
Hoosiers Defeat Illini on Ashley Walk-Off Homer
4/28/2018 7:18:00 PM | Baseball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Freshman Drew Ashley played hero on Saturday afternoon at Bart Kaufman Field, as he hit a walk-off solo home run in the 12th inning to lift No. 12 Indiana over Illinois, 2-1, to even the series.
Ashley had a career-high three hits in the win, as he went 3-for-5. Sophomore Matt Gorski provided the other run, as he went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
On the mound, Indiana got a strong outing from sophomore Cam Beauchamp, who allowed just two hits in six frames, while striking out four and walking two. Junior Matt Lloyd, who picked up the win, allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings with two strikeouts. Sophomore Cal Krueger was also efficient as he surrendered one run in 2.2 innings with three strikeouts.
For the second straight night, the Hoosiers put a run on the board in the first inning. Junior Logan Kaletha kicked it off with a single which followed by a Lloyd walk. Later in the inning Kaletha scored on Ashley's fielder's choice.
The 1-0 IU lead would hold until the ninth inning when the Fighting Illini tied the game with a single up the middle with two outs.
After both teams failed to plate runs in the 10th and 11th, Ashley played hero when he hit a walk-off home run to right field to lead off the 12th.
Indiana and Illinois will square off in the rubber game at 2:02 p.m. on Sunday on BTN.
Game Notes: Saturday's win marked the fifth walk-off victory for the Hoosiers this season…IU is now 3-1 in extra-inning games this season, with all three wins coming at home…Indiana now has 10 starts from pitchers this year consisting of a minimum of five innings and zero earned runs allowed…Beauchamp matched his career-high in innings pitched (also had 6.0 vs. Northern Illinois on March 18).
Ashley had a career-high three hits in the win, as he went 3-for-5. Sophomore Matt Gorski provided the other run, as he went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
On the mound, Indiana got a strong outing from sophomore Cam Beauchamp, who allowed just two hits in six frames, while striking out four and walking two. Junior Matt Lloyd, who picked up the win, allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings with two strikeouts. Sophomore Cal Krueger was also efficient as he surrendered one run in 2.2 innings with three strikeouts.
For the second straight night, the Hoosiers put a run on the board in the first inning. Junior Logan Kaletha kicked it off with a single which followed by a Lloyd walk. Later in the inning Kaletha scored on Ashley's fielder's choice.
The 1-0 IU lead would hold until the ninth inning when the Fighting Illini tied the game with a single up the middle with two outs.
After both teams failed to plate runs in the 10th and 11th, Ashley played hero when he hit a walk-off home run to right field to lead off the 12th.
Indiana and Illinois will square off in the rubber game at 2:02 p.m. on Sunday on BTN.
Game Notes: Saturday's win marked the fifth walk-off victory for the Hoosiers this season…IU is now 3-1 in extra-inning games this season, with all three wins coming at home…Indiana now has 10 starts from pitchers this year consisting of a minimum of five innings and zero earned runs allowed…Beauchamp matched his career-high in innings pitched (also had 6.0 vs. Northern Illinois on March 18).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lloyd, Matt (3-0)
L: Thompson, Ryan (7-3)
Batting:
RBI: Yalowitz, Jack 1
SH: Massey, Michael 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spillane, Bren 1
SB: Turchin, Doran 1

Batting:
2B: Houston, Jeremy 1
HR: Ashley, Drew 1
RBI: Gorski, Matt 1 ; Ashley, Drew 1
SH: Kaletha, Logan 1 ; Houston, Jeremy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kaletha, Logan 1 ; Ashley, Drew 1
HBP: Lloyd, Matt 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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