Friday, March 30
Bloomington, Ind.
2 p.m.
Indiana University
18-5
6
vs
5
Butler
17-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Butler
0
0
0
1
1
2
0
1
0
5
9
3
Indiana
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
1
6
6
2
IU’s Day Went Just Fine, Man
3/30/2018 10:39:00 PM | Baseball
By Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - A fine day for a fine man.
Indiana junior catcher Ryan Fineman went 6-for-8 at the plate with six RBI to highlight the No. 11 host Hoosiers' 6-5, 12-0 sweep of Butler in Friday's twin bill at Bart Kaufman Field.
"It was definitely a good day," Fineman said. "I was seeing the ball well and we played really well, so it was nice."
IU (19-5) trailed in the opener but ultimately won without the benefit of an earned run, as Butler's defense proved porous, including a game-ending passed ball in the ninth.
But there wasn't much charitable about the nightcap as the Hoosiers pounded out 18 hits. Indiana scored every inning of game two except the seventh, even leaving the bases loaded in that frame.
"It was nice," IU coach Chris Lemonis said of the nightcap's offensive fireworks, "because I was frustrated in that first game."
GAME ONE
Indiana initially let scoring chances – including a bases-loaded, one-out threat in the first – slip away, while Butler made the most of its few opportunities after IU starter Jonathan Stiever looked dominant early.
"You have a chance to get them in the first but don't take advantage of it, in this game, that can settle in," Hoosier coach Chris Lemonis said. "And we chased the whole rest of the game. Luckily, we were able to get back into the game (later)."
Stiever had retired 12 of the first 13 men he faced, with four strikeouts, before Butler struck with two down in the top of the fourth. Michael Hartnagel beat out a double to left, then Garrett Christman sent a RBI single to right-center.
The Bulldogs (17-6) then got a clutch two-out hit for the second straight inning to go up 2-0 in the fifth. Conor Dall had a leadoff single, was sacrificed to second and, after a strikeout, James Gargano singled him home.
This time, IU responded in kind, with the first of several Butler defensive gaffes contributing. Logan Kaletha was hit by a pitch, took second on an errant pickoff attempt, then scored on Matt Lloyd's ground single to left.
Lloyd proceeded to rob Butler's Tyler Houston of a leadoff hit in the sixth for skying at second base to snare Houston's liner at the very top of the leap.
But then an error at short helped generate a pair of unearned runs as Butler surged to a 4-1 lead, with the big hit a ground-rule 2-RBI double to left by Harrison Freed.
That lead was short-lived as Butler's defensive woes fueled a four-run Hoosier rally.
When Butler starter Sam Hubbe, who had supplied a strong start, hit Logan Sowers in the back with the first pitch of the IU sixth, the Bulldogs went to the bullpen to bring on Josh Walker. After a walk, Matt Gorski hit a potential double-play grounder to third, but the throw to second was air-mailed, and Sowers came around to make it 4-2.
Fineman's hard grounder then spilled pitcher Walker on the mound. Walker tried to recover, but threw wildly to first. It was ruled a hit and an error, scoring a pair to tie the game.
Pinch-hitter Drew Ashley's sacrifice fly to right then gave IU its first lead of the game at 5-4.
A leadoff walk came back to bite the Hoosiers in the eighth as Butler had a two-out tally to tie it in the eighth. A lined single to right by Dall plated Gehrig Parker, who barely beat Sowers' strong throw home.
Justin Walker was hit by a pitch to start the Hoosier ninth. Lloyd, on a very nice piece of hitting, went with the pitch for a lined single to center on a hit-and-run call, advancing Walker to third.
After a strikeout, Sowers came to the plate and saw a passed ball decide matters. Despite getting out-hit 9-5, the Hoosiers had the victory.
GAME TWO
The Hoosiers certainly didn't get out-hit in the second game. And unlike game one, Indiana capitalized on a bases-loaded situation in the first.
Twice.
And it didn't hurt that Fineman moved from seventh to fifth in the batting order for game two.
After back-to-back singles from Kaletha and Lloyd to start the Hoosier first, a one-out walk to Sowers loaded the bases. That set up Fineman's bases-clearing double up the right-center gap off the wall.
"Should have done it in the first game, right?" Lemonis said of Fineman's elevation in the order. "He'd probably have had a double in the first (then, too).
"It was nice to see. Really big swing there in the first for us after the way we'd played in the first game."
Another couple of walks then proceeded Justin Walker's clutch two-out, 2-RBI lined single to left to make it 5-0 as the Hoosiers ultimately sent 10 men to the plate in the inning.
Fineman struck again in the second. After Butler fielders lost Sowers' fly in the sun for a double to right, Fineman's lined RBI single to left made it 6-0.
A leaping Gorski catch at the left field wall robbed Butler's Gehrig Parker of a two-run homer in the third. Gorski then kick-started another productive IU frame with a bunt single. He stole second, took third on an errant throw, then scored on Cole Barr's sac fly to center for a 7-0 bulge.
Butler was doubtless already tired of seeing Fineman at the plate by the fourth, but couldn't escape him as he ripped a RBI single to left to make it 8-0, scoring Luke Miller, who had reached second on another Bulldog error.
"He also had a good game at Indiana State (going 2-for-4 in IU's 5-3 win Wednesday," Lemonis said of Fineman. "So he had a really good week."
Lloyd's 2-RBI double one-bouncing the wall in left-center got the Indiana lead to double-digits in the fifth.
Scotty Bradley's 2-run bomb over the into the right field bleachers makes it an even dozen runs for the Hoosiers by the sixth. Colby Stratten's RBI single in the eighth capped the scoring.
Pauly Milto supplied six shutout innings for the win in game two and benefited from fine Hoosier defense, including a pair of double-plays.
"It was tough conditions the last time he was out there (at Iowa)," Lemonis said of Milto. "It was good to see him throw well. Got his slider and his splitter going."
Fineman said Milto throwing strikes helped ease his burden of catching most of the two games, and Fineman was gratified his was not the only hot bat by the day's end.
"We have so many good hitters," Fineman said. "The guys coming off the bench — Scotty Bradley had a good day. It was good to see everyone, freshmen, contributing really well.
"Everyone clicked in the dugout, but the biggest thing is, in the 18th inning of the (day), you got your starters who came out of the game cheering your guys on like nothing ever happened, like it's a 1-0 game. That's what good teams do. You have to come out tomorrow like your 0-0 and you haven't played the team yet."
Indiana is slated to play Butler again today at 1:05 p.m.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - A fine day for a fine man.
Indiana junior catcher Ryan Fineman went 6-for-8 at the plate with six RBI to highlight the No. 11 host Hoosiers' 6-5, 12-0 sweep of Butler in Friday's twin bill at Bart Kaufman Field.
"It was definitely a good day," Fineman said. "I was seeing the ball well and we played really well, so it was nice."
IU (19-5) trailed in the opener but ultimately won without the benefit of an earned run, as Butler's defense proved porous, including a game-ending passed ball in the ninth.
But there wasn't much charitable about the nightcap as the Hoosiers pounded out 18 hits. Indiana scored every inning of game two except the seventh, even leaving the bases loaded in that frame.
"It was nice," IU coach Chris Lemonis said of the nightcap's offensive fireworks, "because I was frustrated in that first game."
GAME ONE
Indiana initially let scoring chances – including a bases-loaded, one-out threat in the first – slip away, while Butler made the most of its few opportunities after IU starter Jonathan Stiever looked dominant early.
"You have a chance to get them in the first but don't take advantage of it, in this game, that can settle in," Hoosier coach Chris Lemonis said. "And we chased the whole rest of the game. Luckily, we were able to get back into the game (later)."
Stiever had retired 12 of the first 13 men he faced, with four strikeouts, before Butler struck with two down in the top of the fourth. Michael Hartnagel beat out a double to left, then Garrett Christman sent a RBI single to right-center.
The Bulldogs (17-6) then got a clutch two-out hit for the second straight inning to go up 2-0 in the fifth. Conor Dall had a leadoff single, was sacrificed to second and, after a strikeout, James Gargano singled him home.
This time, IU responded in kind, with the first of several Butler defensive gaffes contributing. Logan Kaletha was hit by a pitch, took second on an errant pickoff attempt, then scored on Matt Lloyd's ground single to left.
Lloyd proceeded to rob Butler's Tyler Houston of a leadoff hit in the sixth for skying at second base to snare Houston's liner at the very top of the leap.
But then an error at short helped generate a pair of unearned runs as Butler surged to a 4-1 lead, with the big hit a ground-rule 2-RBI double to left by Harrison Freed.
That lead was short-lived as Butler's defensive woes fueled a four-run Hoosier rally.
When Butler starter Sam Hubbe, who had supplied a strong start, hit Logan Sowers in the back with the first pitch of the IU sixth, the Bulldogs went to the bullpen to bring on Josh Walker. After a walk, Matt Gorski hit a potential double-play grounder to third, but the throw to second was air-mailed, and Sowers came around to make it 4-2.
Fineman's hard grounder then spilled pitcher Walker on the mound. Walker tried to recover, but threw wildly to first. It was ruled a hit and an error, scoring a pair to tie the game.
Pinch-hitter Drew Ashley's sacrifice fly to right then gave IU its first lead of the game at 5-4.
A leadoff walk came back to bite the Hoosiers in the eighth as Butler had a two-out tally to tie it in the eighth. A lined single to right by Dall plated Gehrig Parker, who barely beat Sowers' strong throw home.
Justin Walker was hit by a pitch to start the Hoosier ninth. Lloyd, on a very nice piece of hitting, went with the pitch for a lined single to center on a hit-and-run call, advancing Walker to third.
After a strikeout, Sowers came to the plate and saw a passed ball decide matters. Despite getting out-hit 9-5, the Hoosiers had the victory.
GAME TWO
The Hoosiers certainly didn't get out-hit in the second game. And unlike game one, Indiana capitalized on a bases-loaded situation in the first.
Twice.
And it didn't hurt that Fineman moved from seventh to fifth in the batting order for game two.
After back-to-back singles from Kaletha and Lloyd to start the Hoosier first, a one-out walk to Sowers loaded the bases. That set up Fineman's bases-clearing double up the right-center gap off the wall.
"Should have done it in the first game, right?" Lemonis said of Fineman's elevation in the order. "He'd probably have had a double in the first (then, too).
"It was nice to see. Really big swing there in the first for us after the way we'd played in the first game."
Another couple of walks then proceeded Justin Walker's clutch two-out, 2-RBI lined single to left to make it 5-0 as the Hoosiers ultimately sent 10 men to the plate in the inning.
Fineman struck again in the second. After Butler fielders lost Sowers' fly in the sun for a double to right, Fineman's lined RBI single to left made it 6-0.
A leaping Gorski catch at the left field wall robbed Butler's Gehrig Parker of a two-run homer in the third. Gorski then kick-started another productive IU frame with a bunt single. He stole second, took third on an errant throw, then scored on Cole Barr's sac fly to center for a 7-0 bulge.
Butler was doubtless already tired of seeing Fineman at the plate by the fourth, but couldn't escape him as he ripped a RBI single to left to make it 8-0, scoring Luke Miller, who had reached second on another Bulldog error.
"He also had a good game at Indiana State (going 2-for-4 in IU's 5-3 win Wednesday," Lemonis said of Fineman. "So he had a really good week."
Lloyd's 2-RBI double one-bouncing the wall in left-center got the Indiana lead to double-digits in the fifth.
Scotty Bradley's 2-run bomb over the into the right field bleachers makes it an even dozen runs for the Hoosiers by the sixth. Colby Stratten's RBI single in the eighth capped the scoring.
Pauly Milto supplied six shutout innings for the win in game two and benefited from fine Hoosier defense, including a pair of double-plays.
"It was tough conditions the last time he was out there (at Iowa)," Lemonis said of Milto. "It was good to see him throw well. Got his slider and his splitter going."
Fineman said Milto throwing strikes helped ease his burden of catching most of the two games, and Fineman was gratified his was not the only hot bat by the day's end.
"We have so many good hitters," Fineman said. "The guys coming off the bench — Scotty Bradley had a good day. It was good to see everyone, freshmen, contributing really well.
"Everyone clicked in the dugout, but the biggest thing is, in the 18th inning of the (day), you got your starters who came out of the game cheering your guys on like nothing ever happened, like it's a 1-0 game. That's what good teams do. You have to come out tomorrow like your 0-0 and you haven't played the team yet."
Indiana is slated to play Butler again today at 1:05 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Krueger, Cal (6-1)
L: NAPOLEON, Kevin (1-1)
Batting:
2B: HARTNAGEL, Michael 1 ; FREED, Harrison 1
RBI: GARGANO, James 1 ; CHRISTMAN, Garrett 1 ; FREED, Harrison 2 ; DALL, Connor 1
SH: GARGANO, James 1 ; HEWITT, Duncan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PARKER, Gehrig 2 ; HARTNAGEL, Michael 2 ; DALL, Connor 1
SB: DALL, Connor 2
Batting:
RBI: Lloyd, Matt 1 ; Fineman , Ryan 1 ; Ashley, Drew 1
SH: Eustace, Laren 1
SF: Ashley, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kaletha, Logan 1 ; Sowers, Logan 1 ; Dunham, Elijah 1 ; Gorski, Matt 1 ; Fineman , Ryan 1 ; Walker, Justin 1
SB: Lloyd, Matt 1 ; Gorski, Matt 1
HBP: Kaletha, Logan 1 ; Sowers, Logan 2 ; Walker, Justin 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
2b/1b
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballUTIL
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
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