Aaron

Postseason hopes over with loss. Hitting has betrayed us all season just like 2016 and that better change. Absolutely horrible.

Colopy with two out single to make it first and third two outs. Fougerousse could tie it with a double or win it with a HR. Burhenn staying into face in.

Toetz looks befuddled and strikes out.

Barr though not patient and hits a lineout right at RF for first out.

Agreed.

Richardson really trying to take best pitcher out again, just like he did against Leader with Illinois hitting Burhenn in head for leadoff single. Looks like Burhenn can stay in but leadoff runner on.

To ninth. Burhenn looking to throw second straight complete game against us.

Second straight guy going to throw complete game against us and eighth guy to have have best game of season against us and fourth recently. The hitting reminds me of IU Football defense for so many years pre-Allen. We would give up many points early, make adjustments to put team back in bowl contention then completely fall apart at end of year for worst performances of season and miss postseason. Our hitting was OK, but struggled early. Fixed enough mid-season to get back in contention, then fall off a cliff worse than ever at season's end to cost themselves postseason. We had two hits after the first inning and forced 80 pitches in eight innings. That is Little League bad.

Over 100 pitches and we still look befuddled and end 8. Just inexcusable.

Burhenn straight to Brock their one good reliever as he comes out again for eighth. OSU bullpen very mediocre outside of Brock and our inability to work Burhenn and even force him out after six innings is difference. With that said who knows if we hit their pen. Can't seem to hit anyone right now.

Whole pitching staff outside of Sommer has been excellent, save for a few scattered bad appearances here and there which happen. This season's failure rest 100% on the lineup. Pitching has more than done its part and is reason we are not a bottom 4 team in conference.

Meanwhile, Stahl cruising with three scoreless innings. Outside of Sommer, pitching is rolling and given up three runs or less in three of last four games and about to lose all of them. That just cannot happen for a program that has been class of Big Ten last decade plus. Even last Sunday pitching gave us chance to win till two late errors inflated score and even without them we lose 3-1.

Burhenn may be able to go out 8th now at only 95 pitches. Seven innings 7 K's. Swinging at early contact. Looked great in first against him, but have forced him to throw 75 pitches in 6 innings since. That is a massive problem that shows you are getting outs very early in at-bat.

Colopy is third guy today to miss HR by about two inches. Again sums up where offense is at that we can't muscle the ball out of here and being completely impatient.

3-1 at stretch.

Now its our best hitters not battling and Burhenn at 85 pitches through six. He has had his two of his best outing against IU which shows what the problem is. Even our best hitters in Richardson and Barr have done solid but could absolutely be better than they are. Both guys should be .350 with double digit home runs based on their profile. The fact they are low .300's and falling with single digit HR's sums up the problem. If you want to get the best hitters going forward, you have to get guy's like that drafted in the top 20 rounds. I also am watching guys like Vecrumba, Colopy, Toetz and Fougerousse who absolutely have what it takes to be top hitters in Big Ten. Need to develop them. If that does not happen next year Held has to go. End of story. Hitters are not going to want to come here if this continues. Lemonis made the changes needed after a similar 2016 quite well. Now it's Held and Mercer's turn if this staff (Held particularly) wants to continue here.

I said Mercer has done a solid job for most part and I really don't want to see him go. A few tweaks at the plate and we are fine. It is absolutely Held I am watching and scrutinizing far more since he works day-to-day with hitters. Not Mercer. Mercer has a good long while from me as long as he changes hitting coaches next season if same issues occur.

Houston has actually done quite well leading off since the move was made. Ashley was moved down to 7th and should of stayed there. Mercer is trying everything which he absolute deserves credit for, but a much deeper examination needed after season.

As I said serious discussion about how we approach at bats needs to be had and changed in offseason. Lemonis did it 2016 and got us to tourney next couple years with much improved hitting. Now Mercer and Held need to do same or Held at the very least needs to be replaced. I have to say, when watching first Parker when he took over head duties against PSU I was thoroughly impressed. When Held took over against PU I was very unimpressed. I have been overall been extremely impressed with Parker and Mercer (outside of Sommer situation) and it shows with our pitching. Held on other hand needs some scrutiny. A simple change at hitting coach could do wonders. I would not be against it after this season, but it has to be done after next season if nothing changes. Otherwise Mercer needs to go as well even though he seems to be competent.

Stahl in to pitch.

Houston with a solid two out single. Only guy on offense lately who has battled. There is a reason he is leadoff now. As I said Mercer trying everything now which I like. With that said, a much deeper look at plate approach needs to be examined in offseason. Case in point, Ashley just grounded out on first pitch after single. 3-1 after 5.

Bierman gets out of it. 5 innings of 3 runs like Brown yesterday. Not his best stuff, but given you chance to win. Big difference is OSU hitters are being patient and fighting him and getting a couple timely hits. Outside of first, we have not battled in our at-bats AT ALL and look confused. It's not the lack of runs we are getting. It's that our approach at the beginning and end of season have been rotten at the core and must change or at minimum we need a new hitting coach of not more.

OSU singles and its 3-1 them. Not Bierman's best day, but unlike us, OSU knows how to battle and get timely hits. We just look befuddled and confused every guy up there. Season's over now unless our offense comes together which I do not see happening. Some serious discussions about hitting approach and Held need to be had in offseason. Burhenn is solid, but complete lack of battling him and looking thoroughly confused is the big issue and has happened far to many times this year.

Barr misses a tough double play but gets lead runner. Then Bierman hits a batter. Bases loaded one out.

Bierman in big trouble now as first two reach with no outs.