Indiana Swept at Rutgers After Late-Inning Rallies

Indiana clung to a one-run lead as freshman Grant Holderfield took the mound within the backside of the eighth inning of sport one on Friday. Holderfield hit the primary batter, centerfielder Bobby Whalen allowed the following batter to achieve on an error and the Hoosiers have been abruptly in a jam.

A sacrifice fly tied the sport, however Holderfield walked the following batter to load the bases. The Indiana lefty was practically in a position to wiggle out of bother with a strikeout for the second out, however Rutgers two-hitter Evan Sleight discovered the left discipline grass to drive in two unearned runs. Rutgers claimed a come-from-behind 5-3 win in sport one, making a theme for the remainder of the sequence. 

Within the fifth inning of sport two, Indiana catcher Matthew Ellis and left fielder Carter Mathison put Indiana on high with a pair of RBI. However just like sport one, no lead was protected for the Hoosiers.

After seven dazzling innings from beginning pitcher Jack Perkins, whose day completed with three hits allowed, one earned run and eight strikeouts, head coach Jeff Mercer known as on Braydon Tucker out of the bullpen. Tucker fanned the primary two Scarlet Knights hitters, however Danny DeGeorgio singled via the best facet to maintain Rutgers alive.

Tucker proceeded to stroll the next two hitters, resulting in a three-RBI triple from Jordan Sweeney to place the Scarlet Knights on high. The Hoosiers went down so as within the ninth, and Rutgers accomplished a comeback for the second sport in a row, profitable 4-2.

And when you thought the late-inning magic was over, the Rutgers’ bats nonetheless had lots in retailer. However first, Indiana left fielder Carter Mathison unloaded on a pitch up within the zone for a grand slam to provide the Hoosiers a five-run lead within the fifth inning. 

Beginning pitcher Bradley Brehmer was cruising via 4 innings, however obtained himself in serious trouble when the highest of Rutgers’ lineup led off the fifth inning. Ryan Lasko began Rutgers off with a single, and issues started to unravel for Brehmer after strolling the following batter.

The Scarlet Knights would add three extra hits resulting in 4 runs earlier than Brehmer was changed by Reese Sharp as Indiana held on to a one-run lead with one out within the fifth. Brehmer’s last line completed at 4.1 innings, 10 hits, seven runs, two walks and three strikeouts. Indiana designated hitter Matthew Ellis responded to the Rutgers rally by scoring Bobby Whalen on a fielder’s alternative play to provide Indiana a two-run lead within the sixth. 

It was Sharp’s sport to complete as he toed the rubber with a one-run lead within the backside of the ninth. Sharp induced a fly out to start the inning, however Tony Santa Maria lasered the ball over the left discipline wall to tie the sport. 

And like Saturday, Sweeney lived for the clutch second as he launched a moonshot to left discipline for a 10-9 walk-off win, representing Rutgers’ eighth run scored within the eighth inning or later within the sequence. 

With this win, Rutgers has now gained 15 video games in a row, shifting to 30-6 on the season and 11-1 in convention. 

And never solely did Indiana get swept this weekend, nevertheless it misplaced three winnable video games in demoralizing trend. This places the Hoosiers at 13-21 general with a 2-7 report in convention. Indiana will conclude its street journey with matchups towards Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday and Cincinnati on Wednesday earlier than returning to Bart Kaufman Subject on Friday for a weekend sequence with Nebraska.