Streak Continues After Sweep of Buckeyes

Sunday, March 26

Bloomington, Ind.

11 A.M.

Indiana University

16-7, 2-0

Ohio State (Game 1)

12-9, 0-2

Ohio State

Indiana

3/26/2023 8:05:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game One Box Score (PDF)Game Two Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Opportunity presented itself in a lot of ways on Sunday (March 26) at Bart Kaufman Field and the Indiana baseball program capitalized on each one to sweep a doubleheader against Ohio State and earn a three-game sweep of its Big Ten opening series. The Hoosiers took game one 9-6 before winning the nightcap 7-5 to earn its first sweep in conference play since 2021.

In game one, Ohio State (12-10, 0-3 B1G) struck with three in the top of the third inning, before Indiana (17-7, 3-0 B1G) put up five runs in the bottom of the frame. The Buckeyes scored one in the sixth and two in the seventh inning to retake the lead, 6-5, but a three-run home run from redshirt senior Matthew Ellis in the bottom of the seventh and one insurance run in the eighth to secure the 9-6 victory.

The scoring in game two got started with three runs in the third inning for Indiana, before Ohio State broke through with a single run in the fourth inning. Three more for the Hoosiers extended the lead, before the Buckeyes got back three runs in the sixth. IU added a single run in the eighth and OSU plated one in the ninth to account for the final margin of 7-5.

Indiana was one of two Big Ten teams to get out of the opening weekend with a 3-0 record to sit tied atop the Big Ten standings with Michigan. The seven straight wins for the Hoosiers is tied for the seventh longest active streak nationally and second longest in the Big Ten behind Iowa's nine-game winning streak.

With 14 straight home victories to start 2023, Indiana ranks No. 3 nationally in home winning streaks. Dating back to 2022, the streak sits at 15 games, the longest home winning streak at Bart Kaufman Field, and is the second longest streak since at least 1985 in program history. It trails the 19-straight home wins from the 1987 squad at Sembower Field.

Five hitters posted multi-hit games in the opening game of the doubleheader. Ellis had a pair of hits and drove in four RBIs – including the three-run go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. Sophomore Brock Tibbitts doubled twice, drove in two RBIs and scored a pair of runs. Freshman Devin Taylor was on base three times with a base hit and two walks to go along with one run scored.

The second game saw redshirt junior Bobby Whalen and senior Hunter Jessee join the multi-hit parade as the due each posted a pair of hits and scored two runs. Jessee added one RBI in the game. Taylor added his fourth home run of the season and drove in two RBIs, while Josh Pyne doubled and drove in three RBIs in the contest. Senior Phillip Glasser walked three times in the nightcap to move his reached base streak to 24 games.

Sophomore Luke Sinnard took a no decision in the first game of the day after working six innings with four runs allowed on eight hits. He struck out eight and walked just one. Redshirt senior Craig Yoho (3-0) earned the win with 2 1/3 innings scoreless. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out six batters.

The second game saw three scoreless innings from starting pitcher junior Seti Manase, but it was sophomore Luke Hayden (1-0) who earned the win in relief. The right-hander tossed the final 3 1/3 innings with one run allowed on one hit. He allowed just a solo home run and one walk and stranded a runner on third base in the sixth inning.

For Ohio State, Kade Kern was 5-for-9 on the day with three runs scored and one RBI. Three of his five hits went for extra bases. Nick Erwin had three hits over the two games with a pair of doubles and one RBI, while Mitchell Okuley collected a pair of RBIs and hit one or three OSU home runs on the day.

Game One Scoring Recap
Top Third
After the first two batters were retired, Kade Kern doubled and moved to third on an error in front of a two-run home run from Marcus Ernst. Matthew Graveline walked and came around to score on a Hank Thomas double down the right field line.
Ohio State 3, Indiana 0

Bottom Third
The first six batters reached base safely and five came in to score as Indiana sent 10 batters to the plate in the frame. Phillip Glasser walked, and Josh Pyne and Devin Taylor followed with singles to load the bases. Brock Tibbitts drove in the first two runs of the game with a double. Tyler Cerny drove in the third run of the frame and an error allowed the fourth run to cross. Bobby Whalen's sacrifice fly capped the scoring.
Indiana 5, Ohio State 3

Top Sixth
Ohio State strung together three straight hits to start the inning, but a pair of baserunning mistakes limited the Buckeyes to just one run. The run came on a Nick Erwin doubled down the left field line to score Hank Thomas from first.
Indiana 5, Ohio State 4

Top Seventh
A one-out solo home run from Mitchell Okuley off of reliever Aydan Decker-Petty to tie the game. After Decker-Petty got a strikeout, he walked the next two batters and Craig Yoho entered with two on and two outs. An errant throw on a pickoff attempt allowed the second Buckeye run to score.
Ohio State 6, Indiana 5

Bottom Seventh
Carter Mathison doubled, Cerny singled and Matthew Ellis followed with a three-run home run to center field.
Indiana 8, Ohio State 6

Bottom Eighth
Tibbitts doubled to start the inning and came around to score on an Ellis single with two outs.
Indiana 9, Ohio State 6

Game Two Scoring Recap
Bottom Third
Bobby Whalen and Hunter Jessee led off the inning with a pair of singles and Josh Pyne grounded out to score the first run of the game. Devin Taylor then hit a two-run home run to right field to plate two more runs.
Indiana 3, Ohio State 0

Top Fourth
A leadoff hit-by-pitch came around to score on a Caden Kaiser sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
Indiana 3, Ohio State 1

Bottom Fifth
Whalen singled to start the inning and came around to score from first on a Jessee double. After a walk to Phillip Glasser, Pyne doubled to push across two more.
Indiana 6, Ohio State 1

Top Sixth
After a flyout started the inning, four straight Buckeye hitters reached base and three came across to score. Nick Erwin doubled to start the frame and moved to third on a single from Kaiser. Back-to-back walks, the second of the RBI variety to Mitchell Okuley, pushed the first run of the inning across. An RBI groundout from Trey Lipsey pushed the second run across and a wild pitch allowed one more to score.
Indiana 6, Ohio State 4

Bottom Eighth
Brock Tibbitts walked, moved to second on a hit-by-pitch to Tyler Cerny and came in to score on a Matthew Ellis single.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 4

Top Ninth
Kade Kern hit a solo home run left field with one out.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 5

Up Next
Indiana hosts Kent State on Tuesday (March 28) at 6 p.m. to close out an eight-game home stand. The game can be seen on B1G+ and heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.