B1G Opening Comeback

Saturday, March 25

Bloomington, Ind.

1 P.M.

Indiana University

Ohio State

3/25/2023 5:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After six Ohio State runs in the first inning, the Indiana baseball program scored the next 14 on its way to a 14-6 win in the Big Ten opener on Saturday (March 25) at Bart Kaufman Field. The come-from-behind victory ran the Hoosiers' winning streak to five games overall and marked the 12th straight win at home to start 2023.

After Ohio State (12-8, 0-1 B1G) out to an early six-run lead after a half inning, Indiana (15-7, 0-0 B1G) used three in the second inning, one in the third inning and four in the fourth inning to take the lead back. Two more runs in the fifth and four in the eighth capped the scoring.

The first career home run for freshman Tyler Cerny highlighted the game, as the rookie was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Along with the home run, he doubled and stole one base in the contest. Redshirt senior Matthew Ellis and sophomore Brock Tibbitts each homered as part of multi-hit games, as well.

Tibbitts drove in four RBIs in a 3-for-4 day at the plate, Ellis had a pair of hits with one RBI and freshman Devin Taylor was 2-for-3 with two walks, one run scored and three RBIs. All nine starters for Indiana had at least one hit and scored at least one run, including senior Phillip Glasser, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games and his reached base streak to 22 games in the process.

Graduate student Gabe Levy (1-2) came on with the bases loaded in the top of the first inning and worked the four innings with two runs – one earned – allowed on three hits to earn the win. He walked two and struck out two to earn his first victory for the Cream and Crimson.

Four more relief innings were thrown by sophomore Ryan Kraft, who didn't allow a run in his outing. He scattered four hits and three walks and struck out three batters in the outing. Freshman Evan Whiteaker got the start and did not factor into the decision after four runs allowed on four walks without recording an out.

For Ohio State, Nick Erwin went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the contest and Marcus Ernst walked three times and scored one run. Henry Kaczmar chipped in a pair of hits and one RBI in the game, as well. The loss went to starting pitcher Isaiah Coupet (3-2) with 10 runs allowed on 10 hits over four innings of work.

Scoring Recap
Top First
Four straight walks started the game to push the first run across against IU starting pitcher Evan Whiteaker. The first RBI went to Cole Andrews via a bases loaded walk and Matthew Graveline followed with a walk to push the second run across. Nick Erwin drove in a pair of runs with a base hit and Henry Kaczmar singled to drive in the fifth run of the frame. An error allowed the sixth run of the inning to cross.
Ohio State 6, Indiana 0

Bottom Second
A leadoff home run from Brock Tibbitts was followed by a Carter Mathison base hit and Tyler Cerny RBI double. After Cerny stole third base, Bobby Whalen pushed the third run of the inning across with a ground out.
Ohio State 6, Indiana 3

Bottom Third
Three straight singles started the inning with Josh Pyne and Devin Taylor getting things started in front of Tibbitts' RBI base hit.
Ohio State 6, Indiana 4

Bottom Fourth
Five straight batters reached base with one out as Pyne drove in the first RBI with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and Taylor followed with a two-RBI single. Tibbitts added his third RBI of the afternoon with a sacrifice fly.
Indiana 8, Ohio State 6

Bottom Fifth
Cerny started the inning with a solo home run to center field and Matthew Ellis followed with a solo home run to right field.
Indiana 10, Ohio State 6

Bottom Fifth
The first three runners reached base and Taylor walked to push the first run across. Tibbitts singled to bring the next run across. An error on the play allowed the third run of the inning to score. Mathison plated the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly.
Indiana 14, Ohio State 6

Up Next
Indiana and Ohio State will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 26 starting at 11 a.m. Both games can be seen on B1G+ and heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.