Tyler Cerny’s big day, “free passes” combine for Indiana’s revenge over the Sycamores.
By Zach Horwitz @HorwitzZach April 2nd, 2024
“You’ve seen us grow and then take a step back, but today we look like us.”
Indiana Hoosiers 16, Indiana State Sycamores 7:
Inning by inning details in the Live Game Blog | Box Score
On a windy evening in Bloomington, Indiana State wasted no time blowing baseballs out of the park. Luis Hernandez opened the ballgame with a two-run blast to centerfield before Indiana recorded its second out. Ty Rybarczyk, coming off of his season-high 3.1 innings pitched, tossed only one inning. Jeff Mercer alluded to the early hook as he stated “I just want him ready for the weekend and the first inning didn’t go terrific… he also threw against them two weeks ago.” Rybarczyk managed his way through the inning but not before Parker Stinson mashed an RBI double. The senior transfer eventually escaped a bases-loaded jam and Jack Moffitt was up next to take over pitching duties.
There was minimal offense for Indiana through the initial third of the contest. When Parker Stinson notched his fourth RBI on a three-run homer in the 4th inning, Indiana knew the bats needed to get going. “We’ve been talking a lot recently about having better energy… and that energy is so contagious when your boys are firing you up” sophomore Jake Stadler mentioned. Stadler entered the ballgame after Brock Tibbitts hobbled off the field with an injury in the second inning. He finished the day 2-3 off the bench.
Indiana State gave away many free bases and runs throughout the night. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers never looked back. After Brenczewski and Mathison worked walks to bring in runs with the bases loaded, Tyler Cerny struck in his big outing. The sophomore drove a fastball off of the scoreboard, a grand slam to knot up the ballgame at six. Cerny’s deep shot capped off his 4-6 day at the dish. “I gave away my first few at-bats, kept my approach just trying to help the team get those runs,” a humble Cerny added.
Mike Sears singled to take the lead right back in the 6th, but the home side was determined to seek revenge on an Indiana State side that beat them 15-7 two weeks prior.
Mercer continued on the energy in the dugout “we play well when we have enthusiasm, we play well when we’re loose and confident.” The dugout came alive yet again as free bases continued to become the story of the matchup. The Hoosiers grasped their second six-run inning of the night. Jac Spencer came out of relief, allowing Josh Pyne to break out of his slump with a 2-RBI home run, and further handing Indiana two base runners on walks. For Pyne, Jeff Mercer had nothing but positive words for him. “He’s a great competitor and puts out good swings… I couldn’t be more confident in a guy than I am him. He’s come through for us so many times. He’s such a good representative of the program.”
Still in the 6th, Matt Parenteau trotted from the bullpen to throw to three batters, letting up two runs on a wild pitch and a walk. The Sycamores elected to go to their third pitcher of the inning who eventually walked in another run and a score on a throwing error. In the home half, Mercer’s squad tallied six runs on only two hits.
Now out to a 12-6 lead, Brayden Risedorph and Jacob Vogel completed the final three frames en route to Indiana’s midweek victory. The offense continued its strides, tacking on three runs in the 7th on a Carter Mathison home run with Jake Stadler and Jasen Oliver RBIs to follow. Oliver, now the everyday second baseman for IU, has extended his hit streak to 12 games. Devin Taylor then earned his 26th RBI this year, a single in the 8th, good for Indiana’s 16th run.
The Hoosiers scored in bunches and took advantage of Indiana State’s pitching woes. “It was a very nice, relieving feeling,” being on the other side of “snowball” innings. They claim victory 16-7, a confidence booster as Indiana heads to take on the Maryland Terrapins in an important conference series this upcoming weekend. The three-game set kicks off at 6 p.m. in College Park.