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Live Game Thread: Indiana vs. Rutgers | Game 1 |

MatthewByrne5

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Mar 10, 2021
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Starting Lineups:

IU:


1. LF Drew Ashley
2. 2B Paul Toetz
3. CF Grant Richardson
4. 3B Cole Barr
5. RF Morgan Colopy
6. C Collin Hopkins
7. 1B Kip Fougerousse
8. DH Bobby Whalen
9. SS James "Tank" Espalin

SP: Tommy Sommer - LHP

RU:

1. 1B Mike Nyisztor
2. RF Richie Schiekofer
3. CF Ryan Lasko
4. SS Danny DiGeorgio
5. LF Evan Sleight
6. 3B Chris Brito
7. 2B Kevin Welsh
8. C Peter Serruto
9. DH Josh Rodriguez

SP: Harry Rutkowski - LHP
 
We cooled off a hot Iowa team so now it's time to cool off Rutgers which has won five straight.
 
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T1:

Indiana takes a 2-0 lead.

Ashley hit a ground ball to first base and Nyisztor flipped to Rutkowski, but he could not hang on to the catch. Ashley probably would have beaten the throw regardless, but since Rutkowski couldn't hang on, there was no dispute. Toetz then doubled to left-center to put runners on second and third. Richardson grounded out to first and Ashley scored to give IU a 1-0 lead. Toetz moved to third on the play and later scored on a sacrifice fly to deep left field by Cole Barr to extend the lead to 2-0.

Colopy singled to right-center, but Hopkins grounded out to second base to end the frame.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B1 --> Indiana leads 2-0.

Due Up:

1. Nyisztor
2. Schiekofer
3. Lasko
 
B1:

Rutgers threatens to score but strands two runners on base.

Nyisztor hit a leadoff single to right field. Schiekofer then struck out swinging and Lasko flied out to right field for the second out of the inning. DiGeorgio then reached on a fielding error by IU 2B Paul Toetz and Nyisztor moved to second. However, Sleight flied out to center field to end the inning.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T2 --> Indiana leads 2-0.

Due Up:

7. Fougerousse
8. Whalen
9. Espalin
 
T2:

Fougerousse and Whalen both struck out swinging. Espalin then drew a two-out walk, but Ashley fouled out to first base to end the inning.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B2 --> Indiana leads 2-0.

Due Up:

6. Brito
7. Welsh
8. Serruto
 
B2:

Rutgers strands a runner in scoring position.

Brito grounded out to shortstop for the first out. Welsh then hit a ball to left field and Ashley couldn't make the catch. The ball got by him, which allowed Welsh to pull into second for a double. However, Serruto struck out swinging and Rodriguez flied out to left field.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T3 --> Indiana leads 2-0.

Due Up:

2. Toetz
3. Richardson
4. Barr
 
Last edited:
T3:

IU is retired in order.

Toetz flied out to left, Richardson popped out to third and Barr flied out to deep right field on the warning track.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B3 --> Indiana leads 2-0.

Due Up:

1. Nyisztor
2. Schiekofer
3. Lasko
 
B3:

Nyisztor flied out to left field and Schiekofer grounded out to first base. Lasko then drew a two-out walk, but DiGeorgio flied out to right field to end the inning.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T4 --> Indiana leads 2-0.

Due Up:

5. Colopy
6. Hopkins
7. Fougerousse
 
T4:

Indiana strands the bases loaded.

Colopy hit a soft ground ball down the third baseline for a single as there was no play for RU pitcher Rutkowski. Hopkins then walked to put runners on first and second. Fougerousse flied out to center for the first out. Next up to bat, Whalen flied out to right field and Colopy tagged up to put runners on the corners. Espalin drew a two-out walk to load up the bases, but Ashley flied out to right-center to end the frame.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B4 --> Indiana leads 2-0.

Due Up:

5. Sleight
6. Brito
7. Welsh
 
B4:

Rutgers is retired in order.

Sleight struck out swinging, Brito flied out to left and Welsh flied out to right center.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T5 --> Indiana leads 2-0.

Due Up:

2. Toetz
3. Richardson
4. Barr
 
T5:

Indiana goes 1-2-3.

Toetz grounded out to second base, Richardson flied out to center and Barr grounded out to shortstop.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B5 --> Indiana leads 2-0.

Due Up:

8. Serruto
9. Rodriquez
1. Nyisztor
 
B5:

Rutgers scores one run to make it 2-1.

Serruto flied out to center field and then Rodriguez hit a ground-rule double to right-center. Nyisztor grounded out to short and Rodriguez moved to third. Schiekofer then singled to right field and Rodriguez scored to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Schiekofer advanced to second base on a balk, but Lasko popped out to IU 2B Toetz behind the second base bag.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T6 --> Indiana leads 2-1.

Due Up:

5. Colopy
6. Hopkins
7. Fougerousse
 
T6:

Colopy struck out looking and then Hopkins singled to center field. RU CF Lasko attempted to make a diving catch but could not hold on for the out. Fougerousse flied out to RU 2B Welsh down the first baseline and Whalen flied out to right field to end the frame.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B6 --> Indiana leads 2-1.

Due Up:

4. DiGeorgio
5. Sleight
6. Brito
 
B6:

Rutgers is retired in order.

DiGeorgio struck out swinging, Sleight grounded out to first base unassisted and Brito struck out swinging.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T7 --> Indiana leads 2-1.

Due Up:

9. Espalin
1. Ashley
2. Toetz
 
T7:

Indiana leaves the leadoff runner on base.

Espalin singled up the middle, but Ashley struck out looking, Toetz flied out to center and Richardson grounded out to third.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B7 --> Indiana leads 2-1.

Due Up:

7. Welsh
8. Serruto
9. Rodriguez
 
In the Nebraska series, Rutgers did most of their damage in innings 7 through 9, especially during the first two games of the series. Here's hoping we don't see a repeat of that in our game.
 
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B7: Mid-Inning Update

Welsh led off and hit a flyout in foul territory to Fougerousse, but he dropped it. Welsh made Fougerousse pay for the mistake and singled to left field. Serruto then laid down a sac bunt and Welsh moved to second. Rodriguez then struck out swinging for the second out of the inning.

RHP Reese Sharp replaces LHP Tommy Sommer

 
B7: Mid-Inning Update


Sharp gives up a walk to Nyisztor to put runners on first and second with two outs.

LHP Ty Bothwell replaces RHP Reese Sharp
 
B7:

Schiekofer doubled down the left-field line and Welsh scored to tie the game 2-2.
However, Nyisztor was tagged out trying to dive back to third base. Ashley threw to Barr at third, who applied the tag.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T8 --> The game is tied 2-2.

Due Up:

4. Barr
5. Colopy
6. Hopkins
 
We have done nothing offensively since the first inning, so it's time to get something going. They have gone to their bullpen so hopefully we have better luck with him. We did have that one inning where we left the bases loaded with no damage done.
 
T8: Mid-Inning Update

RHP Kyle Muller replaces LHP Harry Rutkowski

A pitch hit both Barr and Colopy to put runners on first and second. Both runners then moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Next up to bat, Hopkins doubled down the left-field line and both runners scored to give Indiana a 4-2 lead.

LHP Justin Sinibaldi replaces RHP Kyle Muller
 
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T8: Mid-Inning Update

RHP Kyle Muller replaces LHP Harry Rutkowski

A pitch hit both Barr and Colopy to put runners on first and second. Both runners then moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Next up to bat, Hopkins doubled down the left-field line and both runners scored to give Indiana a 4-2 lead.

LHP Justin Sinibaldi replaces RHP Kyle Muller
Sinibaldi has an ERA of 5.29, so with two on and no outs, I would hope we can add to the lead.
 
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Hate to bitch during a probable win, but sloppy defense and little league base running might be the death of me. I’ve honestly never seen a team give up so many runners with stupidity.
 
T8: Mid-Inning Update

RHP Kyle Muller replaces LHP Harry Rutkowski

A pitch hit both Barr and Colopy to put runners on first and second. Both runners then moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Next up to bat, Hopkins doubled down the left-field line and both runners scored to give Indiana a 4-2 lead.

LHP Justin Sinibaldi replaces RHP Kyle Muller
Like the bold font on scoring plays. Makes it a bit easier on these old eyes.
 
Hate to bitch during a probable win, but sloppy defense and little league base running might be the death of me. I’ve honestly never seen a team give up so many runners with stupidity.
Who knows how many runs this team has squandered this season over mental errors. Fortunately, we have been able to overcome them most of the time, but that certainly doesn't excuse it. We do have a pretty young team, so that may account for some of it, and maybe our base coaches have also contributed to it some.
 
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T8: Mid-Inning Update

Pinch hitter Vercrumba walked to put runners on first and second. Whalen then bunted for a single towards third base to load up the bases. Espalin singled to left-center and Hopkins and pinch-runner Murrison scored to extend the lead to 6-2.

Espalin pulled into second, but Whalen was occupying the base. Espalin was forced to run back to first, was caught in a rundown and ran to second. Whalen then was forced to run to third because Espalin went to second and Whalen was tagged out for the first out. Espalin stayed at second.

Ashley then walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Next up to bat, Toetz hit a ground-rule double to right-center and Espalin scored to extend the lead to 7-2. Ashley moved to third on the play. Richardson fouled out to RU 1B Nyisztor for the second out of the frame.

RHP Ben Gorski replaces LHP Justin Sinibaldi
 
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T8:

Barr walked to load up the bases and Colopy walked, which scored Ashley from third to extend the lead to 8-2. Hopkins flied out to center field for the final out.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B8 --> Indiana leads 8-2.

Due Up:

3. Lasko
4. DiGeorgio
5. Sleight
 
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B8:

Jordan Fucci to 1B for Murrison | Jeremy Houston to 2B

Rutgers scores one and cuts the deficit to 8-3.

Lasko flied out to left field and then DiGeorgio singled to center field. Sleight struck out swinging for the second out, but Brito doubled off the center-field wall and DiGeorgio scored to cut the lead to 8-3. Welsh grounded out to second to end the inning.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into T9 --> Indiana leads 8-3.

Due Up:

7. Fucci
8. Whalen
9. Espalin
 
T9:

Fucci led off and struck out swinging. Pinch hitter Van Pelt then reached on a dropped fly ball by RU 3B Brito. Espalin walked to put runners on the corners.

Ashley then flied out to right field and Van Pelt tagged up, moving to third. Later in the inning, Espalin stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but Houston struck out swinging.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heading into B9 --> Indiana leads 8-3.

Due Up:

8. Shulman
9. Rodriguez
1. Nyisztor
 
B9:

Pinch hitter Shulman grounded out to Bothwell and Rodriguez struck out swinging for the first two outs. Nyisztor then singled to right field and a pitch hit Schiekofer to put runners on first and second. However, Lasko grounded out to first base unassisted to end the game.

Hoosiers win 8-3 and take the series opener against Rutgers.
 
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Who knows how many runs this team has squandered this season over mental errors. Fortunately, we have been able to overcome them most of the time, but that certainly doesn't excuse it. We do have a pretty young team, so that may account for some of it, and maybe our base coaches have also contributed to it some.
It's just borderline bizarre to me that Espalin just jogged into second without a care in the world and seemed genuinely shocked to find Whalen standing there. I really don't know if that's the first base coach sending him, the third base coach stopping Whalen, or just a kid failing to perform the simplest baseball play there is. Whatever the case, we'll take the win and show up again tomorrow.
 
It's just borderline bizarre to me that Espalin just jogged into second without a care in the world and seemed genuinely shocked to find Whalen standing there. I really don't know if that's the first base coach sending him, the third base coach stopping Whalen, or just a kid failing to perform the simplest baseball play there is. Whatever the case, we'll take the win and show up again tomorrow.
I thought I would add that despite the snafu at 2nd base, and we really don't know who exactly was at fault on that right now, Espalin had a pretty good game at the plate. He showed a good eye at the plate today, reaching base on all five trips to the plate on two hits and three walks and having two RBIs. He also scored one run. Being a freshman, maybe the experience he has gained is starting to pay dividends.
 
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I thought I would add that despite the snafu at 2nd base, and we really don't know who exactly was at fault on that right now, Espalin had a pretty good game at the plate. He showed a good eye at the plate today, reaching base on all five trips to the plate on two hits and three walks and having two RBIs. He also scored one run. Being a freshman, maybe the experience he has gained is starting to pay dividends.
Absolutely! I nearly changed my opinion of his offensive prowess until I heard the Rutgers announcer say he had 7 walks and an on-base % of .300+ on his FIRST trip to the plate. Today was stellar - at the plate.
 
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