IU Baseball vs Penn St - 3/12 - 3/14/21

[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

I’m glad the games are being played. That COVID is getting ridiculous. Don’t have to cancel or postpone so many games because of it

[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

Let’s hope IU can hold the lead

[Aaron 4,294]

IU adding on. Hoosiers got a bases loaded walk to make it 5-2 and its still bases loaded 1 outs. 

[Aaron 4,294]

Houston an infield single to 3rd as PSU forgot to cover the base so everyone goes station to station. 6-2 still 1 out.

[Aaron 4,294]

More horrific fielding as a ground ball to short is bobbled allowing only 1 out at second instead of double play. 7-2. Runners at the corners two outs.

[Aaron 4,294]

PSU robs IU of a single for 2 more runs on a groundball to second with a great diving stop and throw to 2nd. Its 7-2 after 5. Could of been at least 9-2 if not for that great play but also could of been 6-2 if PSU covered base properly on Houston's roller to 3rd base.

To the 6th we go.

[Aaron 4,294]

Stahl worked in and out of trouble in 6th. He has great stuff though and is a potential future starter if he can be stretched out when Brown, Sommer and Bierman all most likely leave for draft next year.   

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,241]

29 minutes ago, Aaron said:

What a job by Stahl to get a four pitch strikeout on PSU's best hitter! Last pitch was absolutely nasty curveball that dropped over plate from high above at last second.

IU holds the 4-2 lead to Bottom 5. 

Here's that pitch.

 

[Aaron 4,294]

PSU helped us a lot that game but we did what we needed to do with terrific small ball and Stahl was nails out of the pen in the biggest moment in the 7-2 win. PSU handed us two runs and took one away from themselves and were sloppy overall, but like we needed to we took full advantage.

Also Parker did fine in Mercer's absence managing removing Sommer at just the right time for Stahl or it could of been a very different game with a much worse outcome. Also, the late pinch hit with bases loaded of Southern made sense. Get well soon Coach but team is in good hands for next couple series it appears. 

The only issue I have is the continued quest for an ace since Kyle Hart's graduation. Since then we have been forcing a lot of terrific number 2 pitches into the lead spot and all have been only decent which a lot of games has and will not be enough. Fortunately, Sommer was just good enough, but PSU helped him out and many weeks against better teams that effort in 4.2 innings will not cut it. Sommer clearly needs to be the number two guy he was prior to today, where he has thrived as his stuff is not quite electric enough for lead role. Either go back to Bierman (I support the change for this week after Bierman's stinker last time) or try Brown (who has best stuff on team) for the lead role if he can pull it off. 

Game 2 soon and will be 9 innings. 

Also important to note the family and friends crowd at the stadium is big enough to make it feel like a home game in a stadium that size fortunately and does not sound like a ghost town like basketball.

[Aaron 4,294]

McCade Brown to pitch second game in about 15 minutes here, not Bierman. Coach Parker really trying to reward the guys who did best last week first. I like it. 

Lineup otherwise is same as first game except for Houston being replaced by Macciocchi in 9 hole.   

[Aaron 4,294]

Guess Brown still has some old demons to exercise. His command is back to as bad as it was last two years. Has two 4 pitch walks and would of had a third if PSU had not swung at ball 4 and produced a groundout.

[Aaron 4,294]

PSU helped him out swinging at ball 4 again for a K and then Brown got going with a nasty three pitch strikeout to end inning. Another good decision by Parker to visit Brown mid-inning to settle him down. Either PSU's charity will settle him down or this is not sustainable as cannot count on Lions to give you two free outs with struggling command. Hope its former. Still never seen him survive wildness in previous years so that's an improvement. 

0-0 to Bottom 1. 

[Aaron 4,294]

2 out magic! Toetz gets a double of the RF wall for an RBI to make it 1-0 after an inning. Toetz, Colopy, Murrison and Jessee looks like nice lineup anchors in future years with guys like Richardson, Fucci, Barr and Ashley most likely gone after this year. 

[Aaron 4,294]

There you go! McCade Brown of last week is back with an easy 1-2-3 inning with produced two strikeouts on nasty pitches and was in complete control with his command. Need that to continue. 1-0 IU to Bottom 2. 

[Aaron 4,294]

Brown even better in third with 3 straight strikeouts and the hitters had no chance. Still 1-0 IU to bottom 3.

[Aaron 4,294]

 No chance. Brown gets 3 more strikeouts on completely nasty and unhittable pitches. 10 strikeouts through 4 innings and its 1-0 to Bottom 4.

[Aaron 4,294]

Brown matches his 12 strikeouts from last game in just 5 innings. Another 1-2-3 inning with two more strikeouts and only PSU contact was easy ground ball. 1-0 to bottom 5.

[Aaron 4,294]

Brown still unhittable. 14 K's and something else potentially special brewing. To Bottom 6. 

[Aaron 4,294]

Two singles and a walk and IU has bases loaded with 1 out in 6th as PSU makes pitching change. 

[Aaron 4,294]

Macciocchi delivers with a poke double over first base into corner that makes it 3-0! 2nd and 3rd 1 out.