IU Baseball - March 5-7 - 2021 Season Opening Weekend

[Aaron 4,147]

Bad Idea. Sommer gives way to Scott and promptly gives gives up a single and HR and a double. 

5-2 IU with 1 out in 9th and runner at second and tying run on deck.

[Aaron 4,147]

Good job. Scott regrouped and easily struck out the next two.

IU wins 5-2!

[Aaron 4,147]

I should of known. Since the pandemic started, whatever you think will happen will go differently and defy conventional wisdom.

It only makes sense that IU struggled and lost to a pretty bad Rutgers team only to dominate a decent Minnesota team. Going into today I thought 1-1 was a good possibility but assumed it would be a win over Rutgers and a loss to Minnesota but nothing makes sense anymore.

The second game is IU at their best, while the first they were at their worst. 

Tomorrow should be interesting as Rutgers only has one good pitcher and they used him against us today. IU is sending McCade Brown to the hill as they try to fill the back end of the rotation after Bierman and Sommer. Brown has supposedly gotten a lot better and was terrific in summer league but I will need to see it to believe it after he was terrible in his first 1+ seasons. Mercer has been good at player development so I have faith he has greatly improved but still want to see it in action first. Tomorrow could easily be a 9-7 type game given the pitching but who knows. 

[Aaron 4,147]

Wow! Either Rutgers is a lot better than anyone thought or Minnesota is a lot worse than people thought. Rutgers is pounding Minnesota 16-1 in the 8th. Hopefully the Scarlet Knights got all their offense out of their system before playing us. Shocking result.

[Aaron 4,147]

Wow McCade Brown really has gotten better. Perfect first inning with two k's and very much in control. I really hope this is the new improved McCade Brown we keep hearing about and it stays that way. The last IU player in that boat who Brown needs to emulate is Aaron Slegers who was awful for a couple years, then was terrific the year we went to the college world series and anchored the staff and went straight to the pro's. Brown also a very high draft prospect and hopefully improves like Slegers.  

0-0 to Bottom 1. Rutgers starting a grad transfer from Sacred Heart who had a 5.24 ERA there last yr. 

[Aaron 4,147]

IU three straight singles to open and have bases loaded with no outs. Lets make this a huge inning and put Rutgers to bed early just like Scarlet Knights did to Minnesota last game.

[Aaron 4,147]

We almost did exactly the opposite. Popout by Fucci, strikeout by Toetz. Fortunately Hunter Jessee had a terrific and patiently AB and took a walk to put IU ahead 1-0 before Southern was impatient and struck out. 

Got 1 but should of been a lot more and its 1-0 after 1 inning.

[Aaron 4,147]

McCade Brown another easy inning. 

1-0 to bottom 2.

[Aaron 4,147]

Hello Grant Richardson! After a horrid two+ games, the Hoosiers best player becomes the latest person to clear that huge RF wall for a solo HR and IU leads 2-0 in the Bottom of the 3rd. 

[Aaron 4,147]

Brown finally gets in trouble in the fourth but unlike last couple years works out of the trouble with 2 K's on nasty pitches after 2 runners got on. Thats terrific to see after Brown has melted down last couple years every time he has been in a jam.

[Aaron 4,147]

Rutgers have 2 on 2 outs and chase the Rutgers starter in Bottom 4th while still batting up 2-0.

[Aaron 4,147]

IU gets a run on a wild pitch by the reliever but a flyout prevents further damage and Hoosiers lead 3-0 as we go to fifth inning.

[Aaron 4,147]

Sill 3-0 after 5. 

[Aaron 4,147]

Brown up to 11 strikeouts as IU maintains a 3-0 lead to Bottom 6. 

[Aaron 4,147]

Morgan Colopy who is making his start ever just hit a HR over the short LF wall and IU's lead grows to 4-0 in the Bottom of the 6th.

[Aaron 4,147]

Brown goes over 100 pitching and as a result gives up his first run but another nasty pitch ends the inning. He is probably done but finishes with 12 K's and at least one in every inning.

What a turnaround from the last couple yrs! The hype of his massive improvement is very real and his pitches are nasty now. He also has finally figured out his command issues from last couple seasons.

[Aaron 4,147]

4-1 after 7. Connor Manous onto pitch.

[Aaron 4,147]

Horrid appearance by Manous. 2 on 1 out and Braden Scott comes in.

[Aaron 4,147]

Scott was not much better hitting a batter to load bases. He then got the batter in an 0-2 count only to throw a very hittable pitch that was hit far but Richardson caught it for a sac fly. Another pitching change as Matt Litwicki comes in and Colin Hopkins comes into catch for Southern. 

[Aaron 4,147]

Litwicki does the job with a groundout to third to end inning. Bullpen has been incredibly shaky last two games after the freshmen reliever was terrific Friday.