Hoosiers Drop Missouri State opener 9-7

SPRINGFIELD, MO –

After a quick start, the Hoosiers gave up 7 runs in the 5th inning before eventually losing 7-9.

Indiana struck first with 3 runs in the 2nd inning. Morgan Colopy drew a one-out walk in a string of plate appearances that lead to bases loaded and no outs after a double by Brock Tibbitts and HBP by Carter Mathison. Josh Pyne got the scoring started with a 2-RBI single through the right side to score Colopy and Tibbitts, and a pair of fielder’s choices by Peter Serruto and Tyler Doanes brought Mathison home.

The scoring continued in the 3rd inning, where Bobby Whalen scored from 3rd on a double play. In the 4th inning, Mathison led off with a walk before scoring on a single to left field paired with an error. The Hoosier bats were largely quiet for the rest of the game, with the exceptions of a 2-out solo shot by Colopy in the 7th and leadoff solo shot by Mathison in the 8th, the first of his career.

In all, 7 Hoosier bats recorded a hit, with Pyne the lone multi-hit Hoosier. Indiana also drew 4 walks and were plunked once. Head coach Jeff Mercer said after the game that he “thought we did a really good job offensively and we were dynamic on the bases and aggressive, and our bats were really good.” He also credited the freshman bats, who were responsible for 3 RBI and 4 runs scored, with stepping up.

2 RBI single by Pyne scores Colopy (BB) and Tibbitts (2B)! #iubase @iubase17 pic.twitter.com/ETYlFJuOOX

— Cassady Palmer (@crpalmer0627) March 4, 2022

With the exception of the 5th inning, the Indiana pitchers were largely in control, giving up runs in just one other inning on a 2-run home run. John-Biagio Modugno cruised through the first four innings, facing only one over the minimum with one hit up the middle on just 45 pitches. The Bears were ready for him in the 5th inning, however, with a double, single, and 3-run home run, all with just one out. After a walk and HBP by Modugno, Reese Sharp took over with 2 outs. A pair of infield singles paired with some defensive indecision plated one run, while a bases-loaded walk tied the game. A 2-out, 2-RBI single gave the Bears the lead before a strikeout ended the inning.

Asked about the 5th inning after the game, Mercer indicated that there was an “inability to finish at bats” and that the pitchers “weren’t able to land off-speed pitches that we need to.” Mercer continued, “We gave up a massive inning like that, and it’s hard to overcome that from an offensive standpoint.”

Sharp then locked down for the following two innings, striking out a total of 5 straight Missouri State batters, 4 of them looking. A leadoff walk followed by a home run in the 8th gave the Bears the lead for good. After one final walk, Ryan Kraft took the mound to finish the game, inducing a fly ball with a runner at 2nd and striking out the last Missouri State batter of the game.

Sharp rights the ship by striking out the side on 13 pitches. #iubase @iubase17 pic.twitter.com/68Ft3T5fsn

— Cassady Palmer (@crpalmer0627) March 4, 2022