USC @ IU, Game 3: IU blows nine-run lead in 13-12 loss...

[ptrich]

I'm getting a late start to this game as I had an eye appointment that went way over my appointment time.

T1st:

USC took a quick lead on a solo homer.

B1st:

Taylor homered. Dickerson doubled. Hanley walked. Cerny lineout. Brenczewski walked to load the bases. Malamazian walked to bring in a run. Moore singled to bring in two runs.

End of 1st: IU 4 USC 1

 

[ptrich]

T2nd:

Grable got the first two batters and then walked a batter on a full count. A K retired the side.

B2nd:

USC went to the bullpen with the top of the order up. Wiggins flied out for the first out.

Taylor walked on four pitches. Dickerson, who struggled at the plate yesterday, cranked a homer to right center to give IU a 6-1 lead and Dickerson has a double and homer so far.

Hanley grounded out and Cerny just missed a homer on a long flyout to end the inning.

End of 2nd: IU 6 USC 1

 

[ptrich]

T3rd:

Grable faced the 9 thru 2 hitters. Grable gave up a single, and then a 3-1 walk to put two on and no outs. Another single scored a run. A flyout got the first out with runners at 1st and 2nd.

A K got the 2nd out. A full count walk loaded the bases with two outs.

A flyout got Grable out of a big jam with just one run given up in the inning.

B3rd:

It was the 6 thru 8 batters up for IU with Brenczewski leading off and he Kd swinging. Malamazian also Kd for two outs. Moore grounded out as the Hoosiers went down in order.

End of 3rd: IU 6 USC 2

 

[ptrich]

T4th:

It was the bottom of the order up for the Trojans with LHP Anthony Gubitosi relieving Grable and he had an ERA of 3.86 and a WHIP of 1.54 in 11.2 IP.

Gubitosi got the leadoff hitter on an infield pop-up. A solo homer chipped away at IU's lead and it was the first homer given up by Gubitosi this season. A flyout got the 2nd out with the top of the order up. A full count walk put a man on with two outs. A K retired the side.

B4th:

It was the 9 thru 2 hitters up for IU with Schuyler leading off and he singled and an error on the play moved Schuyler to 2B. A WP moved Schuyler to 3rd and no outs.

There was a stoppage in the game with the USC pitcher having some kind of injury issue. USC had to go to the pen. They brought in RHP Michael Ebner with an ERA of 7.84 and a WHIP of 2.23 in 10.1 IP, but they turned around and took Ebner out and went with RHP Sax Matson with an ERA of 3.86 and a WHIP of 1.50 in 9.1 IP.

It was the top of the order up in Wiggins with Schuyler at 3rd and no outs. Schuyler Kd to end the inning.

Wiggins reached on an error at 1B with Schuyler scoring. Taylor reached on an infield single to put two on and no outs.

Dickerson is having a huge day at the plate and he hit a three-run homer to RF to make it 10-3 IU.

Hanley singled with no outs.

A two-run homer to LF by Cerny really blew this game open with IU up 12-3.

Denny came in to pinch hit for Brenczewski and he grounded out for the first out.

USC went to the bullpen again and brought in RHP Andrew Johnson with an ERA of 5.92 and a WHIP 1.73 in 24.1 IP.

Malamazian reached on a single and then took 2nd on a WP.

Moore grounded out with Malamazian taking 3rd and two outs, with Schuyler up as the Hoosiers have batted around in this inning. Schuyler Kd to end the inning.

End of 4th: IU 12 USC 3

 

[ptrich]

T5th:

Gubitosi was back out there and he faced the 3 thru 5 hitters. He put them down in order to include one K.

B5th:

It was the top of the order up with Wiggins leading off and he grounded out.

Taylor walked on a 3-1 count and one out.

Taylor was caught stealing for the 2nd out.

Dickerson Kd to end the inning.

End of 5th: IU 12 USC 3

 

[ptrich]

T6th:

Gubitosi was back out there to face the 6 thru 8 hitters and he leadoff hitter on a flyout. He then gave up back-to-back walks to put two on with one out.

Yet another walk loaded the bases and one out with RHP Aydan Decker-Petty relieving Gubitosi and he had an ERA of 9.69 and a WHIP of 1.93 in 4.2 IP. He faced the top of the order after the three walks loaded the bases. Why Mercer stayed as long as he did with Gubitosi has to be questioned.

D-P hit his first batter to bring in a run with one out and the bases loaded.

An RBI flyout and a double that brought in two more runs and what looked like a blowout win is now a game again as this inning was mismanaged by Mercer IMO. A groundout retired a bad inning for IU.

B6th:

Hanley led off and flied out as IU went quickly down in order.

End of 6th: IU 12 USC 7

 

[ptrich]

T7th:

Poor play by IU in the last inning and now this inning is letting USC get back into a game they had easily won.

D-P got the leadoff hitter on a K. He then gave up a single and hit a batter to put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. A FC allowed a batter to reach on an error by Cerny which allowed an unearned run to be scored. A DP retired the side.

B7th:

IU went down in order as they continue to wait for USC to erase a nine-run lead.

End of 7th: IU 12 USC 8

 

[ptrich]

T8th:

LHP Caleb Koskie came in out of the pen with an ERA of 10.80 and a WHIP of 2.40 in 3.1 IP.

IU got off to a bad start as it was the top of the order up and he walked the leadoff hitter on a full count. Stadler went behind the plate.

Mercer decided to got with Koskie in this situation and he had barely pitched this season with bad numbers, and he gave up a two-run homer to make it 12-10 IU.

That was it for Koskie who should not have been out there in this situation and IU went to RHP Trey Telfer with an ERA of 1.42 and a WHIP of 1.58 in 6.1 IP. Mercer should have gone with him in the first place to start this inning.

A flyout got the first out with no one on. A double put a runner in scoring position with another flyout to follow for two outs.

A single scored another run with a FC retiring the side.

B8th:

It was the top of the order up and the Trojans have scored 8 runs in the last three innings to put this game in jeopardy for IU. IU's bats have gone quiet late in the game.

With a new pitcher out of the pen coming in for USC, IU goes down in order and now hopes they can keep the Trojans from scoring a run or two in the 9th.

End of 8th: IU 12 USC 11

 

[ptrich]

T9th:

Telfer was back out there to try and keep the Trojans from scoring to close it out. He faced the 8 thru 1 hitters.

Here we go again with the leadoff hitter reaching on a single and then advancing to 2B on a throwing error by Moore.

The No. 9 hitter was up and I assumed he would try to bunt the tying run over to 3B.

Telfer then got a huge K for the first out and the runner still at 2nd.

It was the top of the order up. A two-run homer gave USC the lead at 13-12 as IU has managed to blow a nine-run lead. This was self-fulfilled prophecy for me as I had a bad feeling something like his was going to happen the way things were going over the last few innings.

A batter reached on another error by Cerny to put a man on with one out. RHP Jacob Vogel entered the game and he got a pop-out and then picked off the runner at 1st to retire another bad inning for IU.

B9th:

It's the middle of the order up for IU with Hanley leading off and IU needing a run to keep this game going.

Hanley grounded out for the first out. Cerny popped up for the 2nd out.

Denny singled to keep IU hopes alive with Decker pinch running for him.

Malamazian hit into a FC to end the game which was a horrible loss for IU.

Final: USC 13 IU 12

 

[Bucket Getter]

I honestly can’t believe what I’m watching. Good lord.

 

[rcaulfie]

And a 2nd error in the inning. What an absolute colossal meltdown.

 

[ptrich]

I have been following IU baseball for years and can't ever remember losing a game in this fashion, and I totally blame Mercer for this debacle since I believe he got caught up with the big nine-run lead and didn't manage the pitching staff the way he would have in other games. He didn't count on the bats going cold over the last five innings and stayed with certain pitchers way too long, far longer than other coaches would have, and he brought in pitchers who didn't have good numbers and had very few innings under their belt and had them pitch to the power hitters on USC.

The teams had 11 hits apiece with IU doing almost all their damage in the early innings. IU had 12 runs over the first four innings and then went scoreless over the last five innings as USC chipped away at IU's big lead to eventually win the series.

IU had two multi-hit players who did all of their damage in the early innings.

Dickerson - 3 for 5 with a double and two homers and 5 RBIs.

Taylor - 2 for 3 with a homer and one RBI.

Cerny was 1 for 5 with a two-run homer and two RBIs.

Moore - 1 for 4 and 2 RNIs.

The pitching staff was a disaster today and with the exception of Vogel entering the game late to get the last two outs of the top of the 9th, none of the pitchers used were effective.

Grable and Gubitosi gave up six earned runs over the first 5.1 IP. Decker-Petty gave up one earned run in 1.2 IP. Mercer watched Gubitosi walk three straight batters in the 6th to load the bases before making a move, when it was clear that Gubitosi was gassed before he walked the first batter.

Mercer then brought in Koskie who hasn't looked good at all this season in limited time on the mound and he didn't register an out while giving up a homer and two earned runs.

Telfer has pitched well at times but today wasn't his day as he went 1.1 IP with 4 hits to include a double and homer and three earned runs.

The only positive I saw today with the pitching was seeing Vogel out there in what seems like ages.

Fielding was abysmal today and Cerny's move to 2B didn't help his fielding today with two errors charged to him. IU had three errors on the day to two for USC.

 

[Bucket Getter]

I have been following IU baseball for years and can't ever remember losing a game in this fashion, and I totally blame Mercer for this debacle since I believe he got caught up with the big nine-run lead and didn't manage the pitching staff the way he would have in other games. He didn't count on the bats going cold over the last five innings and stayed with certain pitchers way too long, far longer than other coaches would have, and he brought in pitchers who didn't have good numbers and had very few innings under their belt and had them pitch to the power hitters on USC.

The teams had 11 hits apiece with IU doing almost all their damage in the early innings. IU had 12 runs over the first four innings and then went scoreless over the last five innings as USC chipped away at IU's big lead to eventually win the series.

IU had two multi-hit players who did all of their damage in the early innings.

Dickerson - 3 for 5 with a double and two homers and 5 RBIs.

Taylor - 2 for 3 with a homer and one RBI.

Cerny was 1 for 5 with a two-run homer and two RBIs.

Moore - 1 for 4 and 2 RNIs.

The pitching staff was a disaster today and with the exception of Vogel entering the game late to get the last two outs of the top of the 9th, none of the pitchers used were effective.

Grable and Gubitosi gave up six earned runs over the first 5.1 IP. Decker-Petty gave up one earned run in 1.2 IP. Mercer watched Gubitosi walk three straight batters in the 6th to load the bases before making a move.

Mercer then brought in Koskie who hasn't looked good at all this season in limited time on the mound and he didn't register an out while giving up a homer and two earned runs.

Telfer has pitched well at times but today wasn't his day as he went 1.1 IP with 4 hits to include a double and homer and three earned runs.

The only positive I saw today with the pitching was seeing Vogel out there in what seems like ages.

Fielding was abysmal today and Cerny's move to 2B didn't help his fielding today with two errors charged to him. IU had three errors on the day to two for USC.

This team makes me want to start drinking straight from the bottle. What an absolute crapfest.

 

[ptrich]

This team makes me want to start drinking straight from the bottle. What an absolute crapfest.

It would have to be Everclear for me with the much higher alcohol content.

 

[Vern Pain]

It would have to be Everclear for me with the much higher alcohol content.

We were sitting there and I jokingly told my wife that 12-3 might not be enough of a margin.

Did we use up all the good arms in yesterday's dh? I can't imagine a situation where I'd ever send Decker-Petty or Koskie out to the mound again.

 

[ptrich]

Here's the game recap link with the complete box score link.

Big Lead Slips Away in Bloomington - Indiana University Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Despite a nine-run lead heading into the sixth inning, the Indiana Baseball team (15-13, 6-6 B1G) couldn't find a way to close out the se...

iuhoosiers.com

 

[Epictetus]

I have been following IU baseball for years and can't ever remember losing a game in this fashion, and I totally blame Mercer for this debacle since I believe he got caught up with the big nine-run lead and didn't manage the pitching staff the way he would have in other games. He didn't count on the bats going cold over the last five innings and stayed with certain pitchers way too long, far longer than other coaches would have, and he brought in pitchers who didn't have good numbers and had very few innings under their belt and had them pitch to the power hitters on USC.

The teams had 11 hits apiece with IU doing almost all their damage in the early innings. IU had 12 runs over the first four innings and then went scoreless over the last five innings as USC chipped away at IU's big lead to eventually win the series.

IU had two multi-hit players who did all of their damage in the early innings.

Dickerson - 3 for 5 with a double and two homers and 5 RBIs.

Taylor - 2 for 3 with a homer and one RBI.

Cerny was 1 for 5 with a two-run homer and two RBIs.

Moore - 1 for 4 and 2 RNIs.

The pitching staff was a disaster today and with the exception of Vogel entering the game late to get the last two outs of the top of the 9th, none of the pitchers used were effective.

Grable and Gubitosi gave up six earned runs over the first 5.1 IP. Decker-Petty gave up one earned run in 1.2 IP. Mercer watched Gubitosi walk three straight batters in the 6th to load the bases before making a move, when it was clear that Gubitosi was gassed before he walked the first batter.

Mercer then brought in Koskie who hasn't looked good at all this season in limited time on the mound and he didn't register an out while giving up a homer and two earned runs.

Telfer has pitched well at times but today wasn't his day as he went 1.1 IP with 4 hits to include a double and homer and three earned runs.

The only positive I saw today with the pitching was seeing Vogel out there in what seems like ages.

Fielding was abysmal today and Cerny's move to 2B didn't help his fielding today with two errors charged to him. IU had three errors on the day to two for USC.

Well, one doesn't have to go back too far for a loss even more ignominious--2022 at Iowa. Hoosiers led 13-2 but went on to be to totally buried, 30-16. We have plenty of experience of roller coaster results.

 

[ptrich]

Well, one doesn't have to go back too far for a loss even more ignominious--2022 at Iowa. Hoosiers led 13-2 but went on to be to totally buried, 30-16. We have plenty of experience of roller coaster results.

Oh wow! I completely forgot about that game in Iowa City and it was a disaster also. Maybe I should have said I can't remember a game being lost in that fashion AT HOME.

Anyway, I am beginning to get the gut feeling that this team is going to spend the rest of the season as a .500 team and may be fighting for a spot in the conference tournament. It's amazing that their bats can be red hot at one moment and then they can't buy a hit or string together anything that would be a scoring threat.

Here's hoping that the coaching staff doesn't play around with a big lead like they had and will manage a game like that as if they have just a one run lead.

 

[Orford]

Definitely the worst loss of the year and iubase are even say tourney chances are slim now

Well, one doesn't have to go back too far for a loss even more ignominious--2022 at Iowa. Hoosiers led 13-2 but went on to be to totally buried, 30-16. We have plenty of experience of roller coaster results.

i was thinking that Iowa game was worse but that team was young and I think yesterday’s loss was way worse

 

[Orford]

FWIW I think we are streaky because Mercer preaches fast ball timing always. Could be wrong but it it seems we have very few guys who are good at spotting spinners and we are often fooled by guys who can command those pitches and other teams know this. So we crush guys who only have command of the fb. Also in reading article about the loss I think Mercer admitted he mismanaged the staff

 

[ptrich]

FWIW I think we are streaky because Mercer preaches fast ball timing always. Could be wrong but it it seems we have very few guys who are good at spotting spinners and we are often fooled by guys who can command those pitches and other teams know this. So we crush guys who only have command of the fb. Also in reading article about the loss I think Mercer admitted he mismanaged the staff

I guess I should go to iubase's X account to see his comments. I was so upset over how this game went down that I had no desire to see anything about that game. It was incredible that Gubitosi was showing signs of being gassed even before he walked that first batter in his final inning and then he proceeded to walk the bases loaded before Mercer made a move.

 

[Vern Pain]

I guess I should go to iubase's X account to see his comments. I was so upset over how this game went down that I had no desire to see anything about that game. It was incredible that Gubitosi was showing signs of being gassed even before he walked that first batter in his final inning and then he proceeded to walk the bases loaded before Mercer made a move.

Even worse, with runners on 1st and 2nd, Mercer visited the mound and decided to leave Gubitosi in to walk them full before he brought ADP in.

 

[Bucket Getter]

Even worse, with runners on 1st and 2nd, Mercer visited the mound and decided to leave Gubitosi in to walk them full before he brought ADP in.

Yeah, that conversation had to be bizarre.

 

[Orford]

yeah but tbh if your option of savior is ADP (struggling with control issues since freshman season)… you’re relying on hope and a prayer

 

[ptrich]

Cerny is certainly hurting his draft position with his fielding issues. So far, he has had 97 fielding chances with 28 putouts and 58 assists to go with 11 errors and a fielding percentage of .887. To his credit, he's been involved in 13 DPs.