IUBASE vs. Middle Tennessee

[Sam_Beishuizen]

@Stu Jackson and I are hanging out at Bart Kaufman Field for today's game.

Stu's preview: https://indiana.rivals.com/news/iu-baseball-excited-for-home-opener-after-11-straight-on-the-road

 

[Stu Jackson]

It's 40 degrees with about 20 minutes until first pitch in Bloomington. But very few clouds in the sky, so that's nice.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

I was sort of expecting them to try and play two today with the early start, but that doesn't seem to be the case. So it'll be a cold weekend series as expected.

 

[Stu Jackson]

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Eustace was very productive at the leadoff spot in the Hoosiers' first series of the season. Looking forward to seeing how the offense does this afternoon with him at the top of the order.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

This is my first look at this team in person all year. So it's nice to see these guys out on the field again.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Logan Sowers misplays a fly ball in right field. Blame the wind on that one. Middle Tennessee immediately puts a runner on second.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Middle Tennessee State strikes first. RBI flyout for Austin Dennis. That run will be unearned.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Top 1: Riley Delgado with a towering fly ball to right field. Logan Sowers, moving to his right with the wind howling, got there in time to stick his glove hand out under the ball, but it popped out. The error allowed Delgado to reach second. Kevin Sullivan grounded out to first base to advance the runner to third. Then Austin Dennis hit a fly ball to right-center field to plate the first run of the game. That run goes unearned. Aaron Aucker drew a full count before walking. Drew Huff struck out to end the inning.

That's 1-0 Middle Tennessee

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Bottom 1: Laren Euastace couldn’t check his swing, strikes out. Ball got away from the catcher, but Eustace couldn’t beat the throw to first base. Luke Miller fouled back a couple before going down swinging himself. Craig Dedelow got ahold of the first pitch and blasted a deep drive to right field that died on the warning track. Three up, three down.

Middle Tennessee 1, Indiana 0

 

[rcaulfie]

Listening to it online. Sounds like MTSU's right fielder had no problem with the wind on Dedelow's high fly ball for the 3rd out in the first. Only us, I guess. Shocker....

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

This team is a mess.....but it's early ( I hope)

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Top 2: Kaleb King drills a liner to center. Not sure if Eustace misplayed it or not. Ball got to the track on a hop. That’s a standup double to start the inning, just like in the first. Philip Kunsa hit a slow dribbler to the shortstop, Jeremy Houston, who made a heck of a play to get the runner out at first. Runner on second advanced. Blake Benefield drills a single to left field to play the second run of the day. Then Chaz Vezzer gets one to go through the infield to right to put runners on first and second with just one away as the lineup turns over. A nice piece of hitting on a 1-2 count for Delgado, who hits a blooper to right field. That was after a mound visit. Looks like some action in the pen starting up. Kevin Sullivan drives in the third run of the day with a sacrifice fly to left. Now runners on first and second for Dennis, perhaps the most dangerous hitter on the roster. Dennis goes down swinging.


3-0 Middle Tennessee

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Listening to it online. Sounds like MTSU's right fielder had no problem with the wind on Dedelow's high fly ball for the 3rd out in the first. Only us, I guess. Shocker....

I think Sowers was just a little lazy. Poked out a single glove at that ball. Didn't even try to put a second hand on it.

 

[Stu Jackson]

First and second inning both saw runners get on second early.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Bottom 3: Logan Sowers struck out to begin the inning. That’s the third strikeout in four at bats so far. Matt Lloyd then strikes out. That’s four. Ryan Fineman hits a sharp liner to third base that’s snagged for the out.


Hoosiers still trail 3-0

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Top 3: Aaron Aucker flies out to right field. Logan Sowers slammed against the wall in the corner for the out. That looked like it hurt. He’s alright. Well hit ball by Drew Huff to left field, he’s looking for two bases but can’t get there before Craig Dedelow mows him down. IU needs momentum. Maybe the defense can do it. Kaleb King grouns out to Jeremy Houston. So this is the first inning IU escapes damage.


Hoosiers still trail 3-0

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Bottom 3: Three pitches, three strikes. Jake Matheny goes down. That’s five strikeouts. Tony Butler finally breaks through with a single to left to give IU its first base runner. Jeremy Houston initially shows bunt but then swings away after not getting it down. Tony Butler steals second on an 0-2 pitch to give the Hoosiers a runner in scoring position for the first time all day. One away still. I don’t think the visiting catcher expected Butler to take off. Really delayed throw. Houston strikes out. Laren Sustace strikes out for the final out of the game. So he strikes out the side.’


Hoosiers still trail 3-0

 

[Stu Jackson]

This team is a mess.....but it's early ( I hope)

Still early, only 12 games in counting this one.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Jake Wyrick has been dealing today for Middle Tennessee. Seven strikeouts so far. Hoosiers haven't gotten much past him so far.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Tim Herrin is done after giving up a fourth run in as many innings.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Luke Stephenson is going to come into the game for the Hoosiers.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Tim Herrin's final line: 3.2 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, 1 walk and two strikeouts. He's on the hook for now.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Top 4: Philip Kunsa ropes a double down the right field line into the corner. That’s more danger coming IU’s way. Benefield grounded out to short to advance the runner. Vesser flied out to right to drive in the fourth run of the day. That’ll take Tim Herrin out of the game and bring in Luke Stephenson.


Tim Herrin's final line: 3.2 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, 1 walk and two strikeouts. He's on the hook for now.


Stepneon comes in without any runners on base and two outs. This is his third appearance of the season. He’s coming back after having a blister on his throwing hand. Jeremy Houston nearly misplays a hard hit ball, but he recovers to make the play.


Hoosiers trail by four.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Back-to-back singles by Miller and Dedelow gives Sowers a pair of runners on base with nobody out. Here's a chance for the Hoosiers to make some noise.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Bottom 4: Leadoff runner thanks to a Luke Miller infield single. Shopper in front of the plate. Craig Delow hits a single to shallow right field to get runners on first and second, still nobody away. Sowers gets hit on the outside of his foot. Matt Lloyd flies out to left. Luke Miller tried to get home and then stopped. Ends up at third still. Bases juiced with one away now. Ryan Fineman pops up behind the plate. So suddenly two outs and the bases loaded for Matheny. Jake Matheny puts the Hoosiers on the board with a two-out bases-loaded single to left field to plate two. Hoosiers now trail 4-2. Leaving runners on first and second now looking for more. Tony Butler at the plate. Butler gets hit, so bases are loaded for Jeremy Houston. Nobody warming up in the Blue Raider pen. Houston grounds out to short stop. He opts to go to third base for the out. Close play. Matheny didn’t like it, but it was about a step early.


Hoosiers trail just 4-2 now.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Top 5: Sullivan flies out to left. Dennsi grounds out to first, unassisted. Nice stop by Lloyd. Deep flyout to left for Aucker. That was just fine. Stephenson looked good there.


Hoosiers still trail 4-2.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Bottom 5: Krupa pops up in the infield to the third baseman. Luke Miller flies out to right-center field. Dedelow strikes out looking. That’s No. 8 for the MT starter.


Hoosiers still trail 4-2.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Top 6: Drew Huff grounds out to the third base side. Nice arm by Luke Miller to get him out. King grounds out. Then Stephenson gets Kunsa to go down swinging. Stephenson is dealing right now.


Hoosiers still trail 4-2.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Bottom 6: Sowers long flyout to center. Cangelosi, a pinch hitter, strike outs on three pitches. That’s nine for the Hoosiers. Then Fineman grounds out softly to the shortstop.


Hoosiers still trail 4-2.

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

Still early, only 12 games in counting this one.

We strike out like our lives depended on it. We'll be home for the postseason again after the start to the season we've had. I expected to struggle on the hill......and we have, but only a little. But the rate at which we K is on par with the rate at which the basketball Hoosiers turn the ball over. It's awful and borderline embarrassing. I have little tolerance for strikeouts.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Bottom 7: Benefield with a drive over Tony Butler’s leaping glove for a double to the right-center gap. Vesser advances the runner to third with a soft-hit ball to the second baseman. Infield in to try and stay within two. Weird hop right in front of Tuny Butler. He can’t glove it. That’s a run and a runner on first. His second error of his IU career, both coming this season. Pauly Milto comes in and gets out of the inning.


Middle Tennessee 5, Indiana 2 as we stretch.

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

10 Ks in 24 at bats. Clayton Kershaw on the bump?

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Nice double play to get out of the inning for Indiana. Hoosiers still trail by three with just six outs left.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

10 Ks in 24 at bats. Clayton Kershaw on the bump?

Might as well be...Kid had good stuff. He's out of the game now.

 

[Stu Jackson]

We strike out like our lives depended on it. We'll be home for the postseason again after the start to the season we've had. I expected to struggle on the hill......and we have, but only a little. But the rate at which we K is on par with the rate at which the basketball Hoosiers turn the ball over. It's awful and borderline embarrassing. I have little tolerance for strikeouts.

Yeah, the hitting is definitely a bigger concern than the pitching right now.

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Bottom 8: Luke Miller singles to right. Then Craig Dedelow reaches first on an error. Suddenly first and second with nobody away. Tying run at the plate in Logan Sowers. Logan Sowers flies out to shall right field. Runners can’t move. Cengelosi pops out out of play near the third base. Ryan Fineman high chopper. MT third baseman tries to barehand the ball but can’t make the play with Fineman chugging down the line. Bases loaded, two outs for Matheney. Warning track flyout. Was working against the wind.

Hoosiers trail 5-2

 

[Sam_Beishuizen]

Three up, three down. IU needs three runs in the ninth to tie it.

 

[snowling]

This team is struggling.

Final
-- R H E
MT 5 9 2
IU 3 6 2

Go Hoosiers!

Boxscore:
iuhoosiers.com/boxscore.aspx?path=baseball&id=12143

 

[ptrich]

This team is struggling.

Final
-- R H E
MT 5 9 2
IU 3 6 2

Go Hoosiers!

Boxscore:
iuhoosiers.com/boxscore.aspx?path=baseball&id=12143

The Wyrick kid came into the game with a nice ERA of under 2.00. If we don't jump on their pitcher tomorrow who had an ERA of over 9, I'll be extremely disappointed.