Aaron

Burhenn is still befuddling us like every other pitcher lately and only at 66 pitches through 4 and that is with several K's which shows how bad our approach is AGAIN at times. Burhenn is solid, but I am convinced we can't hit anyone right now given all the strikeouts and bad plate approaches. If you can't hit those awful Illinois pitchers last week, it is much more you than what you are facing and it's mostly carried right into weekend outside of Povich somehow who is best guy you faced.

Toetz misses a two run HR by a foot. Nothing he did wrong there, but again when you struggle little things like that go against you.

Bierman gets out of it with no damage fortunately that time easily outside of error. However, at 80 pitches Barr's errors only going to allow Bierman five innings instead of six. Little things like that matter as series goes on. 1-1 to bottom 4.

Another ridiculous error by Barr on an easy groundball with one out. Barr needs to get his head in the game. His hitting which has been terrific most of season has also hit wall. Need to be the player he is capable of and not doing at plate or in field for most part right now.

Absolutely disgusting hitting approach last two innings. Burhenn has mowed us down 1-2-3 and barely threw 10 pitches each time doing it after 25 pitch first. As I said this teams hitting needs to be scrutinized top to bottom in offseason. Only in 2016 was hitting this bad and we also wasted a fantastic pitching staff much like this year. 2016 was only year in last 9 we didn't make Regional. Great pitching is terrific, but when you field this bad of hitting now for second time in five years you have issues. Every other year hitting has been solid and we made Regional. Lesson is you HAVE to hit some in today's game of baseball.

Bierman works out of trouble that was entirely Barr's fault. Because of it Bierman already at 60 pitches and may only be able to give you five innings instead of six or seven. Will be up to our (relatively rested) bullpen late.

Strikeout but runner goes to second on steal. 2 outs and inning should be over.

And now Barr has an easy grounder go through his glove for one out single. Team just can't do anything right at moment.

1-2-3 we go in second. 1-1 to third. Had a chance to take control of this game with the 1st and 3rd with one out in first and didn't, Fougerousse missing the HR by two inches in second. Should be at least 3-0 but instead is 1-1 and Bierman needs to finish guys off now like in first and not second. Thats what happens when you struggle. Little things don't go your way.

Again things still not happening as you would hope as Fougerousse misses a leadoff HR by two inches. When team is struggling this much, little things like that don't go your way.

It was ruled a hit. Could of been an out, but you can't throw that pitch to a .133 guy in an 0-2 hole for that kind of contact.

Bierman finally throws a terrific 2-2 pitch to get out of it tied. Horrible inning for him though. Threw a lot of good stuff to get ahead in count and then left multiple easy pitches over plate that OSU could of done more damage than they did. Had a hard hit lineout to RF and a poke down the line that would of given OSU a 3-1 lead that was just barely foul. Also threw well over 20 pitches. Besides one inning at Michigan last week that was just really bad stuff from him we have not seen in weeks when we need him most. Lucky to escape with tie.

My goodness. Bierman gives up an 0-2 single to a guy with a .133 batting average. Cannot do this. He has been your best pitcher and an inexcusably left two easy pitches right over plate when ahead in account.

And just like that OSU ties the game on a solo HR to leadoff inning on a 1-2 pitch. Just can't have anything good happen to us right now. Biermann also had him down 1-2 and threw a cupcake over the plate which you have to avoid.

Nothing more as Burhenn comes back to strike out the last two. Not for a lack of trying though as both Toetz and Colopy worked decent at bats where Burhenn just won the battle. Also best news is Burhenn threw 25 pitches against a heavily used and struggling OSU bullpen.

Wonderful. Barr slaps a soft single through hole between first and second and runners at the corners with one out.

IU takes the lead for first time since Saturday with an infield single by Ashley and an erred throw allowing Houston to score from third. 1-0 runner at first. No outs.

Terrific start. Leadoff double for Houston. Already ahead of yesterday.

Terrific. Bierman 1-2-3 on just 14 pitches. Game on BTN. Now can we get to Burhenn who is OSU's second best pitcher after Lonsway and not terribly different from Hroch last night? Hopefully better results today. This is a must win as is tomorrow.

Northwestern and Maryland very much helped IU with wins. Nebraska officially clinched Big Ten, but second very much alive now with 4-1 record in last five which should at least clinch NCAA Tourney spot hopefully. Now time to do our part. Only in a COVID year could a team clinch a Big Ten Title on your field and you are not involved in the game like happened with Nebraska.

Ashley has the talent but is in a slump. The others could use an upgrade as you said. The key is for Colopy, Toetz and Fougerousse to keep getting better as they do have it.

I think the talent is there. Again bottom line. Seven pitchers (and three recently) have had their career game or season best outing against you. That's more than just bad hitting. That's either confidence or approach that has gone rotten at core and needs to be fixed by next season, if Held wants to keep the hitting job here.

Well we can't hit AGAIN against mediocre pitching for the SEVENTH time this season. If Mercer had done what I suggested and taken Sommer out of Friday role, this pitching performance wins us last nights game. With that said, absolutely zero excuse for how Hoosiers hit tonight and should of absolutely won when staff gives up three runs. Pitching was a positive as it has been so many times this season (outside of Sommer starts), but this type of hitting far to many times needs to be scrutinized from the top down given talent we have. Also Manous threw two awesome inning tonight as he works his way back from injury which is major positive. With way we used bullpen, everyone but Macciocchi should still be available last couple days. Those are wins we have to have or we can kiss not just our Big Ten Title hopes (which are gone) but also NCAA hopes goodbye.

Richardson with a meaningless HR with 2 outs to break the shutout. A little late now.

Hroch will try to complete it as he absolutely should.