IU@Rutgers, Game 3: RU 10 IU 9. Two 9th inning homers cost IU the lead and the game.

[ptrich]

Brehmer is on the mound for IU. IU got a run in the 1st after Whalen got a leadoff double and eventually scored. There was no scoring in the 2nd. In the 3rd, IU struck for 3 runs as Pyne had a double in the inning. There was a walk and two singles by Glasser and Jessee to go along with the double.

Rutgers got 3 runs in the bottom of the inning, all earned, on three singles and a double.

 

[ptrich]

In the 4th, IU had back-to-back one-out singles by Mathison and Doanes, but were unable to score.

In RU's 4th, Brehmer put them down in order.

 

[ptrich]

In the 5th, Rutgers went to their bullpen bringing in LHP Joe Mazza with an ERA of 0.00 in 7.1 IP. Glasser struck out to leadoff. Ellis reached 1st on a WP strikeout. Then on an error by 3B, Pyne reached 1st while Ellis advanced to 3rd with one out. Jessee then walked to load the bases with one out. Tibbetts then reached on a fielder's choice with Ellis being thrown out at the plate for two outs. When it looked like IU was going to blow another scoring opportunity in this series, Mathison then hits a two-out GS homer to make it 8-3. Doanes then singled which chased Mazza as RHP Nate McLain with and ERA of 3.27 in 11 IP. All of the runs given up by Mazza were unearned. Serruto strikes out to end IU's 5th.

In Rutgers' 5th, Brehmer was facing the top of the order and gave up in order, a single, a walk, a single, a double, a single, a pop out, a walk, and a single which all scored four runs to make it 8-7 before Mercer decided to pull him. A struggling Reese Sharp came in with a 10.59 ERA in 26.1. Sharp got a K and a ground out to finally end the inning.

 

[ptrich]

In IU's 6th, Whalen leads off with a single. Whalen then steals 2nd with no outs. Evidently, the Rutgers coach saw something he didn't like with McLain and he goes to the bullpen with the count at 1-1 on Glasser. They bring in LHP Jared Bellissimo with an ERA of 3.00 in 3 IP. Glasser strikes out looking for the first out. Whalen then stole 3rd after getting a big jump. Whalen scored on a slow roller to the pitcher with Ellis reaching 1st with one out. Rutgers then got a DP on a line drive out with Ellis being caught off base to end IU's 6th with IU up 9-7.

Sharp walked the leadoff batter in RU's 6th, but then got a K for the first out. Sharp then gets a pop out to SS for two outs with a runner still on 1st. A ground out ends the inning as Sharp, after giving up the leadoff walk, finished the inning strong.

 

[ptrich]

In IU's 7th, Jessee gets a leadoff walk. Rutgers didn't waste any time going to the bullpen again bringing in RHP Sam Portnoy with an ERA of 2.84 in 6.1 IP. Rutgers is on their 6th pitcher of the game. Tibbetts flies out for the first out. Mathison is caught looking and Doanes lines out to end IU's 7th.

In Rutgers 7th, Sharp gives up a wind-aided leadoff homer to left center that didn't clear the fence by much to make it 9-8, IU. Sharp then gets a K for the 1st out. After a ground out, Mathison had a fly ball hit off his glove for an error to put a runner on 1st with two outs. Sharp then gets a K to end the inning.

Added note: Rutgers' Nick Cimillo, their top hitter and their catcher, had to leave the game after the 6th with some kind of injury.

 

[ptrich]

In IU's 8th, Serruto popped out and Whalen struck out for two outs, and Rutgers goes to the bullpen again to bring in their 7th pitcher of the game. RHP Ben Gorski has an ERA of 2.42 in 22.1 IP. Glasser doubles down the LF line with two outs. Ellis strikes out to end IU's 8th.

We are at the 8th inning where we have lost the first two games of the series after having the lead and here we are again with a 9-8 lead in the inning. Rutgers is at the top of their order which has hit IU hard today. Sharp gets a K on a 3-2 count for the first out. Sharp then gives up a double. A ground out results in the 2nd out with the runner remaining at 2nd. A flyout ends the inning as IU finally gets out of the 8th inning with no damage done.

 

[82IU]

Totally maddening!! Unreal!!
82

 

[ptrich]

In IU's 9th, Pyne gets a leadoff infield single. Jessee then walks to put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Tibbets hits into a fielder's choice for a force out at 2nd, and runners on the corners with one out. Murrison then walks on a 3-2 count to load the bases with one out. Rutgers goes to the bullpen again to bring in their 8th pitcher of the game in RHP Sam Bello who has an ERA of 2.45 in 25.2 IP. Doanes pops up to shallow LF for the 2nd out with the runners holding and two outs. A ground out ends IU's 9th, and they blow a big chance to add to a slim lead after having thge bases loaded with one out.

In Rutgers 9th, IU sticks with Sharp on the mound. Sharp gets a flyout to LF for the first out. A homer ties the game, and Sharp gets a ground out for the 2nd out. Another homer wins the game for Rutgers, 10-9.

 

[mk30]

Good lord. Listened to the 5th inning fiasco. Unreal how bad we have become. Top to bottom failure.

 

[ptrich]

This is one of those seasons for Rutgers where it seems when they need something good to happen, it happens, as they win their 15th straight game and they had to come from behind late in all three games to beat IU and get the sweep. The maddening part of it is that IU was so close to getting the sweep themselves, but collapsed in the 8th inning of the first two games and then in the 9th today. IU had a big chance to add to their lead in the top of the 9th when they had the bases loaded with one out and couldn't get even one run to cross the plate. When Rutgers pitchers had to come up with that big out(s) to kill IU scoring chances, they got it done. IU was outhit 14 to 11. Rutgers had three homers to IU's one homer. Whalen, Glasser, Pyne, Mathison and Doanes all had 2 hits apiece, with Mathison getting 4 RBIs on the GS homer. We just don't have that one pitcher that can come out of the bullpen and shut down hitters for a win in close games. It seems that when we get into the late innings of a close game, we just have to hold our breath hoping that someone can get an out without coughing up the lead. Sharp pitched 4.1 innings today to close it out and he gave up a homer in the 7th and that was it until the 9th. He just couldn't get it done in the 9th when we needed it.

 

[bowlgoal]

This is one of those seasons for Rutgers where is seems when they need something good to happen, it happens, as they win their 15th straight game and they had to come from behind late in all three games to beat IU and get the sweep. The maddening part of it is that IU was so close to getting the sweep themselves, but collapsed in the 8th inning of the first two games and then in the 9th today. IU had a big chance to add to their lead in the top of the 9th when they had the bases loaded with one out and couldn't get even one run to cross the plate. When Rutgers pitchers had to come up with that big out(s) to kill IU scoring chances, they got it done. IU was outhit 14 to 11. Rutgers had three homers to IU's one homer. Whalen, Glasser, Pyne, Mathison and Doanes all had 2 hits apiece, with Mathison getting 4 RBIs on the GS homer. We just don't have that one pitcher that can come out of the bullpen and shut down hitters for a win in close games. It seems that when we get into the late innings of a close game, we just have to hold our breath hoping that someone can get an out without coughing up the lead. Sharp pitched 4.1 innings today to close it out and he gave up a homer in the 7th and that was it until the 9th. He just couldn't get it done in the 9th when we needed it.

Congrats on being competitive this weekend. I wasn’t expecting any of the games being close. Keep chopping! Maybe your football team will be better this coming season. You still got that swimming championship though.

 

[ptrich]

Here's the recap of the game along with a link to the box score.

Baseball Falls in Finale at Rutgers - Indiana University Athletics

The Indiana baseball program dropped a heartbreaking decision, 10-9, in the series finale at Big Ten-leading Rutgers on Sunday (April 17) afternoon at Bainto...

iuhoosiers.com

 

[mk30]

Congrats on being competitive this weekend. I wasn’t expecting any of the games being close. Keep chopping! Maybe your football team will be better this coming season. You still got that swimming championship though.

I love the fact we suck bad enough even lowly Rutger fans come here to take a dump. Now go back to that s-hole you call home.

 

[80RU]

I love the fact we suck bad enough even lowly Rutger fans come here to take a dump. Now go back to that s-hole you call home.

While I am not big on going to another board to taunt, you have to understand that of all the fans in the Big Ten, Indiana fans were generally thought to be the most condescending towards RU upon coming into the league. (Purdue was probably #2.) It is natural that there would be a bit of gloating now that RU has been pretty dominant in head to head competition across the sports where both compete. This year:

3-0 baseball
1-0 football
1-0 wrestling
1-0 basketball
1-1 soccer

That 7-1 total should cause those Indiana fans who share your point of view to reconsider what potential RU has to bring more quality to this league. The same goes for the academic profiles.

 

[ptrich]

I love the fact we suck bad enough even lowly Rutger fans come here to take a dump. Now go back to that s-hole you call home.

For me, I honestly don't care if a couple of them come on here to blow their horn since they finally had things fall into place for them in what has been an outstanding season so far, and they really hadn't had an opportunity for that until this season. They have been used to finishing in the lower half of the B1G since joining conference and this experience is new to them. Meanwhile, we are facing our first losing season overall in the last 15 seasons which was Tracy Smith's second season as coach. It's easier to stay at or near the top rather than trying to get back there after having things go downhill for you. The portal makes that a little easier though, although that can work both ways. Just my opinion FWIW.