BLOOMINGTON - In their second midweek matchup of the season, the Indiana Hoosiers took on the Northern Kentucky Norse on Tuesday. Indiana got off to a slow start, and pitching struggles hurt them as they fell 13-11.
It was a high-scoring affair throughout the contest, as both teams had 3+ innings where they scored two runs or more. Indiana’s pitching staff struggled throughout, as they gave up 16 hits, issued eight walks and hit three batters.
"We’re just tremendously inconsistent,” said head coach Jeff Mercer in regards to the bullpen.
The game got off to a rocky start for Indiana, as starting pitcher Henry Brummel gave up three runs and was unable to record an out. His final line finished at 0.0 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, HBP. However, Ryan
Rushing entered the game and got out of the jam, limiting the damage to three.
Indiana came out firing in the bottom of the first, as an Andrew Wiggins walk, Devin Taylor ROE and back-to-back singles from Joey Brenczewski and Jake Hanley cashed in two runs in the bottom of the first.
The second inning began with a bang as a diving catch from Korbyn Dickerson saved a hit for Ryan Rushing, however, three straight singles cashed in a run for the Norse. While they threatened in the
bottom half, Indiana stranded two runners to go scoreless in the inning.
Indiana found themselves in trouble in the fourth though, as Northern Kentucky scored five runs by way of a 2-run double followed by a 3-run home run which blew the game open by a score of 9-2 in
favor of the Norse.
The Hoosiers' offense went dormant after their two-run first inning until a Jasen Oliver RBI double and T.J. Schuyler 2-RBI single made the score 9-5 NKU. That was followed by a double from Cooper
Malamzian, but the cherry on top was a no-doubt 2-run missile from Andrew Wiggins that made it 9-8 NKU to end the fifth.
“I’ve been doing more of a walk first mentality, the hits will come if they pitch to me,” said Wiggins.
That has been the story of the season for the Hoosiers, as when you think they are in trouble and about to get blown out, they come with a rally of their own. The lineup top-to-bottom swung it well as
every Indiana hitter reached base.
The pitching staff seemed to have settled in, but Seth Benes gave up a 2-run home run, one of which was inherited from Caleb Koskie. That was not all for the Norse though, as they drew a walk and drove that runner in by way of an RBI triple to make it 13-8 NKU in the middle of the seventh.
It was in the seventh that the weather started to become a factor, as the rain began to come down as the Hoosiers came to bat. However, Indiana stranded two runners, their 9th and 10th runners left on base in the game.
Jeff Mercer’s squad would not quit though, as rain poured down at The Bart, Hoosiers struck back scoring three runs by way of a Hogan Denny double, a T.J. Schuyler ground out, and an Andrew Wiggins single to make it 13-11 into the ninth inning.
Pete Haas delivered the best performance of the day on the mound, as he went 2.1 scoreless innings to hold Northern Kentucky at bay and give Indiana their chance at a comeback.
“Haas was able to execute the plan we had in place going into the game, and was able to get more weak contact,” said Mercer.
Indiana entered the ninth inning down two runs and immediately was threatening with two men on and nobody out. However, after a Jake Hanley sacrifice bunt, Tyler Cerny flies, and pinch hitter Ryan Gilbert grounds out as Indiana falls 13-11.
Hoosier’s next action comes on Friday as the Hoosiers travel to Penn State to open up Big Ten play.
