The Indiana Hoosiers took a 5-4 lead over the No.2 LSU Tigers into the eighth inning with timely hitting and just enough pitching, but a three-run home run by Tiger first baseman Zach Yorke sparked a nine-run rally that put the Tigers ahead for good. Indiana fell to 1-4 with a 14-7 loss.
Tony Nuebeck made his second start of the year for the Hoosiers and was not as sharp this time out. He gave up just two runs (one earned) in three innings while striking out one and walking two. Nuebeck was pulled after 62 pitches (39 strikes) as he works back from injury.
The Tigers scored in the first inning on four singles. They pushed the lead to 2-0 when an unearned run scored on a Yorke sacrifice fly in the third inning.
The game got weird in the bottom on the third inning as the Hoosiers scored three runs to take a 3-2 lead when Hogan Denny singled in a run and Brayden Ricketts hit a squibber that scored two runs as LSU threw the ball away on the throw home. Ricketts was given a single and an RBI, but the second run scored on the error.
Michael Sahratt took over for Nuebeck in the fourth inning and worked himself out of trouble after giving up a lead off double and a walk to start the inning. IU catcher T.J. Schulyer threw out a baserunner trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt. Schulyer was great behind the dish with four put outs and two assists. He finished 0-1 at the plate with a walk and run scored.
Sahratt gave up the lead in the top of the fifth inning allowing the first three hitters to get on base with two singles sandwiching a walk. Sahratt was lifted for Gavin Seebold who walked in a run to give LSU a 4-3 lead.
LSU would take the 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh as Cooper Williams continued in relief of Tiger starter Casan Evans. The Hoosiers got the first two runners on before pinch hitter Caleb Kosie struck out against Gavin Guidry. Will Moore picked up the RBI on a ground out to tie the game at four before Hogan Denny singled to give IU a 5-4 lead.
Then the wheels fell off for the Hoosiers in the eighth. LSU scored nine runs in the eight inning, highlighted by the Yorke blast to right off the brick wall. The Tigers used seven hits and four walks, including a two-run bunt single, to put the game out of reach.
The Hoosiers added two runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 13-7 but the damage had been done. LSU tacked on another run in the ninth for a 14-7 lead.
The Hoosiers biggest issue on Friday afternoon in Jacksonville was the amount of baserunners they allowed. LSU got seven of their nine lead off batters on base. IU pitching allowed 18 hits, 14 walks and hit a batter. Eight Hoosier pitchers combined to throw 239 pitches with only 134 of them going for strikes.
With the loss IU falls to 1-4 on the season. IU’s next game is against UCF at 4pm Saturday in Jacksonville at the Live Like Lou Classic.