Live Game Thread: Indiana vs Michigan State 3/28

[MatthewByrne5]

Starting Lineups:

IU:

1. LF Drew Ashley
2. CF Grant Richardson
3. 3B Cole Barr
4. 2B Paul Toetz
5. DH Kip Fougerousse
6. 1B Jordan Fucci
7. RF Sam Murrison
8. C Collin Hopkins
9. SS Jeremy Houston

SP: Gabe Bierman - RHP

MSU:

1. 2B Trent Farquhar
2. LF Bryce Kelley
3. CF Joe Stewart
4. 3B Zach Iverson
5. RF Zaid Walker
6. DH Jack Frank
7. SS Mitch Jebb
8. C Gabe Sotres
9. 1B Reese Trahey

SP: Nick Powers - LHP

 

[MatthewByrne5]

T1:

Indiana goes 1-2-3.

LF Drew Ashley flew out to right-center field, CF Grant Richardson grounded out to first base and 3B Cole Barr popped out to first base.

B1:

Michigan State strands a runner in scoring position.

Trent Farquhar drew a leadoff walk. Bryce Kelley then lined out to left field. Next up to bat, Joe Stewart grounded out to second base, which moved Farquhar to second base. Zach Iverson then lined out to left-center.

T2:

Indiana goes 1-2-3 again.

Paul Toetz grounded out to third base, Kip Fougerousse flew out to right field and Jordan Fucci struck out looking to end the frame.

B2:

Michigan State jumps out to a quick 2-0 lead.

Walker led off the inning by drawing a walk and then scored after Jack Frank doubled to right-center field. Frank was picked off at second on the throw coming in from the outfield, but the run came around to score to make it a 1-0 game. Mitch Jebb then singled through the right side and advanced to second after he stole the base. Reese Trahey then hit a ground ball to first base, which went off Fucci's glove into right field. Jebb came around to score to make it a 2-0 game.
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Heading into T3 --> Michigan State leads 2-0.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

T3:

Indiana gets its first base hit of the game but strands a runner in scoring position.

Sam Murrison led off the inning with a single down the left-field line and then advanced to second base after Collin Hopkins sacrifice bunted. Jeremy Houston then struck out swinging and Drew Ashley flew out to left field.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B3 --> Michigan State leads 2-0.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

B3:

Michigan State extends its lead to 3-0.

Kelley was walked to lead off the inning and then stole second base. He then advanced to third base on a wild pitch from Gabe Bierman. Zach Iverson then hit a sacrifice fly to right-center field, which scored Kelley from third base to make it a 3-0 game.
_______________________________________________________________________

Heading into T4 --> Michigan State leads 3-0.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

T4:

Richardson led off the inning and popped out to shortstop. Cole Barr then hit a ground ball to third base and beat the throw for an infield single. Barr advanced to second after Toetz grounded out to second base, but Fougerousse grounded out to shortstop to end the frame.
______________________________________________________________________

Heading into B4 --> Michigan State leads 3-0.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

B4:

Frank led off the inning with a ground out to second base. Jebb then hit a ground ball up the middle, and Toetz fielded it as he threw to first, but Jebb beat the throw for a single. Sotres then flew out to right-center field and Trahey struck out swinging to end the frame.
__________________________________________________

Heading into T5 --> Michigan State leads 3-0.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

T5:

Fucci led off the inning with a ground out to second base. Next up to bat, Murrsion reached on a fielding error by MSU SS Mitch Jebb and then advanced to second base after Hopkins grounded out to first base. Houston flew out to right-center field to end the frame.
__________________________________________________

Heading into B5 --> Michigan State leads 3-0.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

B5:

LHP Ty Bothwell replaces Gabe Bierman

Farquhar drew a walk and then advanced to second base after Kelley hit a ground ball to third base, which went off Barr's glove. Stewart then reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop as Houston got the force out at second base. Iverson bunted with one out and runners on the corners, but Farquhar was caught in a rundown between third and home. Barr tagged Farquhar for the second out of the inning. Walker then struck out looking to end the frame.
____________

Heading into T6 --> Michigan State leads 3-0.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

T6:

Indiana strands two runners on base.

Ashley led off the inning and drew a walk. Next up to bat, Richardson reached on a fielder's choice to second base and Ashley was out at second. A pitch then hit Barr to put runners on first and second. However, Toetz flew out to left-center and Fougerousse struck out swinging to end the frame.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B6 --> Michigan State leads 3-0.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

B6:

Michigan State extends its lead to 5-0.

Pinch hitter Bailey Peterson led off the inning with a double off the left-field wall. With one out, Sotres reached first base on a throwing error by Jeremy Houston and advanced to second base on the error. Peterson came around to score to make it a 4-0 game. Trahey then grounded out to shortstop and Sotres moved to third base. Farquhar then singled to right field and Sotres scored to give Michigan State a 5-0 lead.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T7 --> Michigan State leads 5-0.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

T7:

Indiana cuts the lead to 5-1.

Fucci led off the inning and doubled down the right-field line off the base of the wall. Murrison then reached on a fielder's choice to the pitcher as Fucci was caught in a rundown in between second and third. Fucci was tagged out attempting to dive into third base, but Murrison advanced to second base on the play. Jeremy Houston then singled down the right-field line and Murrison came around to score.

RHP Burrell Jones replaces Nick Powers with two outs

Drew Ashley flew out to right-center to end the frame.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B7 --> Michigan State leads 5-1.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

B7:

Colopy pinch hit for Hopkins in the top of the seventh. Jacob Southern to catch for Colopy.

Michigan State goes 1-2-3.

Iverson flew out to left field, Walker grounded out to second and Peterson grounded out to shortstop.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T8 --> Michigan State leads 5-1.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

T8:

Richardson led off the inning and was hit by a pitch. Barr then struck out swinging and Paul Toetz grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
___________________________________________

Heading into B8 --> Michigan State leads 5-1.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

B8:

Michigan State strands one runner in scoring position.

Mitch Jebb led off the bottom of the eighth with a double to right-center field. However, Bothwell struck out Sotres swinging and Trahey looking. Farquhar then grounded out to second base to end the frame.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T9 --> Michigan State leads 5-1.

Last chance for Indiana.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

T9:

Indiana loses to Michigan State 5-1.

With one out, Fucci singled to center field and then advanced to second base after Murrison singled to right field. Jacob Southern then grounded out to the pitcher and both runners advanced one base. Jeremy Houston then struck out swinging to end the game.

 

[ptrich]

Well, a couple of singles in the 9th weren't nearly enough to even think about coming back in this dud of a game. The top of the order was a no-show today with just one hit (single) between them. Another bad day with the errors with two more to add to the three yesterday, and Houston picking up yet another one for three errors since yesterday. Houston did get a late RBI single, which doesn't happen very often, but he struck out to end the game with men on 2nd and 3rd. I was hoping that Houston would walk to give the top of the order a chance with the bases loaded, but it was not to be. At least we took the series, although I was hoping for the sweep.

 

[MatthewByrne5]

Well, a couple of singles in the 9th weren't nearly enough to even think about coming back in this dud of a game. The top of the order was a no-show today with just one hit (single) between them. Another bad day with the errors with two more to add to the three yesterday, and Houston picking up yet another one for three errors since yesterday. Houston did get a late RBI single, which doesn't happen very often, but he struck out to end the game with men on 2nd and 3rd. I was hoping that Houston would walk to give the top of the order a chance with the bases loaded, but it was not to be. At least we took the series, although I was hoping for the sweep.

I agree; a sweep would have been nice. However, after this loss, IU is 11-3 and Nebraska and Michigan are 11-4. So, we still have a slim lead in the conference after this weekend.

 

[ptrich]

Here's a recap of the game.

Michigan State fights back to avoid the sweep – iubase.com

iubase.com

 

[Charlesroast]

Well, a couple of singles in the 9th weren't nearly enough to even think about coming back in this dud of a game. The top of the order was a no-show today with just one hit (single) between them. Another bad day with the errors with two more to add to the three yesterday, and Houston picking up yet another one for three errors since yesterday. Houston did get a late RBI single, which doesn't happen very often, but he struck out to end the game with men on 2nd and 3rd. I was hoping that Houston would walk to give the top of the order a chance with the bases loaded, but it was not to be. At least we took the series, although I was hoping for the sweep.

Before the Covid hit the staff I was hoping for at least 5-1 with Purdue and MSU. I hope missing part of the staff these past 2 weekends has contributed to some of the problems, particular with pitching and defense.

Was glad to see Vecrumba make his first appearance of the year, IMO he could add another strong bat to the line up. Would like to see more of Macciocchi or even Rowe at short.

Staff should all be back this week and this 4 game set, weather permitting, at OSU should tell us a lot about this team.

 

[ptrich]

Before the Covid hit the staff I was hoping for at least 5-1 with Purdue and MSU. I hope missing part of the staff these past 2 weekends has contributed to some of the problems, particular with pitching and defense.

Was glad to see Vecrumba make his first appearance of the year, IMO he could add another strong bat to the line up. Would like to see more of Macciocchi or even Rowe at short.

Staff should all be back this week and this 4 game set, weather permitting, at OSU should tell us a lot about this team.

It certainly can't hurt when it comes to the SS position, and it could possibly be an upgrade. However, the coach knows what he's got on the roster, so we have to rely on his judgment.