.

End of 1st: IU 1 UN 0

Note: Purdue and Illinois both lost today, so IU has a chance to move into a tie with Illinois for first with a win tonight.

 

[ptrich]

2nd inning:

T2nd:

It was the 6 thru 8 hitters up with Tibbitts leading off. Tibbitts grounded out for the first out.

Mathison struck out but reached first after the catcher couldn't control the pitch, but Mathison was called out for some kind of obstruction with the catcher and there were two outs.

Stadler had a full count but struck out swinging on what would have been ball four to retire the side.

B2nd:

Foley faced the 5 thru 7 hitters. Foley got the leadoff hitter on a grounder on a great throw by Foley. He then got the next batter on a pop up to 3B. A pop up foul to Stadler ended the inning.

End of 2nd: IU 1 UN 0

 

[ptrich]

3rd inning:

T3rd:

It's the 9 thru 2 hitters up with Oliver leading off. Oliver Kd and it was the 5th K for the Husker starter so far. Taylor flied out deep for the 2nd out and Pyne grounded out to retire the side.

B3rd:

Foley faced the 8 thru 1 hitters. The leadoff hitter reached on a two-base error by Pyne that went off his glove into foul territory.

Foley got a big K swinging to keep the runner at 2nd and one out and we were at the top of the order.

Another K got the 2nd out with the runner still at 2nd. Foley got another K for three straight Ks to end the inning after the leadoff error put a runner at 2nd.

End of 3rd: IU 1 UN 0

 

[ptrich]

4th inning:

T4th:
It's the 3 thru 5 hitters up with Mitchell leading off. Mitchell Kd swinging for the first out. A bunt attempt popped up and hit Cerny on the head which was the 2nd out. Brenczewski Kd, the 7th K of the game by McConnaughey through four innings and it retired the side.

B4th:

Foley's PC is at 47 and he faced the 3 thru 5 hitters. Foley walked the leadoff hitter on a 3-1 count.
Buhr is warming up in the bullpen.

Foley then got his 5th K for the first out and the runner at 1st.

Foley got then next batter on a K with the runner stealing 2nd on the pitch and two outs. Foley got another K, his 7th K of the game to end the inning.

End of 4th: IU 1 UN 0

 

[ptrich]

5th inning:

T5th:

It's the 6 thru 8 hitters up with Tibbitts leading off and McConnaughey is at 46 pitches.

Tibbitts grounded out for the first out. Mathison flied out for the 2nd out. Stadler grounded out to retire the side.

B5th:

Foley was at 69 pitches and faced the bottom of the order.

Note: The error charged to Pyne in the 3rd on a hard-hit ball off his glove has been changed to a double.

A little grounder to Foley on a check swing got the leadoff hitter for the first out. Another grounder got the 2nd out.

A single put a runner on with two outs and the top of the order up.

The runner stole 2nd on a ball that Stadler airmailed over 2nd base, but the runner held at 2nd.

Foley then walked a batter on a 3-1 count to put runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs.

Buhr continued to warm up in the bullpen. After a players meeting at the mound, Glant came out for a visit. A WP moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd and two outs with the batter having a full count.

Foley got a K to end the threat and the inning. Foley was at 94 pitches and we will probably see Buhr in the 6th.

End of 5th: IU 1 UN 0

 

[ptrich]

6th inning:

T6th:

It's the 9 thru 2 hitters up with Oliver leading off. Oliver walked on a 3-2 count to put the leadoff hitter on and the top of the order up, and it was the first walk by McConnaughey tonight.

McConnaughey walked Taylor on four pitches and he might be running out of gas at this point with runners at 1st and 2nd and no outs.

Pyne moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd and one out on a SAC bunt. Mitchell grounded out to 1st with the runners holding at 2nd and 3rd and two outs. Cerny Kd and IU missed out on a big chance to add to their 1-0 lead.

B6th:

RHP Drew Buhr came in with an ERA of 3.13 in 31.2 IP and a WHIP of 1.26, and he faced the 3 thru 5 hitters.

Buhr got the leadoff hitter on a groundout. Buhr then gave up a solo homer on a 2-2 count to tie the game and that last inning by IU was looking big at this point.

Buhr got back-to-back Ks to end the inning.

End of 6th: IU 1 UN 1

 

[ptrich]

7th inning:

T7th:

It was the 5 thru 7 hitters up for IU and McConnaughey back out there for the Huskers with a PC of 73.

Brenczewski got a leadoff infield single to put a runner on. Tibbitts hit a routine fly to LF for the 1st out and the runner holding at 1st.

Mathison Kd on an inside pitch and McConnaughey had reached his season high of strikeouts at 9 and two outs.

Stadler singled to put runners on the corners with two outs and IU with another chance to add runs.

Oliver Kd looking on a pitch that looked like a ball and for the 2nd straight inning, IU couldn't get that clutch hit and the side was retired.

B7th:

Buhr faced the bottom of the order. After pitching really well recently, Buhr gave up his 2nd solo homer to give the Huskers a 2-1 lead.

Buhr got a ground for the first out. A grounder to Buhr got the 2nd out and we were at the top of the order for the Huskers. A flyout ended the inning.

End of 7th: UN 2 IU 1

 

[ptrich]

8th inning:

T8th:

It's the top of the order up for IU and McConnaughey was back out there with a PC of 90 in his longest stint of the season and he was at a season high 10 Ks.

Taylor flied out for the first out. Pyne was hit by a pitch to put a runner on. Mitchell walked on a full count to put runners at 1st and 2nd and one out.

Cerny doubled and with Mitchell taking 3rd with the outfielder getting turned around at the wall and couldn't come up with the ball while falling down with Pyne scoring to tie the game.

The Huskers went to the bullpen and brought in LHP Caleb Clark with an ERA of 6.84 in 25.0 IP and a WHIP of 1.26.

Brenczewski couldn't put the ball in play with runners at 2nd and 3rd and he Kd for the 2nd out.

Tibbitts grounded out to retire the side and IU missed out on a big chance to take the lead with runners at 2nd and 3rd and one out.

B8th:

Buhr faced the 2 thru 4 hitters. Buhr got a flyout for the first out. Buhr then walked a batter on a full count.

After having some really good outings recently, Buhr didn't have his best stuff today and Mercer brought in LHP Ryan Kraft with an ERA of 7.79 in 17.1 IP and a WHIP of 2.08.

Kraft faced the No. 4 hitter with one out and one on at first.

Kraft got the hitter on a groundout for two outs and the runner taking 2nd.

Kraft faced just one batter and Mercer brought in RHP Julian Tonghini with an ERA of 4.74 in 24.2 IP and a WHIP of 1.70, and he faced the No. 5 hitter with a runner at 2nd and two outs. On a 1-1 count, Tonghini hit the batter to put runners on 1st and 2nd.

A pop up to no man's land was caught by Cerny to end the inning.

End of 8th: IU 2 UN 2

 

[ptrich]

9th inning:

T9th:

It was the bottom of the order up and Mathison lined out to CF. Stadler singled off the 1B glove that put a runner on with one out and Oliver up.

Colopy came in to pinch run for Stadler. Colopy almost got himself picked off at 1st and the Huskers challenged the call and it looked like Colopy was out, but they called him safe on the review.

Oliver flied out for the 2nd out and the top of the order up with Taylor up. Taylor Kd, and a pitcher that came in with an ERA of just under 7.00 has handcuffed IU in critical situations.

B9th:

Tonghini faced the bottom of the order which was 3 for 9 on the game so far. Tonghini got the leadoff hitter on a flyout.

The next batter reached on an infield hit with one out. IU challenged the play at 1st which was close and it looked like the runner was safe as Pyne's throw pulled Tibbitts off the bag, but the runner would have beaten it anyway. The safe call was upheld by the umps.

Tonghini then hit a batter but the ump ruled he swung on the pitch. The batter then Kd for the 2nd out with the runner stealing 2nd with Schuyler behind the plate and his throw to 2nd was off.

Tonghini then got another K to end the inning and put it in extra innings.

End of 9th: IU 2 UN 2

 

[TomEric4756]

Extra Innings …. With the heart of the order up for both teams … gotta love no errors so far this game and yesterday.

 

[ptrich]

10th inning:

T10th:

It's the 2 thru 4 hitters up for IU with Pyne leading off. Pyne popped the ball up in the infield for the first out.

Mitchell was hit by a pitch to put a runner on with one out and the umps decided to review the hit batter call. The ball clearly hit Mitchell and it wasn't a case of MItchell leaning into the pitch. The umps upheld the call with Mitchell at 1st.

Cerny flied out for the 2nd out and Mitchell still at 1st. A WP moved Mitchell to 2nd.

Brenczewski walked on a full count to put runners on 1st and 2nd and two outs with Tibbitts up.

Tibbitts grounded out to retire the side. IU had stranded runners in five straight innings.

B10th:

Tonghini faced the 2 thru 4 hitters with the leadoff Batter being a pinch hitter and he hit a leadoff double.

IU intentionally walked the next batter to put runners at 1st and 2nd.

Tonghini then got a huge K for the first out and runners still at 1st and 2nd. Tonghini then followed that up with another K for two outs and runners still holding.

A three-run walk off homer ended the game and IU blew chances to win this game in regulation.

Final: Nebraska 5 IU 2

 

[TomEric4756]

Shucks Walk off 3 run homer

 

[Orford]

Tonghini is not one who for me inspired confidence ever this year, but I thought this was his best performance and shows hope even though he gave up the walk off hr. Rubber match tomorrow. Tough place to pitch in such a situation

 

[ptrich]

The game on Sunday has been moved up to 12 noon ET because of expected rain late in the afternoon. Rybarcyk has started the last two Sunday games, but didn't get off to good starts in either one, so I don't know if IU will go with him tomorrow.

No late inning heroics for IU tonight and it was the same as last night's game where Taylor started the game with a leadoff solo homer and the bats went quiet again with the Husker starting pitcher, McConnaughey, dominating IU after Taylor's homerun. McConnaughey pitched into the 8th inning and had a season high 10 Ks before he started running out of gas and gave up the tying run to make it 2-2.

IU had runners on in every inning from the 6th inning on but couldn't get any clutch hitting outside of the tying run scoring in the 8th. IU had two on in the 6th with no outs and a SAC bunt moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd with one out, but IU couldn't get a run in after a grounder and a K left the runners stranded. In the 8th, IU had runners on 1st and 2nd and one out. A double put runners on 2nd and 3rd with the tying run scoring at the time to make it 2-2 and one out. IU left the runners at 2nd and 3rd after a K and a groundout ended the inning and just getting another run in at that time would have won the game considering how the game went from that point on in regulation.

The Huskers got all five of their runs off homers with two solo homers and the walk-off three-run homer. The Huskers outhit IU 7-6 and IU was 6 for 35 for a team average of .171, while the Huskers were 7 of 36 for an average of .194.

Stadler was the only IU player with multiple hits going 2 for 4, but with no RBIs or runs scored. Taylor had a homer and Cerny had a double to score a run that accounted for the only runs by IU. IU struck out 12 times and managed only 4 walks. They were hit by a pitch twice..

There were no errors in the game.

Foley pitched well through five innings giving up no runs. Buhr had pitched well over the past month, but wasn't effective in this game giving up two solo homers. IU Kd 14 batters tonight. Here are the pitching numbers.

Foley - 5.0 IP, 5 hits to include a double and no runs given up, 8 Ks, 3 BBs, and a WP.

Buhr - 2.1 IP, 2 hits with 2 homers and 2 earned runs, 2 Ks, and a BB.

Kraft - 0.1 IP, and he faced just one batter which was a GO.

Tonghini - 2.0 IP, 3 hits to include a double and a walk off 3-run, two-out homer for 3 earned runs, 4 Ks, 1 BB, and a hit batter.

 

[ptrich]

Other scores around the B1G. After today's results, the standings for the top four teams are the same as they were before the series started on Friday. IU's RPI was 54 late tonight with most if not all games completed for the day.

Rutgers 7 PSU 1 - PSU fell into a 10th place tie with Minnesota.

Michigan 7 Purdue 6 - Purdue remains in a tie for 2nd place with IU and Nebraska.

OSU 14 NW 6 - The NW series couldn't have come at a better time for the Buckeyes as they fight for a place in the B1G tourney and they are now tied for 7th place with MSU.

Minn 21 MSU 3 - MSU and OSU are just a 1/2 ahead of Maryland with the Terps playing out of conference this weekend.

Iowa 10 Illinois 4 - IU missed a chance to tie for 1st with Illinois after their loss. Brecht got the win for Iowa and he has had an ERA of 0.79 over the last three games going into this game. He wasn't quite as dominant but was good enough with 7.0 IP and three earned runs given up.

Maryland/Boston College (DH) - G-1: Maryland 8 BC 1, G-2: Maryland 5 BC 3. Maryland is 9th in the B1G standings tonight and a 1/2 game behind both OSU and MSU, but they have the best RPI in the B1G at 29 right now.

 

[Bucket Getter]

Am I the only one who thought Cerny’s double should have been a 2-run (probably game-winning) triple? Mitchell is supposed to be one of the fastest Hoosiers. What gives?

 

[ptrich]

Am I the only one who thought Cerny’s double should have been a 2-run (probably game-winning) triple? Mitchell is supposed to be one of the fastest Hoosiers. What gives?

It looked like it might have been caught so I assume Mitchell held up some to see if it was caught.

 

[Charlesroast]

It looked like it might have been caught so I assume Mitchell held up some to see if it was caught.

A few observations and a comment. In keeping with the low interest the B1G has for baseball their network coverage is not good.
The play: The ball probably should have been caught. Right before it wasn’t Pyne could be seen heading back to second to tag up. If there was shot of Mitchell I didn’t see it. He should have been at least 1/2 way to second until it was caught or landed. After it landed Simmons could be shown windmilling both runners and and I believe Mitchell was just past 2nd as Pyne hit 3rd. I saw no view of the relay and when Mitchell got the stop sign.