IU overcomes fielding miscues to beat Northern Kentucky, 11-5...

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Through the first two innings, IU has five hits to include 3 doubles. Cerny has 2 RBIs. Phillips started and pitched 1.2 innings and was relieved by Kraft and he pitched the last 1.1 innings. The lone NKU run was unearned.

B3rd:

It was the 6 thru 8 hitters up with Cerny leading off. Cerny and Stadler Kd for two outs. The NKU pitcher on the mound right now, Jake Johnson, is a transfer from Ohio State.

Colopy walked with two outs and Wiggins came in to pinch hit for Burckel.

Colopy advanced to 2nd base on a WP and Wiggins then launched a 2-run homer, his first in an IU uniform, to make it 7-1.

It was the top of the order back up and Mitchell Kd to end the inning.

End of 3rd: IU 7 NKU 1

 

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4th period:

T4th:

Carlson is at 2B for IU. Kraft is still on the mound facing 8 thru 1 hitters. Kraft retired the leadoff hitter on a K. Kraft then walked the No. 9 hitter on four pitches.

A single put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. A pop up got the 2nd out with the runners still at 1st and 2nd. An error by Cerny loaded the bases with two outs. It was IU's 2nd error of the game.

A single scored two runs with both runs unearned and all three runs given up by IU so far today are of the unearned variety.

Mercer pulled Kraft and brought in RHP Drew Buhr with an ERA of 3.37 in 2.2 IP, and a WHIP of 1.88.

Buhr Kd the first batter he faced to retire the side.

B4th:

It was the 2 thru 4 hitters up for IU with Pyne leading off. Pyne grounded out for the first out. Taylor went down swinging for the 2nd out.

Tibbitts singled with two outs with Mathison up. Mathison flied out to end the inning.

End of 4th: IU 7 NKU 3

 

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5th inning:

T5th:

Buhr was back out there for IU and he faced the 6 thru 8 hitters. Buhr Kd the leadoff hitter. Yet, another error with Cerny committing his 2nd error of the game and IU's 3rd error of the game, put a runner on with one out.

Cerny made up for it by initiating a DP to retire the side.

B5th:

It's the 6 thru 8 hitters up with Cerny leading off. Cerny got his 2nd double of the game to lead off.

Stadler then hit his first homer as a Hoosier that was a no doubter to make it 9-3 and Colopy up.

NKU went to the bullpen and brought in RHP Mathew Lopez. Colopy grounded out and Carlson lined out for two outs. Mitchell Kd to end the inning.

End of 5th: IU 9 NKU 3

 

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6th inning:

T6th:

It was the 9 thru 2 hitters up and Buhr walked the leadoff hitter on a full count. Buhr got a K for the first out with the runner stealing 2nd on the play. A single put runners on the corners with one out.

A double scored a run with runners taking 2nd and 3rd with one out. A grounder scored the runner from 3rd with the runner on 2nd out at 3rd for two outs.

With a runner at 1st and two outs, Mercer went to the bullpen and brought in RHP Julian Tonghini with an ERA of 5.14 in 7 IP and a WHIP 1.29.

Tonghini Kd the batter to retire the side.

B6th:

It's the 2 thru 4 hitters up with Pyne leading off.

Pyne walked on a 3-1 count with Taylor up. Taylor hit into a DP for two outs and Tibbitts up.

Tibbitts got his third hit of the day with a single to the outfield with two outs. Mathison then doubled, IU's 5th double of the game, to put runners on 2nd and 3rd and two outs.

NKU went to the bullpen and brought in RHP Nick Mcclanahan with an ERA of 7.20 to face Cerny. Cerny grounded out to end the inning and the threat.

End of 6th: IU 9 NKU 5

 

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7th inning:

T7th:

Tonghini was back out there to face the 6th thru 8 hitters. Tonghini Kd the leadoff hitter. The next batter reached on a slow rolling infield hit with one out. Tonghini got a DP ball to retire the side.

B7th:

It was the bottom of the order up for IU with Stadler leading off. IU went down quietly in order which included two Ks.

End of 7th: IU 9 NKU 5

 

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8th inning:

T8th:

Tonghini was back out there to face the 9 thru 2 hitters and he got the leadoff hitter on a flyout. He then gave up back-to-back walks with both on full counts to put runners at 1st and 2nd and one out.

What should have been a probable DP ball, Cerny bobbled the ball with the runner reaching 1st to load the bases with one out. It was Cerny's third error of the game as he continued to adjust to the SS position.

Tonghini then got a big K for the 2nd out and the bases still loaded. A grounder retired the side and the error fortunately didn't cause any damage.

B8th:

It's the top of the order up for IU with Mitchell leading off. NKU brought in RHP Logen Devenport who was seeing the mound for the first time this season. He walked the first two batters on four pitches each.

Tibbitts singled to score Mitchell to make it 10-5 and the bases loaded with no outs. Mathison reached on a FC with Pyne out at home and one out and the bases still loaded.

NKU went to the bullpen again. Cerny hit a SAC fly to score Taylor to make it 11-5 and Stadler Kd to end the inning.

End of 8th: IU 11 NKU 5

 

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9th inning:

T9th:

Tonghini was back out there to try to close it out. He Kd the leadoff and then walked the next batter after having an 0-2 count. A DP ball ended the game.

Final: IU 11 NKU 5

 

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IU hit the ball well from a percentage standpoint and the pitching was pretty good, but IU had their worst game of the season so far in fielding with four errors to no errors for NKU. IU turned three DPs today to one for NKU.

IU outhit NKU 13 to 9 with five of their hits being doubles. IU was 13 of 34 for a team average of .382 while NKU was 9 of 37 for .243. IU struck out 9 times today. IU had two players with double figures in hits and they accounted for almost half of IU's hits today.

Tibbitts - 4 for 4 with his only other at bat being a walk, he had 2 RBIs and he scored a run.

Cerny - 2 for 4 with both hits doubles, he had 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

Stadler - 1 for 5 and a homer, and he had 3 RBIs and scored a run.

Wiggins - 1 for 1 and a 2-run homer.

Colopy - 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

Mitchell - 1 for 3 with a double and 2 runs scored. He also had two walks.

Pitching was good but no great today as IU used four pitchers to eight for NKU. IU pitching only gave up two earned runs which is a big positive. Three of NKU's five runs were unearned and another run which was earned came off a walk. Phillips, the starter, wasn't real effective in a very short stint on the mound but he wasn't charged with a run. Benes was listed as the starter in the pregame article but he never entered the game.

Phillips (W) - 1.2 IP, 2 hits to include a double, no earned runs, no Ks, and 1 BB.

Kraft - 2.0 IP, 4 hits to include a double, no earned runs, 2 Ks, 2 BBs.

Buhr - 2.0 IP, 2 hits to include a double, 2 earned runs, 3 Ks, and 1 BB.

Tonghini (S, 2)- 3.1 IP, 1 hit and no earned runs, 4 Ks, and 3 BBs.

 

[Seyton]

God, our pitching is awful.

This is like a football coach who refuses to pay attention to the defense.

 

[ptrich]

God, our pitching is awful.

This is like a football coach who refuses to pay attention to the defense.

I didn't think it was that bad today. They seemed to have to pitch out of trouble several times but for the most part they left runners stranded with errors contributing to runners on the base paths.

FWIW, here are the B1G rankings for team ERAs as of right now. Don't forget that not all schedules are of equal strength, and our ranking was affected by the two games against Alabama and Arizona.

1	Nebraska	3.71
2	Maryland	3.87
3	Rutgers	4.50
4	Minnesota	4.75
5	Purdue	4.93
6	Indiana	5.42
7	Ohio State	5.55
8	Michigan State	5.65
9	Illinois	5.77
10	Penn State	6.19
11	Northwestern	6.38
12	Iowa	6.60
13	Michigan	6.91

 

[TomEric4756]

God, our pitching is awful.

This is like a football coach who refuses to pay attention to the defense.

It’s been worse … baseball averages are a long run game … 8-4 record says it’s not terrible and may be good.