MSU @ IU, Game 1: IU takes Game 1 with a 6-4 win...

[ptrich]

I was anticipating Kraft on the mound for this game, but it's RHP Gavin Seebold on the mound with Stadler behind the plate. Seebold has an ERA of 7.52 and a WHIP of 1.73 in 32.1 IP. He has 24 Ks to 17 BBs with an OBA of .298.

The batting order is Taylor, Dickerson, Hanley, Cerny, Stadler, Denny (RF), Brenczewski (DH), Malamazian, and Moore. Wiggins, who has really struggled at the plate, is sitting this one out with Denny in RF.

IU is going up against LHP Joseph Dzierwa with an ERA of 1.27 and a WHIP of 0.87 in 42.2 IP. He has 54 Ks to 13 BBs and an OBA of .158. Dzierwa is easily the No. 1 pitcher statistically in the B1G and I believe I saw that he is No. 18 nationally.

It's chilly if not cold with the game time temp at 45 and they are expecting light sprinkles during the game. The wind is blowing in and in this damp air, it will be difficult to crank one out today.

T1st:

I had internet connection problems. Seebold got off to a good start with a K to start the game, but he then hit a batter to put a runner on. A WP sent the runner to 2nd and a single scored the runner. An infield foul out and a flyout retired the side with MSU up 1-0.

B1st:

Taylor singled while Dickerson flied out. Taylor stole 2nd. Hanley Kd. Cerny singled to score Taylor. Cerny was caught stealing to end the inning.

End of 1st: IU 1 MSU 1

 

[ptrich]

T2nd:

Seebold gave up a leadoff walk on a 3-1 count. He then retired the next three batters on a flyout, pop-out, and a groundout.

B2nd:

Stadler grounded out. Denny walked on four pitches. Brenczewski Kd for the 2nd out. Denny took 2nd on a WP. Malamazian flied out to end the inning.

End of 2nd: IU 1 MSU 1

 

[ptrich]

T3rd:

Seebold gave up a single to the leadoff hitter. A flyout got the first out. A groundout moved the runner to 2nd and two outs. A single scored the runner from 2nd. A groundout retired the side.

B3rd:

It's the 9 thru 2 hitters up with Moore leading off and he singled to put a man on.

Taylor reached on an error with runners at 1st and 2nd and no outs.

Dickerson Kd for the 1st out.

A single by Hanley tied the game at 2-2 with Moore scoring and runners at 1st and 2nd and one out.

Cerny Kd for the 2nd out with the runners still at 1st and 2nd. Stadler popped out to end the inning.

End of 3rd: IU 2 MSU 2

 

[ptrich]

T4th:

Seebold faced the 6 thru 8 hitters. Great start to the inning as Seebold Kd the first two batters and a flyout retired the side as he put them down in order.

B4th:

It's the 6 thru 8 hitters up for IU with Denny leading off and he singled. Brenczewski moved Denny to 2nd on a SAC bunt with one out.

Malamazian walked on a 3-1 count to put two on with one out.

An infield single by Moore loaded the bases with one out and the top of the order up in Taylor.

Taylor singled against the shift to score both Denny and Malamazian and there are runners at 1st and 2nd and still one out.

Moore got himself picked off at 2nd for the 2nd out and a runner at 1st. An infield pop out by Dickerson ended the inning.

End of 4th: IU 4 MSU 2

 

[ptrich]

T5th:

Seebold faced the 9 thru 2 hitters and he got back-to-back groundouts to start the inning and a flyout retired the side as Seebold has put them down in order in the last two innings.

B5th:

It's the 3 thru 5 hitters up with Hanley leading off.

Here we are at the dreaded last five innings of the game. We have not scored a run in the last five innings of a game in the previous two games after having a lead in both of those games.

Hanley single to lead off. Cerny walked on a full count to put two on and no outs.

Stadler reached on a FC with Hanley out at 3rd. There are runners at 1st and 2nd and one out.

A balk moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd with Denny at the plate.

Denny popped out on the infield and blew a chance at an RBI.

Cerny stole home to make it 5-2 IU and IU finally scored in the last five innings of a game after the two previous games went scoreless in those innings.

Koskie came in to pinch hit for Brenczewski and he Kd to end the inning.

End of 5th: IU 5 MSU 2

 

[ptrich]

T6th:
After putting them down in order the last two innings, Mercer had seen enough to make him want to relieve Seebold for Kraft. At least it worked for this inning as Kraft put them down in order with a lineout, K, and flyout.

B6th:
It was the 8 thru 1 hitters up for IU and we got a new pitcher out the bullpen in RHP Tate Farquhar with an ERA of 5.89 and a WHIP of 1.64.

Malamazian singled to lead off. Moore fouled out for the first out.

Taylor singled to put two on with one out.

Dickerson singled to score Malamazian. Dickerson then stole 2nd to put runners at 2nd and 3rd and one out.

A DP ended the inning.

End of 6th: IU 6 MSU 2

 

[ptrich]

T7th:

Kraft faced the 6 thru 8 hitters and he gave up a leadoff double and Kraft has given up 12 extra base hits so far this season.

A single put runners at the corners with no outs. A K got the first out. The runner on 1st stole 2nd and then advanced to 3rd on a throwing error on Stadler with a run scoring.

A DP retired the side with the damage limited to the one run scored which was unearned because of the error.

B7th:

It was the middle of the order up with Cerny leading off and he grounded out. Stadler popped out for the 2nd out.

Denny line out as the Hoosiers go down in order and it was quick.

End of 7th: IU 6 MSU 3

 

[ptrich]

T8th:

RHP Jacob Vogel replaced Kraft and he had an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.86 in 2.1 IP. He faced the 2 thru 4 hitters.

Vogel got the leadoff hitter on a flyout. A single put a runner on with one out.

Another flyout got the 2nd out with the runner still at 1st. A groundout retired the side in a good inning by Vogel.

B8th:

It's the bottom of the order up with Koskie leading off and he flied out. Malamazian doubled to put a man in scoring position.

Moore fouled out to LF for the 2nd out and we were at the top of the order in Taylor.

Taylor walked on a full count to put runners at 1st and 2nd and two outs with Dickerson up.

The Spartans went to the bullpen and brought in LHP Garrett Brewer with an ERA of 11.57 and a WHIP of 2.04.

Dickerson popped up to end the inning and the threat.

End of 8th: IU 6 MSU 3

 

[ptrich]

T9th:

Vogel was out there to try and close it out. A flyout got the first out. Vogel then gave up a double to put a man in scoring position with one out. Another flyout got the 2nd out with the runner holding at 2nd and a pinch hitter up.

Another double scored a run to make it 6-4. With a runner at 2nd, there were two out, and Mercer visited the mound but left Vogel in there to let him try to get the 3rd out.

An infield single put runners on at the corners with the tying runs on the bases.

A flyout ended the game.

Final: IU 6 MSU 4

 

[Orford]

Like the fact the offense adjusted their approach. The way they got hits off a great pitcher was impressive

 

[ptrich]

If there was a game in this series that we thought IU would lose, it was this one with the top pitcher in the conference on the mound, and his numbers were easily the best in the B1G going into this game and also nationally where he is near the top in pitching. Maybe the long wait for his start threw his game off, but I'm going to take the route that the Hoosiers just seemed to hit him well, and took advantage of their scoring opportunities which is something they have failed to do a lot of this season. IU now has an excellent chance of either taking or sweeping the series tomorrow although it's tough trying to take a DH.

IU outhit the Spartans, 12-9, and had four multi-hit players. It was a very damp and heavy air with the wind blowing in so there were no homers in this game.

Taylor - 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs.

Hanley - 2 for 4 and an RBI.

Malamazian - 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored.

Moore - 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Cerny went 1 for 3 with an RBI, while Dickerson went 1 for 5 with an RBI.

As far as pitching went, Seebold was excellent in his start and had just put them down in order in the 4th and 5th innings when Mercer decided to pull him in the 6th while he was showing no sign of being gassed, at least to me. I would have left him in there in the 6th to see how he would have fared against the leadoff hitter. Kraft came in and put them down in order, so it worked out for that inning.

IU used just three pitchers today which is big considering they have to manage a DH tomorrow.

Seebold - 5.0 IP with just 3 hits given up and 2 runs scored with both earned runs. He had 3 Ks to 1 BB, a WP, and a hit batter.

Kraft - 2.0 IP with 2 hits to include a double and one unearned run scored with no earned runs. He had 2 Ks to one BB.

Vogel - 2.0 IP with 4 hits and he gave up one run which was earned. He had no Ks or BBs with the rest of his slate clean. Vogel had been on the shelf for a long time, so he is still trying to work his way back to the level of pitching he was at during the previous season. It would be nice to have him and Buhr available at the same time this season, but we end up losing Buhr for who knows how long, while getting Vogel back.

IU had one error which resulted in an unearned run being scored. MSU also had an error.

Box score:

Baseball vs Michigan State on 4/6/2025 - Box Score - Indiana University Athletics

The official box score of Baseball vs Michigan State on 4/6/2025

iuhoosiers.com