IU@Michigan, Game 3: IU 10 UM 8. IU takes an important series...

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Luke Hayden is on the mound for IU with an ERA of 5.48 in 21.1 IP, while RHP Chase Allen is on the mound for UM with an ERA of 3.19 in 53.2 IP. Allen has been UM's best pitcher over their last three series. I thought Tucker might start this game, but that was obviously off.

There was no score in the 1st with Hayden giving up a single.

 

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In the 2nd, Mathison leads off and is hit by a pitch. Ellis walked to put two on, and Tibbetts singles to score Mathison from 2nd. Doanes reached on an error by the SS. A SAC fly by Goforth scores Ellis to make it 2-0. Doanes is out at 2nd on a fielder's choice for two outs, and Whalen strikes out to end the 2nd for IU.

In UM's 2nd, Hayden gets the leadoff hitter on a ground out on an outstanding play at 3rd by Pyne. Hayden then walks the next batter to put a man on with one out. Hayden then hits a batter to put runners on 1st and 2nd and one out. Hayden, who leads IU in WPs and I believe he leads the B1G also in that category, throws a WP to put runners on 2nd and 3rd, and that WP results in two runs scoring as the next batter got a single to score both runners to tie it at 2-2. Mercer goes to the bullpen and brings in RHP Braydon Tucker with an ERA of 5.94 in 36.1 IP. Tucker walks the first batter he faces to put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. The leadoff hitter for UM in Clark Elliott flied out on a 3-0 count for the 2nd out. Tucker gets a K to end the inning.

 

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IU goes down in order in the 3rd.

In UM's 3rd, Tucker gets the first two hitters on ground outs, but then gave up a two-out double to put a man on 2nd with two outs. Tucker then gives up a two-run homer to give UM the lead at 4-2. A ground out ends the inning.

 

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In the 4th, Ellis grounds out. Tibbetts walks and is forced at 2nd on a fielder's choice with Doanes reaching. Goforth grounds out to end IU's 4th.

In UM's 4th, Tucker gets the leadoff hitter on a ground out. An infield hit puts a runner on with one out and UM is at the top of the order. Tucker gets a K for the 2nd out. The runner is thrown out at 2nd on an attempted steal to end the inning.

 

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IU has just one hit going into the 5th and the UM pitcher is at a 57 PC and he went 8 innings in his last start. Serruto flies out to bring up the top of the order in Whalen. Whalen is hit by a pitch to put a runner on with one out. Jessee is then hit by a pitch to put two runners on with one out and the UM pitcher has three hit batters on the game so far. Pyne reaches on a fielder's choice with Jessee out at 2nd and Whalen taking 3rd with two outs. Mathison then clubs a three-run homer to give IU a 5-4 lead, his 15th of the season and sets a new home run record for a freshman at IU previously held by Alex Dickerson. Ellis flies out to end IU's 5th.

In UM's 5th, Tucker faces the 2, 3, and 4 hitters and the leadoff hitter reaches on an infield hit. Tucker then gives up a double with the runner on 1st scoring an unearned run after Mathison let the ball get past him for an error. A flyout moves the runner to 3rd with one out and Tucker gives up a single to the next batter to give UM the lead again at 6-5. Mercer pulls Tucker after a forgettable outing with one out and a man on, and he goes to LHP Ryan Kraft who has also struggled big time this season and has an ERA of 11.83 in 29.2 IP. Kraft gets back-to-back Ks to end the inning.

 

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In the 6th, Tibbetts leads off with a homer to tie the game at 6-6. Doanes grounds out for the 1st out. Goforth then hits a one-out double to put a man in scoring position. Serruto then strikes out for the 2nd out with the top of the order up in Whalen. Whalen reaches on an error by 2B to put runners on the corners with two outs. Jessee grounds out to end IU's 6th.

In UM's 6th, IU goes to the bullpen again to bring in RHP Nathan Stahl with an ERA of 10.07 in 19.2 IP. Stahl last pitched against Purdue and I believe he had some kind of injury. He gets off to a good start after almost a month of not seeing the mound and gets the leadoff hitter on a K. Kraft then gives up a walk to the No. 9 hitter and we are at the top of the order for UM with a man on and one out. Clark Elliott flies out to right center for two outs. A ground out ends the inning.

 

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In IU's 7th, UM goes to their inconsistent (like IU) bullpen to bring in RHP Noah Rennard with an ERA of 4.03 in 44.2 IP. Pyne leads off with an infield single. Mathison grounds out moving the runner to scoring position at 2nd with one out. Ellis fouls out for the 2nd out and the runner still on 2nd. Tibbetts then doubles to score Pyne to give IU the lead at 7-6 and Tibbetts is 3-3 on the day to include a solo homer. Doanes flies out to end IU's 7th, and we are at the 7th inning stretch.

In UM's 7th, Stahl hit the leadoff batter and Mercer makes the quick hook on Stahl, bringing in RHP Reese Sharp with an ERA of 7.97 in 40.2 IP. Sharp pitched 1.1 IP in yesterday's game to close it out and in his last 9+ innings pitched he has not given up a run. Sharp got the first two batters on a fly out and a K, but then walked the next batter to put two on with two outs. A triple scored both runners to give UM the lead at 8-7 with two outs. A line out ends the inning and IU has to try and come from behind again.

 

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In the 8th, IU has their 8, 9, 1 hitters up. Goforth grounds out to lead off. Serruto singles to put a man on with one out and we are at the top of the order. Whalen walks on four pitches to put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. Jessee grounds out while moving the runners to 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Pyne walks to load the bases for Mathison. Mathison reaches on a throwing error by the pitcher which allows two unearned runs to score as IU regains the lead at 9-8 and that chases the UM pitcher. UM brings in RHP Logan Wood with an ERA of 14.54 in 13 IP. Ellis strikes out to end the 8th for IU.

In UM's 8th, IU sticks with Sharp on the mound and he faces the 9, 1 and 2 hitters. Sharp walks the No. 9 hitter and we are at the top of the order. It was Sharp's first walk in his last 10 innings. Sharp gets a pop out for the first out and the runner still on first for a big out. Clark Elliott is UM's leading hitter, but IU for the most part has kept him in check for much of the series. A K gets the 2nd out and Serruto throws the runner out trying to steal 2nd as the runner slid past the bag for the last out.

 

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In the 9th, the 6 thru 8 hitters are up and UM has gone to the bullpen again to bring in RHP Willie Weiss with a 6.43 ERA in 21 IP. Tibbetts, who is having a big day at the plate (4-4) leads off with a single. Doanes doubles to the wall to score Tibbetts and give IU an insurance run at 10-8 and hopefully they can add more. Doanes reaches 3rd on a ground out by Goforth for the 1st out. Serruto strikes out for two outs and Doanes still at 3rd. Whalen strikes out to end IU's 9th and IU needs three outs to win it.

In UM's 9th, Sharp is back out there to try and close it out and he will face the 3 thru 5 hitters. Sharp gets a flyout for the 1st out. Sharp then gets a K for the 2nd out. A line out to CF ends the game and IU takes the series.

 

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Big time pitching out of the bullpen? Wow! Great job Reece Sharp!

 

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Big time pitching out of the bullpen? Wow! Great job Reece Sharp!

Yes, in a day of inconsistent pitching by both teams, Sharp came in and settled things down for IU and this was a huge win as IU entered the day tied for that 8th spot with Nebraska and NW, and I believe both of those teams are trailing in today's games.

 

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Both teams had 9 hits apiece today and pitching was pretty uneven for both teams with Sharp settling things down for IU. Michigan probably feels like they gave the game away with sloppy fielding as they had 3 errors on the day with the last one costing them 2 unearned runs which gave IU their winning runs at 9-8 in the 8th. However, we helped them out some today also and we certainly know what it's like to blow games late. Tibbetts was huge at the plate today going 4-4 with 3 RBIs and a solo homer, and he was the only multi-hit player today, but there were clutch hits by other players that played a key in the win. Mathison was 1 for 4 with a 3-run homer, his 15th of the season which set a new freshman record for homers on the season breaking Alex Dickerson's record, and he still has a few games to go. As far as pitching goes, IU used five pitchers with Hayden on the mound to start the game and he lasted just 1.1 IP before being pulled after giving up 2 early earned runs. Tucker then went 3 IP giving up four ERs. Kraft who has struggled mightily this season came in briefly and pitched 0.2 IP and did his job by striking out both batters faced on just 8 pitches. Stahl, who had not pitched since the Purdue series because of some kind of injury, came in for 1.0 IP and he gave up an earned run. Sharp came in in the 7th replacing Stahl after he hit the leadoff batter, and hit a little bump in the road in that inning by giving up a two-run triple with one of those runs charged to Stahl. However, giving up that triple in the 7th didn't affect Sharp as he was consistently good going down the stretch to get the win and giving up just that one earned run in the 7th. Nebraska lost to Minnesota in which the Gophers won that series which was a surprise as they head to IU next weekend, and the Huskers fall behind IU in the standings after being tied going into today's game. NW was tied with OSU in the 8th as I post this.

 

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NW lost to OSU, and with the Huskers losing today also, IU moves ahead of both of those teams after being tied with them entering today's game.

 

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

Third Straight Series Victory Comes at Michigan - Indiana University Athletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Redshirt-sophomore Reese Sharp delivered a dazzling relief appearance for the second straight day and the freshman duo of Carter Mathison ...

iuhoosiers.com

IU did not have a midweek game last week because of finals, but will be playing at Louisville on Tues and Louisville is ranked 10th by D1Baseball and has a 33-13-1 record after this weekend's action.

 

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

Third Straight Series Victory Comes at Michigan - Indiana University Athletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Redshirt-sophomore Reese Sharp delivered a dazzling relief appearance for the second straight day and the freshman duo of Carter Mathison ...

iuhoosiers.com

IU did not have a midweek game last week because of finals, but will be playing at Louisville on Tues and Louisville is ranked 10th by D1Baseball and has a 33-13-1 record after this weekend's action.

Why do I have this sinking feeling we’re about to see another 19-2 beatdown where pitchers are told you get 2-3 innings come hell or high water?

 

[Charlesroast]

If it were anyone other than UofL I would say this game is totally irrelevant. However, a win would be a valuable recruiting chip. Louisville has poached Indiana for years. IMO even though a loss doesn’t diminish the overall effort and positives this team has shown this year, a win would turn some heads.

None the less this has to be a “staff” game & would use a bunch. I would use the game to see if someone would give me a sign they could be a fourth starter. If they make the conference tourney and have some success they need a 4th starter.

If he is OK I would start Hayden with direction for Hayden and those that follow: once thru the order or if you feel you need to come out sooner, is all we are looking for. Assuming the other guys are healthy I would use the same approach for the rest of the staff and use more rather than less The exceptions being Perkins, Brehmer, & unless winning in 9th maybe Sharp.

Pitching, more specifically consistent pitching, has infected a broad group of teams. For example, the feature series in the feature league had Vandy and Georgia splitting the first 2 games as the teams combined for 20 runs in both before the Sunday starters, perhaps aided by fatigue, produced a 4-0 finale.

Side note about the RPI, this road series win by Vandy not only jumped them from 10th to 4th in the RPI ranking but also evened their SEC conference record @ 12-12