IU Baseball @ Northwestern - May 5-7, 2023

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

After last weekend's 3-game drubbing by Maryland, Hoosiers need to do the same thing to the Wildcats (8-31) (3-12) this weekend.  Coach Mercer announced earlier to day that Luke Sinnard gets the Friday opener with Saturday and Sunday pitchers TBD.   All 3 games televised on B1G+.  Friday and Saturday weather looks very nice; maybe some Sunday a.m. showers. 

Friday - 4:00 ET

Saturday and Sunday both scheduled to start at 2:00 ET

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Live Stats

[Aaron 4,294]

IU can afford a couple more losses and still be in great shape to make NCAA Tourney.

However, one of these losses cannot come to NW or their RPI will drop into the mid 40's which puts you on the bubble. A loss or two to anyone else will keep RPI in 30's which will still put you on track to get in.

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 9,201]

Right move getting Sinnard to Fri. Even regardless of the type of outing he gives you. 

[Aaron 4,294]

14 hours ago, btownqb said:

Right move getting Sinnard to Fri. Even regardless of the type of outing he gives you. 

This gives him an extra start as now he can go Fri. NW, Fri, PU, Thu. MSU, than start him in opener of Big Ten Tourney (likely) Tues, and then again Sun if IU makes the Championship as well as Friday of the (hopefully) Regional opener.

Mercer talked about this yesterday and it makes sense. In a single game elimination tourney you have to throw your best pitcher first and try to avoid the loser's bracket. Can't hold him back as they have in regular season until now (which also made sense). Have to pitch him now in first games as every one of these openers is most important both in the regular and especially postseason the rest of 2023.  

[Aaron 4,294]

Northwestern quickly showed why they are 8-31. Easy pop up into the outfield that should have been the third out by Brock Tibbitts is misplayed. Mathison makes them pay with three-run HR. 3-0 IU after 1/2 inning.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

Still 3-0 after 6 complete.  Sinnard has given up 5 hits, 2 BB and thrown 94 pitches.  He stays on the mound to start the NW 7th.  After getting 3 first inning hits, Hoosiers have managed just 2 more since.

With runners on 1st and 2nd and 2 outs in the NU 7th, Yoho took over for Sinnard who threw 111 pitches on the day.  Yoho walked the first batter he faced and loaded the bases but struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Hoosiers 3-0 after 7 complete.

Edited May 5, 2023 by Class of '66 Old Fart
Pitching Update

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

Hoosiers picked up another run in the 8th.  With 2 outs, a walk and a single finally chased the NU starting pitcher.  Mathison greeted the reliever with an RBI single and has driven in all 4 IU runs today.  4-0 with NU batting in the 8th and Yoho stayed on the mound.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

NU not going away without a fight.  Yoho walked the leadoff batter in the 9th and a single put NU runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.  A double play and a strikeout and Hoosiers win 4-0.  Just the second shutout for us on the season.

We were outhit 9-7 but NU left 12 on base.  We play again tomorrow at 2:00 ET.

Interesting call in the NU 9th with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs.  On the Hoosier double play, the NU runner that was on second was called for interference and could not advance to 3rd.  Moot call as the strikeout ended the game.

[Aaron 4,294]

15 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

NU not going away without a fight.  Yoho walked the leadoff batter in the 9th and a single put NU runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.  A double play and a strikeout and Hoosiers win 4-0.  Just the second shutout for us on the season.

We were outhit 9-7 but NU left 12 on base.  We play again tomorrow at 2:00 ET.

Interesting call in the NU 9th with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs.  On the Hoosier double play, the NU runner that was on second was called for interference and could not advance to 3rd.  Moot call as the strikeout ended the game.

Throwing Sinnard now saved that game and he was brilliant. If he can give you more of that 7 inning and even 2-3 run ball in last couple series you have a much better chance to take first games of the weekend finally. Also he gave you 110 pitches which is good to know down the stretch that you can count on him for 100+ pitches per start.

Offense going MIA against a pitcher who was filling in for the normal Friday guy is not ideal. Hopefully hitting gets stronger as weekend goes on though like normal. All four runs were scored because of poor fielding by Northwestern but Mathison took full advantage as the one guy who is hot at the plate right now.

Just need two more of these. A sweep this weekend is the difference between likely needing to go 5-3 in last 8 after this weekend to be safely in NCAA Tourney vs. 7-1 or 8-0 if you trip up even once. That is how bad the Wildcats' record and RPI is.    

[Aaron 4,294]

IU trails 1-0 halfway home today. It is truly mind blowing watching this offense alternate between among the best in baseball and being unable to hit any pitching staff no matter now bad within the same season. They have gone back and forth twice now this season between both extremes and right now they are in the cycle of cannot hit anyone.  

 Big part of being a young team with growing pains but it is still odd to watch. 

[TheWatShot 14,074]

We really getting shut out by this godawful team? 

[maharkn 1,745]

Well that was unfortunate.

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[TheWatShot 14,074]

Escaped with a 5-2 win in 12 innings. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

Took 12 innings but finally we got our heads out of our arse and scored 3 runs to take the first 2 games of the weekend.   Kraft was spectacular.  He came on with 2 out in the 2nd and pitched through the 9th allowing just 4 hits and 1 BB.  Foley pitched the 10th and 11th and Risedorph the 12th and gets the save.   We ended up with 11 hits and had 4 players with 2 hits apiece.  Taylor had 3 RBI on the day.  

Jessee started the 12th off with a double followed by a bunt single by Serruto.  Jessee scored on a fielders choice and a Taylor double drove in 2 more runs.  Risedorph set the Wildcats down in order and that was the ballgame.

Sunday's game scheduled for a 2:00 ET start.  Overnight thunderstorms in Evanston that should be gone by early morning and then dry the rest of the day.

[Aaron 4,294]

Wow. Got away with that. A win is a win and always take it but would like to see bats wake back up. Bottom line though is team has avoided a land mine and 2-0 on weekend which is ultimate goal. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

Hoosiers score 3 in the 1st to take a quick early lead on Tibbits, Mathison and Pyne RBI's.  Serruto with a 2-out double drove in 2 more runs and it's 5-0 and the Wildcats have yet to bat. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

Well this sux.  NU gets 4 first inning hits off Ey coupled with a HBP and a Hoosier error to cut our lead to 5-3.  After Ey's rocky start, Phillips took the mound to open the 2nd inning. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

Jessee and Whalen don't communicate and NU gets a leadoff double in the bottom of the 3rd and eventually score a run to make it 5-4. 

In our 4th, we open with a Serruto single, a Cerny triple and a Glasser double scoring 2 runs with no outs.  Whalen followed with a single, our 4th consecutive base hit of the inning.  Taylor then gets an RBI single and it's 8-4 Hoosiers lead and still no outs in the 4th with runners on 2nd and 3rd and that's it for the NU starting pitcher.  Tibbitts gets a sac fly and it's 9-4 going into the bottom of the 4th.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,931]

NU with a 2-run HR off Phillips in the NU 4th made it 9-6.  Phillips got out of the inning with no further damage but is done after pitching 3 innings giving up 4 hits and 3 runs.  Seiler took the mound in the 5th and set the Wildcats down in order.  9-6 IU leads after 5.

With his RBI single in the 4th, Devin Taylor is now the 9th IU freshman to reach the 50 RBI mark in a season.  Currently tied for No. 8 with Sam Travis (2012)