Bottom of lineup produces, relievers close out Indiana baseball’s sweep over Ohio State

Freshman Devin Taylor, batting third in Indiana baseball’s lineup, uppercut the primary pitch in his third-inning at-bat, launching the ball 427 toes over the fence. Indiana went up 3-0 within the second recreation of Sunday’s residence doubleheader in opposition to Ohio State College.  

Following Indiana’s comeback wins 14-6 Saturday, and 9-6 within the first recreation of Sunday’s doubleheader, that 3-run inning with Taylor’s residence run marked the primary time Indiana led first within the three-game collection. And but, Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer knew the 3-run lead seemingly would not maintain. In spite of everything, Indiana had come from behind to win the primary two video games.  

Indiana sophomore infielder Brock Tibbitts even mentioned no lead is protected after the group scored 14 unanswered runs in Saturday’s series-opening victory. Mercer tasked the group so as to add extra. Indiana’s first 4 batters reached base within the fifth inning, together with run-scoring doubles hit by senior outfielder Hunter Jessee and sophomore infielder Josh Pyne. Indiana went up 6-1.  

That lead held. Indiana held on 7-5 within the finale, securing the three-game sweep.  

“It’s important to know when successful time is,” Mercer mentioned postgame. “It was time to win the sport. You had the suitable guys arising… we would seen (Ohio State starter Justin Eckhardt). It was the third time by the lineup, and I simply challenged them.”  

Junior outfielder Bobby Whalen started Indiana’s fifth-inning rally, knocking his second base-hit of the finale. Whalen batted eighth within the lineup, and Jessee, who drove in Whalen through double, batted ninth.  

In line with Mercer, assistant coach Derek Simmons not too long ago advised positioning Whalen and Jessee within the remaining third of the lineup. Within the second recreation Sunday, the pair mixed to attain 4 occasions. That is greater than half of Indiana’s seven runs within the victory.  

“I’ve had a number of coaches come as much as me and similar to, ‘golly, you guys can actually hit, it is so robust,’” Mercer mentioned. “There’s simply there’s nowhere to go for like ‘okay, we’re previous the seventh spot’. It is like ‘okay, now we’re gonna get two outs and get the leadoff man up’. Really, (Whalen and Jessee) hit one-two (within the lineup) final 12 months so we’re in a extremely great place.”  

Batting within the seventh spot, senior catcher Matthew Ellis remained within the remaining third of Indiana’s lineup all through all the three-game collection. Ellis hit a solo residence run to place Indiana up 10-6 within the group’s 14-6 series-opening victory.  

That residence run maintained Indiana’s surging offense. But, Ellis’ residence run within the second recreation of the collection Sunday morning was way more impactful. Simply as Ohio State went up 6-5 within the prime of the seventh, Ellis crushed a go-ahead 3-run residence run 452 toes within the backside body — the decider within the series-clinching victory.  

“Me, Hunter, and Bobby, these older guys towards the underside… we’ll be one of the best 6-7-8, 7-8-9 that we will,” Ellis mentioned. “If we transfer up or transfer down it is no totally different. We are able to bat fourth or we will bat eighth. We’re gonna go on the market and provides one of the best that we will.”  

Mercer praised Whalen and Jessee for assuming roles which can be maybe unorthodox. Final season, Whalen and Jessee generally nestled within the first third of the lineup. With so many productive bats, it may be troublesome for Mercer to resolve the place gamers are positioned within the lineup. The sweep proves that the ultimate third of Ellis, Whalen and Jessee could be efficient. 

Ellis’ go-ahead residence run could be considered because the decider within the series-clinching victory. So can the fifth-inning rally within the finale, began by Whalen and Jessee’s leadoff hits. One can also’t overlook the pitching workers held Ohio State to 6 runs or fewer in every recreation — Mercer’s aim.  

Graduate Gabe Levy and sophomore Ryan Kraft mixed to pitch eight innings, permitting only one earned run within the collection opener. Senior Craig Yoho hurled simply over two scoreless innings to wrap up Sunday morning’s victory. Within the night, sophomore Luke Hayden — who hasn’t appeared since March 5 — tossed simply over the ultimate three innings to earn his first save.  

Following the three-game sweep over Ohio State, Indiana improves to 14-0 at residence, 17-7 general and 3-0 in convention play. The group’s eight-game homestand will conclude in a single recreation in opposition to Kent State College at 6 p.m. this Tuesday.