A Grand Comeback

Tuesday, May 17

Bloomington, Ind.

6 P.M.

Indiana University

Illinois State

5/17/2022 11:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Tibbitts drive in game-winner, Ellis follows with grand slam to complete comeback

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Exactly one year to the day from surgery, redshirt-sophomore David Platt earned the victory on the mound as he tossed a scoreless top of the eighth inning versus Illinois State and then watched as the offense scored seven runs in the bottom of the frame to rally for a 12-7 victory on Tuesday (May 17) at Bart Kaufman Field.

In the final home game of the season, Illinois State (19-27) scored the first three runs of the game with two in the third and one in the fourth, before Indiana (24-27) got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the fourth. Two Redbird runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings was offset by one Hoosier run in the fifth and two in the sixth. Sitting at 7-5 in favor of ISU after a scoreless seventh inning, Indiana put up seven runs in the eighth to rally for the win.

While it was redshirt-junior Matt Ellis' grand slam that capped the scoring in the seventh, freshman Brock Tibbitts' infield single with two outs that gave Indiana its first lead of the game just before the blast. Tibbitts had the one RBI in the eighth to go along with two runs scored and two walks, while Ellis drove in six and added a double earlier in the game.

All nine starters reached base at least once in the game as Ellis, senior Phillip Glasser and junior Hunter Jessee each posted two-hit games. Jessee scored three runs and stole one base, while Glasser added a stolen base, run scored and two RBIs in the contest.

Seven pitchers combined to allowed seven runs on 15 hits for Indiana, with four of them throwing scoreless innings. Freshman Luke Hayden tossed a scoreless first inning, while three relievers each tossed scoreless innings to close out the game. Junior Nathan Stahl allowed two hits in his scoreless inning, before Platt (1-0) fired a scoreless inning to earn the win. Freshman Ryan Kraft struck out the side in the ninth to close the door on the victory.

For Illinois State, Nick Gile and Luke Cheng each collected three hits and Jake McCaw and Kayden Beauregard chipped in two hits apiece. Cheng scored three times, while Gile and McCaw each drove in two RBIs. Erik Kubiatowicz (3-4) was the tough-luck loser with three runs allowed on two walks and one hit batter in one-third of an inning.

Scoring Recap – Game One
Top Third
Back-to-back doubles started the inning and opened the scoring, before a Jake McCaw sacrifice fly plated the second run of the inning.
Illinois State 2, at Indiana 0

Top Fourth
With two outs and a runner on second, Kayden Beauregard singled to plate the run.
Illinois State 3, at Indiana 0

Bottom Fourth
A single by Hunter Jessee, hit-by-pitch to Carter Mathison and error on ISU loaded the bases with one out for Indiana. Matthew Ellis grounded out to score the first run of the game and Evan Goforth reached on an infield single to drive in the second run of the inning.
Illinois State 3, at Indiana 2

Top Fifth
The first three batters reached base as a single and two walks loaded the bases. After two outs, Nick Gile's base hit scored a pair of runs.
Illinois State 5, at Indiana 2

Bottom Fifth
Jessee singled and stole second base with one out and Phillip Glasser singled to bring him around to score.
Illinois State 5, at Indiana 3

Top Sixth
Three singled loaded the bases with one out and a wild pitch allowed the first run to score. McCaw then singled to drive in the second run of the inning.
Illinois State 7, at Indiana 3

Bottom Sixth
Brock Tibbitts singled and Ellis brought him home with a double down the right-field line. A wild pitch moved Ellis to third and Tyler Doanes plated the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
Illinois State 7, at Indiana 5

Bottom Eighth
Ten batters came to the plate in the inning and seven of them scored. An out started the inning in front of two walks and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Jessee and Glasser followed with walks to push the first two runs across. After the second out was recorded, Tibbitts beat out an infield single to shortstop to give IU the lead, 8-7, in front of Ellis' grand slam.
at Indiana 12, Illinois State 7

Up Next
The final weekend of the regular season will take the Hoosiers to Iowa City for a three-game series at Iowa. The two teams will kick off the series on Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. ET.