Aaron

Maryland just blew their game which does not help us and goes to extras. May be a while till game on BTN. Anyone with BTN on TV can watch at foxsports.com.

Promising start to bottom 1 but then it went to mush. Great at bat by Houston and Ashley led to a single and flyout with patience. Then less patience and Houston picked off. Still forced 20 pitches Povich which is good. 0-0 after 1.

Perfect first for Sommer and looked terrific doing it. Need that all night! To bottom 1st.

3-1 would be fine if one of the losses is to OSU or if we split with Cornhsukers and then Nebraska splits with OSU and we sweep Bucks. Reality is we need to make up a game this weekend and get it down to 1/2 game into next weekend to have a chance. The problem is Friday looks like a major uphill climb, as Sommer has been mediocre lately against Povich who is terrific for Nebraska. Our best chance with the way things lineup is losing Friday and winning the rest of the weekend. Then hope Nebraska splits with OSU. Breakdowns are: 1. Povich vs. Sommer: Advantage Nebraska 2. Schanaman vs Lonsway: Advantage OSU 3. Hroch vs Brown: Advantage IU 4. Buntz vs. Pfenning (Likely): Advantage Neb 5. Burhenn vs Bierman: Advantage IU 6. Smith vs Mudungo/Bothwell: Advantage IU Unfortunately OSU is holding back there second starter Burhenn who is decent and throwing him against Bierman. I was hoping OSU would throw their top 2 against Nebraska, but obviously a huge relief we don't face Lonsway again who had 17 K's in Columbus against us. Obviously it's baseball and anything can happen but if things play out this way when each team has pitching advantage IU is 3-1, Neb 2-2 and OSU 1-3. Key is we have to make up a game on Neb regardless of how it happens. Even if Michigan goes two of three and we go three of four we are even with them. Ideally you want Maryland to go 2 of 3 so we are a game up on both Michigan and Maryland. Then two of three by IU and Michigan in last week clinches title for us or a share if Michigan goes 2 of 3 over Maryland this week. Its a narrower margin now, but three out of four very much keeps us in hunt as long as Nebraska splits the weekend however that happens.

I agree, but we should of had plenty of other big innings against those pitchers. You can't strikeout and look befuddled against guys with double digit ERA's or you don't deserve a title. Ask the coaching staff and I am sure they will tell you and believe in truth that their hitting cost them the game, not that call. There is a different between executing better and massively failing to hit the worst pitchers in the Big Ten. When that type of hitting happens against that staff you don't deserve a title. Its that simple.

Agreed, but I still think you absolutely have to do better off that pitching staff and that call never should of mattered. When you score two runs off those pitchers you deserve what you get regardless of that call. If that happens this weekend, we can complain a little more when runs are hard to come by. However, if this game is the difference in winning the title we can look at Jeremy Houston and our horrible batting against THAT pitching as reasons we lost. Not the call. Horrific and replay needs to be added, but there are many other things to look at before that play on why we lost.

Horrible call but the fact you could not score more than two runs on that pitching staff is what could cost us Big Ten Championship. Yes it cost us one run, but we should of had a lot more than a couple runs in the game against literally the worst pitchers in the Big Ten. We looked befuddled at the plate by guys with double digit ERA's. I absolutely think there should be instant replay for things like this, but we have no one but ourselves to blame given the Houston error and the plate approach. Never should of come down to this. Period. If that call happened Friday and we lose 3-2 to Povich than you can blame the umps, but against that pitching that call never should of mattered.

I don't think that precludes you from getting drafted. He could very well come to IU in end, but if he is drafted I don't believe him signing his letter here stops him from going to pro's. It more gives him option to do either. Will be harder to get drafted with only 20 rounds though.

I was thinking Palazzolo and Glass as being gone but you could be right.

Just short again. With that said, while it was a tragedy the 2017 and 2018 team didn't get a title as far and away the best team in the country, this team was very lucky to get this far. They had one of the weaker midfields in IU history and overcame it. They played with fire by playing a defensive park the bus style and it finally burned them in the final. The Hoosiers basically did to every team exactly what they have had happen to them in past years by their opponents. Just glad the last five years have finally seen compete at the level worthy of the program's history. A title is coming one of these days in the not to distant future. Maybe as soon as next year.

Hopefully they can hit. I think they will.

This is 2016 all over again. Solid pitching but horrible hitting at times. You know what happened in 2016? Its only time since 2013 we have not made a Regional. We better address the offense in the offseason if we want this success to continue, or Mercer will become the latest in a long line of failed Wright State coaches who have struggled at next stop. I really like Mercer to be clear and most of what he has done so far but way offense has been put together this season is a massive issue and must be addressed or else I change my mind on him. He has plenty of runway with me and I like everything he has done, but the offense this season is first real failure of his tenure.

Unless guys are in COVID protocol there is no excuse for how we managed the 10th with game on line. Even less excuse that you were in the tenth and you could not hit that pitching. Its all forgiven if you beat Nebraska twice but that Friday matchup has trouble written all over it. I would take this offensive performance Friday and hope Sommer somehow goes 7-8 innings of one run ball but our mental state can't be great right now. This team has had major offensive flaws all year we have covered up, but can't hide them anymore and its going to end our season without a Big Ten Title and even very possibly no NCAA Berth depending on how we finish.

Absolutely atrocious. Period. I was worried we could lose today and get out slugged, but to lose 3-2 when Illinois literally threw everyone of their worst pitchers better be a come to Jesus moment for this team. Houston's error also cost you, but I can excuse that. We should of gotten WAY WAY more than 2 runs against this. How we plan to hit Nebraska's ace Friday Povitch I have zero idea. We are at point where we have to take both from Nebraska or its over and that Sommer matchup with Povitch has us being blown out written all over it. The rest of the weekend is favorable, but given how we are hitting I doubt we win more than 2 of the 3. Have to fix this offense in offseason, whether that be changing out the hitting coach Dan Heald or do work on plate approach. If this continues into next season we need to have serious questions about this staff.

Southern flies out. Of all people Jake Skrine pinch hitting over Toetz, Hopkins or even Vecrumba. More than the offense, Mercer needs to explain his pinch hitting this inning.

Runner at 2nd one out after a wild pitch.

Whalen K's. Why we have not pinch hit Toetz or Hopkins is beyond me. Southern still batting for some reason.

Colopy singles through right side to start inning. Only guy who has been good at plate last couple days.

Illinois just hit a HR. Goodbye Big Ten Title. We don't deserve it with our hitting performance in some games. There has to be some lineup changes in offseason. This is just not OK the way the offense has performed at times this year.

Reese Sharp into pitch.

Groundout sends us to extra's. Not what you want with four games this weekend. Happened way to many times this year that offense has no showed against horrific pitching.

Barr is befuddled and K's. Off all the bad hitting today he has been by far the worst as our best hitter.

Richardson just misses a game winning HR on flyout to track.

Fifth hit batter for this guy in seven innings.

Ashley gets hit by pitch to lead it off! Great at bat.