Illinois@IU, Game 3: IU 11 Illini 7. IU holds the Illini scoreless over the final six innings...

[ptrich]

RHP Braydon Tucker is on the mound with an ERA of 4.72 in 34.1 IP, while RHP Riley Gowens is on the mound for the Illini with an ERA of 4.54 in 39.2 IP.

In the 1st, Tucker allows the first two batters to reach on a single and a walk, but he gets a K for the 1st out. A double steal puts runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Tucker then gets another K for two outs with runners still on 2nd and 3rd. Tucker then issues a walk on four pitches to load the bases with two outs. A single through the left side of the infield scores two runs to give the Illini 2-0 with runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs. A ground out ends the Illini's 1st as this game starts off like the one yesterday with the Illini getting two runs in the 1st.

In IU's 1st, Whalen fouls out, Jesse walks, and Pyne is hit by a pitch to put two runners on with one out. Mathison then hits a 431 ft. three-run homer to give IU the lead at 3-2. Doanes pops out, but Tibbetts then singles to put a runner on with two outs. Ellis lines out to end the inning, and both starting pitchers have thrown a lot of pitches in the 1st.

 

[ptrich]

In the 2nd, Goforth who is at SS today makes a great play to get the leadoff batter for the 1st out. Tucker gets another ground out for two outs and a flyout ends the Illini 2nd, and Tucker threw just 10 pitches in that inning.

In IU's 2nd, the Illini pitcher has an efficient inning also, striking out the side to end the 2nd.

 

[ptrich]

In the T3rd, the Illini are at their 2, 3 and 4 batters. The leadoff hitter reaches on a double to start the inning. Tucker then hits a batter and like in the 1st, the Illini have two on and no outs. Tucker then gives up a three-run homer to CF and the Illini take a 5-3 lead. Tucker gives up another double to put a man on with no outs and Mercer doesn't wait any longer and goes to the bullpen to bring in LHP Ty Bothwell with an ERA of 5.46 in 28 IP. This is one of Mercer's quickest hooks of the season as we have been critical of him for staying too long with pitchers this season. We just went through that part of the batting order that hammered us yesterday. Bothwell, who has pitched well in his last couple of outings, gets the first out on a ground out as the runner takes 3rd. Bothwell then gets a big K for the 2nd out. Bothwell slipped off the mound and was called for a balk that scored the runner from 3rd to make it 6-3 with two outs. A batter then reaches on an error by Doanes at 2nd, IU's 6th error of the series. A two-out single then put runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs and the Illini are back to the top of their order. A single scores another run, unearned, to make it 7-3 with a runner caught in a rundown for the final out in a 5-run inning for the Illini.

In IU's 3rd, Jessee flies out to lead off. Pyne struck out looking on a low pitch that pretty much everyone outside of the Illini and their crowd thought was a really bad call. A K ends the inning.

 

[ptrich]

In the 4th, we are at that part of the batting order in the 2, 3, and 4 hitters that got things started last inning for the Illini. Illinois came into this series with a team batting average of .290. Bothwell gets the leadoff hitter on a K. Bothwell then hits a batter, their 2nd hit batter of the game and 85th on the season. Bothwell gets an infield pop out for the 2nd out with a runner on 1st. A base hit puts runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs. A K ends the Illini's 4th.

In IU's 4th, IU goes down in order and the Illini pitcher has put down 10 straight Hoosiers. The Illini pitcher came into this game with okay but not great numbers which you would expect for a game three pitcher, but IU hitters, except for the 1st, are treating him like he is Bob Gibson in his prime so far.

 

[ptrich]

In the 5th, Bothwell walks the leadoff man and then gets a ground out with the runner taking 2nd with one out. Another ground out to 3B holds the runner at 2nd with two outs, and Mercer comes out and goes to the bullpen as Mercer is showing a real quick hook today as Bothwell looked surprised at the move. RHP Reese Sharp comes in with an ERA of 9.26 in 35 IP. Sharp has not fooled many hitters this season, but he has pitched better of late and he gets the final out on a flyout.

In the B5th, the Illini starter is at just 67 pitches to start this inning. IU has not had a base runner since the 1st, and just as I posted that Goforth reaches on an infield hit to start the inning. Serruto then singles to put two runners on with no outs, and the bottom two hitters in the order have reached. Another single by Whalen at the top of the order scores Goforth to make it 7-4 and IU has a big chance to really cut into that lead with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs. A double by Jessee scores Serruto to make it 7-5 with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and that chases the Illini starter who had put down 10 straight batters before this inning. The Illini bring in RHP Jack Wenninger with an ERA of 4.67 in 27 IP. Pyne welcomes the new pitcher with a double to CF to score two and tie the game at 7-7 with a runner on 2nd and no outs. Mathison then clubs a two-run homer, his 2nd homer of the game, to give IU the lead at 9-7. Doanes then grounds out for the first out with the bases empty. Tibbetts is then hit by a pitch to put a man on and one out, and the Illini have tied the Hoosiers in hit batters today with two each. Ellis then hits his 14th homer of the season, a two-run homer, to put IU up 11-7 with still one out. We need to score two more runs to match the Illini's 10-run 6th yesterday. UI goes to the bullpen against to bring in RHP Ty Rybarczyk with an ERA of 4.62 in 25.1 IP. Goforth welcomes the new pitcher with a single to put a man on with one out. Serruto grounds out with Goforth taking 2nd with two outs. Whalen then strikes out to end a highly productive inning to say the least, but the Illini are too good of a hitting team and they are probably not through putting up runs.

 

[ptrich]

In the 6th, Sharp remains on the mound and we are at the dangerous 2, 3, and 4 hitters. The leadoff hitter doubles to right center. A grounder to SS results in the first out with the runner holding at 2nd. In a controversial ruling, the ump called the next Illini batter out after being hit by a pitch after the ump ruled that he stuck his elbow out over the plate, making it a strike three looking. A flyout ended the Illini 6th, with the leadoff double being stranded.

In IU's 6th, Jessee leads off with a single. Pyne grounds out with Jessee taking 2nd. Mathison then strikes out on a call that no one outside the Illini liked. A ground out by Doanes ends the inning. Doanes, who has been a hot hitter of late, has had a quiet day at the plate today.

 

[ptrich]

In the 7th, the Illini are at the 6, 7, and 8 hitters in the order. Sharp strikes out the leadoff hitter. Whalen lost a fly ball in the sun which fell next to him for a double with one out. A flyout sends the runner to 3rd with two outs and the No. 9 hitter up. Sharp ends the Illini 7th with another K and strands the runner at 3rd. Sharp has been sharp so far in this outing. He got charged with a double in that inning, but it was just bad luck after Whalen lost the ball in the sun. We are at the 7th inning stretch.

In IU's 7th, Tibbetts fouls out and Ellis strikes out for two outs. Goforth then strikes out to end the inning.

 

[ptrich]

In the 8th, the Illini are at the dangerous top of the order with Sharp back out on the mound. Sharp strikes out the first two batters for two outs. The next batter singles with two outs. A flyout to shallow RF ends the Illini's 8th as Sharp has another good inning.

In IU's 8th, Serruto strikes out to lead off which brings the top of the order up. Whalen then strikes out and the Illini reliever is at a season high 6 Ks so far in 3.1 IP. Jessee walks with two outs. Jessee is caught stealing to end the inning and IU is three outs away from taking the series.

 

[ptrich]

In the 9th, the Illini are at the No. 5, 6, and 7 hitters and IU needs three outs to end it. Sharp is back out there in what has been a very good 3.1 IP so far. Murrison makes an over the shoulder catch in RF for the first out in what was a really good catch. A flyout to RF results in the 2nd out. With two outs, a triple puts a runner on. Sharp then gets a K after going 3-0 on the hitter to end the game.

 

[ptrich]

IU won the final game of a B1G series for the first time this season and they have taken two straight series. Braydon Tucker did not have good stuff today as the starter and went just 2 IP giving up six ERs with 2 BBs, 2 Ks, and a hit batter. Mercer, who has been criticized on this forum for keeping pitchers that have lost it out there too long, quickly hooks Tucker to bring in Bothwell who got IU out of the inning giving up a couple of runs on a balk where he slipped off the mound to bring in a run and an error by Doanes extended the inning and eventually scored another unearned run. Those would be the last of the Illini runs as IU held them scoreless over the final six innings on the pitching of Bothwell and Sharp, especially Sharp who gave IU an excellent 4.1 IP giving up 4 hits and getting 6 Ks. One of those hits, a double, was just bad luck as Whalen lost the ball in the sun and it dropped next to him. At the plate, Mathison had a huge day with two homers and 5 RBIs. Jessee and Goforth also had two hits apiece, with Ellis also hitting a two-run homer. Pyne also doubled to bring in two runs. While we will never know, Mercer's quick hooks on Tucker and Bothwell, with the hook on Bothwell being a surprise, may have kept IU in the game until that big 5th where we scored 8 runs. It wasn't a stellar weekend with the errors as we had six of them in this series, but we won the series and that's all that counts.

It's finals week so IU doesn't have a midweek game and they travel to Michigan next weekend, who is surprisingly struggling with Purdue this weekend.

 

[Orford]

Anyone find the umps strike zone to be one of the more inconsistent ones we’ve seen (for both teams)?

 

[ptrich]

Anyone find the umps strike zone to be one of the more inconsistent ones we’ve seen (for both teams)?

Yes, there were a few controversial calls behind the plate with both teams complaining about it. There was a called third strike on one of the Hoosiers and I don't recall the name right now, that almost took a golf swing to hit and he was called out looking.

 

[ptrich]

Here's the game recap with a link to the box score:

Vite App

iuhoosiers.com

 

[mk30]

Thanks for the recap. A series win is always good. Sounds like some correct buttons were pushed and I’ll give the staff full credit when due. Keep it up. Lot more fun this way.

 

[TomEric4756]

May the diamond squad claw their way into the Big Ten tournament.