Brehmer goes the distance as Indiana baseball defeats Illinois 8-1 in elimination game

Bradley Brehmer fired his 112th pitch towards house plate on an 0-2 rely. The ball flew into the air earlier than Indiana senior infielder Phillip Glasser caught it in his mitt for the ultimate out of the sport. 

The senior right-handed pitcher turned towards his teammates, who rushed in from the dugout as Brehmer roared with pleasure. The Hoosiers celebrated their 8-1 victory over Illinois Friday night time to outlive elimination within the second spherical and advance within the Massive Ten Match. 

Brehmer was almost flawless on the mound, permitting simply 4 hits and one earned run whereas hanging out six Illini batters in a nine-inning complete-game efficiency.  

“Executing the fastball to either side of the plate, touchdown each my breaking balls and having the change-up at present performed properly for me,” Brehmer mentioned throughout a postgame interview on the Massive Ten Community broadcast.  

Earlier within the day, Brehmer was uncertain of the effectiveness of his pitches, he mentioned. 

“It was kinda tough within the bullpen earlier at present, touchdown that curveball,” Brehmer mentioned. “I have not had the change-up all yr, but it surely was good to have all of them at present.” 

Brehmer’s outing Friday was the primary full sport thrown by any Hoosier pitcher within the Massive Ten Match since Will Coursen-Carr on Might 26, 2013, within the championship sport. 

Although 9 years aside, each full video games have a connection. The Hoosiers gained that championship sport in walk-off vogue, 4-3 over Nebraska. 9 years later, Brehmer’s full sport got here someday after Indiana suffered a 6-5 walk-off loss in opposition to top-seeded Maryland within the first spherical. 

Final yr, pitching for Wright State College, Brehmer allowed two earned runs in a complete-game win on Might 28, 2021. That efficiency superior his staff into the Horizon League Championship title sport. 

Virtually a yr later to the day, Brehmer threw his second collegiate profession full sport in opposition to Illinois in an identical playoff sport. He solely allowed 4 hits in each video games one yr aside at completely different faculties. The postseason magic appears to comply with wherever he goes. 

“Brad’s efficiency at present was the most effective I’ve ever seen in particular person on the most important stage,” head coach Jeff Mercer mentioned postgame. “Nice execution, nice braveness, nice dedication. A fantastic day to exit and characterize Indiana the correct method.” 

The primary of Illinois’ 4 hits got here within the first inning. The Combating Illini threatened with two runners on base and no outs, however Brehmer induced a double play earlier than one other groundout ended the hazard. 

Brehmer then retired the following six batters in a row whereas his pitches per inning decreased in quantity. He threw 11 pitches within the first inning, eight within the second, and 7 within the third. 

A groundout with a runner on third base scored Illinois’ first run to tie the sport 1-1 within the high of the sixth inning. Nonetheless, Brehmer struck out the final batter to restrict the harm. Illinois completed the sport batting 0-for-5 with runners in scoring place and 1-for-9 with runners on base. 

Indiana held a 2-1 lead heading into the underside of the eighth inning whereas Brehmer’s pitch rely was nearing 100. Indiana might have both thrown one other reliever as soon as the highest of the ninth rolled round or left Brehmer to face Illini batters for the fourth time. 

The choice grew to become straightforward as soon as Indiana’s offense exploded for six runs within the backside of the eighth inning to take a 8-1 lead. Brehmer was coping with a snug lead, and Indiana had the posh of not needing to make use of further relievers Friday when taking part in in a day-by-day match. 

With the win, Indiana will play the loser of the Michigan-Maryland sport on Saturday afternoon in one other elimination sport. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. CT and can air on Massive Ten Community 

“Preserve doing what we’re doing,” Brehmer mentioned. “We’ve been combating all yr. Preserve doing what we’re doing and I feel we’ll be alright.”