Aaron

How IU can work like this against Povich who might be best lefty in Big Ten, but look befuddled against those horrible Illinois guys Tuesday is beyond me? Macciocchi into pitch.

7-4 after 4. Povich at 83 pitches.

Houston singles to cut it to 7-4. Povich at nearly 85 pitches still in fourth. No complaints with offense.

7-3 after 3.5

RBI double by Nebraska makes it 7-3. Don't want to get to far behind or Huskers will go to lesser arms. Need to keep it close enough that we force their best arms tonight.

Maryland wins despite doing everything they could to lose. That helps. Now lets force a long bullpen day and we are ahead of what I thought. I expected a dominant Povich and the fact we have gotten him for 3 runs and 65 pitches through three is more than I thought and puts us in better shape then we might of been. Sommer exactly what I thought happened unfortunately. This is a very good coaching staff and very flexible usually in almost every way, but their unwillingness to replace Bierman with Sommer for Friday last few weeks, has been a major problem that is costing us somewhat.

Maryland drops another pop up. Their defense will not let them win Big Ten. IU has struggled on D at times but not like this.

Tucker really good. 6-3 to Bottom 3. Key is to chase Povich early and force best relievers out there for Huskers, so that way win or lose we are in drivers seat rest of weekend with very much a chance.

Also with Sommer if he were bad last two starts, I could blame the nail which certainly could be an issue, but he has been really bad for several weeks now. IU soccer had a bad midfield and Spencer Glass injury made it worse. Nail could of certainly made Sommer's issue worse, but he has been bad for many weeks now and can't keep pitching on Friday.

Maryland has made it 11-8 so hopefully if they hang on, we should be good rest of weekend. Have to win them all, but facing much weaker arms and mostly righties rest of time. Even if we lose and force Nebraska to mow through their bullpen with doubleheader tomorrow we could be in terrific shape if they lose both, which is certainly possible with matchups, especially if they burn through bullpen.

Sommer out. Looks like he is having that nail issue again from last week. I hate to wish injury on anyone, but if this forces Sommer from the rotation in favor of Bothwell or Mudungo it may save our season and force something coaching has refused to do which is long overdue. Tucker in.

Nebraska with a long HR and is back up 6-3. Sommer has to go. Hopefully for good on Friday. We can't keep doing this.

Sommer close to being pulled. How many times are we either going to exhaust our bullpen and give up a ton of runs on Friday before changing the rotation. He should pitch no better than 3rd starters and I might even use Bothwell as my 3 and put Sommer in bullpen. He has no pitching right now at all. Period. Much less on Friday.

Maryland gets lead back in the 11th.

Povich finally fans Ashley to get out of it, but he is at 55 pitches through 2, which absolutely matters heading into tomorrow and Huskers having the doubleheader. Nebraska has great bullpen, but if you force their best arms tonight they won't have them tomorrow even if you lose which is huge. Even if you do little else tonight, the fact that you have forced Povich to throw so many pitches in a win.

Houston doubles and its down to 4-3 with runners at 2nd and 3rd. I don't get our offense anymore.

Two out single for Espalin cuts lead to 4-2. Again so IU to hit Povich, but look befuddled against all those horrible Illinois pitchers.

Maryland also dropped a popup in foul territory in 9th that would of won it a long time ago. Once you do that, you do that you get what you have coming to you. Terps have blown this game multiple times earlier.

Just like that tying run on with one out for Fougerousse. Did not have winning a shootout against Povich as possible but its our only hope and if we can, in terrific shape. Just not sure how likely it is.

Also Maryland making sure to lose their game in anyway possible.

Richardson HR to cut lead to 4-1.

I have been a huge proponent of removing Sommer from Friday as you are putting yourself in a hole every weekend with him pitching. Need to flip Bierman and Sommer. You can't keep having Sommer putting you in a deficit every series. I know staff hates throwing people on short rest, but it is do or die time and you must give yourself best chance.

And its 4-0. Sommer just can't pitch anymore. It's that simple. Rest of staff very much can and we are going against Nebraska's best guy now but no other great pitchers rest of weekend.

And just like that were down 3-0. Thats a huge hole to climb out of. Barr may of cost us one, but even if he gets an out at first which was best he could do, they still get two. Big Ten slipping away. As I said though I did not like this matchup and very much saw a scenario where we lost tonight and win last three. All three are must wins now this weekend and I figured we could very well be in that position.

Also bases loaded one out in second for Nebraska. Barr was to slow on a one out grounder.