Game Thread: Indiana vs. Illinois-Chicago (Louisville Regional, Elimination Game)

[Stu Jackson]

First pitch is at 11 a.m. eastern time. WatchESPN.com has the broadcast.

Indiana will throw lefty Andrew Saalfrank, and Illinois State will counter with senior right-hander Joey Fredrickson (4.37 ERA, 44 Ks in 14 starts)

 

[Stu Jackson]

Indiana batting order:

1. RF Drew Ashley
2. DH Matt Lloyd
3. LF Elijah Dunham
4. 3b Cole Barr
5. 1b Scotty Bradley
6. C Ryan Fineman
7. CF Grant Richardson
8. 2b Cade Bunnell
9. SS Jeremy Houston

So no Gorski today. Richardson takes his place in center, as he did yesterday against Illinois State yesterday afternoon.

 

[Stu Jackson]

A flyout and two groundouts make for a quick T1 for the top of Indiana's order.

Scoreless heading into B1.

 

[Stu Jackson]

HOME RUN: RF Scott Ota sends a 2-run shot over the wall at left center to give UIC a 2-0 lead over Indiana in B1. One out.

 

[Stu Jackson]

UIC already with four hits on Saalfrank. Two-out single to center puts runners on first and second for the Flames.

 

[ulrey]

wow stick a fork in them

 

[Stu Jackson]

Groundout to short ends the inning.

2-0 UIC at the end of the 1st.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Barr fouls a ball off his right foot and stays down for a moment, but gets back up and decides to stay in. He's tied with Lloyd for the team lead in home runs, so that would not have been ideal if IU lost him on top of having Gorski unavailable.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Barr stays in but flies out. Bradley walks, then Fineman gets hit by pitch to put runners on first and second.

 

[Stu Jackson]

2-RBI triple to the wall at right center by Grant Richardson ties this one up. Indiana 2, UIC 2 with one out in T2.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bunnell caught stealing, but Richardson is able to score the unearned run off the throw.

3-2 Indiana

 

[Stu Jackson]

Houston strikes out swinging to end T2.

Indiana 3, UIC 2 heading into B2.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Runners on first and second for UIC, but Indiana turns a 5-4-3 double play to end B2.

End of 2nd inning: Still 3-2 Indiana

 

[Stu Jackson]

Single to left by Ashley followed by a single to center by Dunham has runners on the corners with one out in B3.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Barr hit by pitch, bases now loaded with Bradley at the plate.

 

[ptrich]

I expect Saalfrank to settle down and be the pitcher he has been. I don't know what has happened to our starting pitching since the regular season ended, but it hasn't been what I expected it to be.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Pitching change for UIC: Lefty Sam Menegat now on the mound.

Bradley reaches 1st on a fielder's choice, Barr to second, Dunham to third; Ashley out at home. Bases still loaded with two outs

 

[Stu Jackson]

A Fineman groundout to shortstop ends T3.

Still 3-2 Indiana heading into B3

 

[ptrich]

I'm guessing the pitcher they brought in is their closer since his era is 1.57 in around 23 IP. It's an elimination game and someone is going to see their season end.

 

[ptrich]

A Fineman groundout to shortstop ends T3.

Still 3-2 Indiana heading into B3

We never got the ball out of the infield with one out. All we needed was a deep enough fly ball, but you have to give their relief pitcher credit for not allowing that.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Freshman righty Gabe Bierman warming up in the bullpen

 

[Stu Jackson]

RBI double by UIC's Joshua Figueroa ties this one up.

UIC 3, Indiana 3, one out in B3.

 

[ptrich]

The tying run was caused by a walk and then a wild pitch. Good grief.

 

[Stu Jackson]

UIC threatens to take the lead with a runner at third, but Saalfrank gets the final batter to strike out looking.

Tied 3-3 at the end of the 3rd

 

[BayernFan]

Not a good time of year to have a losing streak

 

[Stu Jackson]

IU regains the lead on Jeremy Houston's RBI double down the left field line.

Indiana 4, UIC 3, one out in T4.

 

[Stu Jackson]

An Ashley strikeout and Lloyd pop-out end T4.

4-3 Indiana heading into B4

 

[Stu Jackson]

Saalfrank is coming back out for B4

 

[Stu Jackson]

Saalfrank gets the first batter looking but walks the second in B4. Bierman warming up again.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bierman replaces Saalfrank and winds up loading the bases. However, he gets out of the jam by inducing a groundout to second on a full count.

Still 4-3 Indiana at the end of the 4th

 

[mk23]

Our starting pitching has flamed out. Pun intended. Gotta hope our pen can pick them up.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Indiana can only muster a walk offensively in T5.

Still 4-3 IU heading into B5

 

[Stu Jackson]

Pauly Milto having a little fun in the dugout:

 

[Stu Jackson]

UIC doesn't advance further than second, held in check by Bierman.

End of 5th inning: Still 4-3 Indiana

 

[Stu Jackson]

HOME RUN: Matt Lloyd launches a 3-run shot over the right field wall to give Indiana a four-run lead.

IU 7, UIC 3 with two outs in T6.

 

[ulrey]

HOME RUN: Matt Lloyd launches a 3-run shot over the right field wall to give Indiana a four-run lead.

IU 7, UIC 3 with two outs in T6.

huge

 

[Stu Jackson]

Dunham flies out to left to end T6.

7-3 Indiana heading into B6

 

[Courtsensetwo]

swat!

 

[ptrich]

huge

Two-out clutch homer. Needless to say, we really needed that.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Lloyd's home run: