Series Opening Comeback Complete

Thursday, March 9

Bloomington, Ind.

2 P.M.

Indiana University

7-6

Bellarmine

5-8

Bellarmine

Indiana

3/9/2023 6:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For the first time in 2023, the Indiana baseball team rallied from a deficit after six innings in a 5-3 victory over Bellarmine on Thursday (March 9) at Bart Kaufman Field.

A single run in the third inning and two runs in the fifth pushed Bellarmine (5-8) out to a 3-0 lead. Indiana (7-6) got a run back in the seventh inning and then scored four runs in the eighth for the comeback victory.

Freshman Brayden Risedorph (ND) made his first career start and allowed one unearned run over four innings of work. He allowed four hits, did not issue a walk, and struck out four batters. Freshman Evan Whiteaker struck out three over 2 2/3 innings scoreless innings of work out of the bullpen.

With a scoreless eighth inning of work, freshman Connor Foley (1-0) earned his first career win and sophomore Ryan Kraft (3) allowed a single in the ninth but shut the door for his third save of the season.

The offense hat just five hits over the first six innings and stranded six runners during that span, before senior Peter Serruto hit a solo home run to left field in the seventh inning. IU had four hits and six total base runners over the final two frames.

Sophomore Brock Tibbitts provided a pair of hits in the contest with one RBI and redshirt junior Bobby Whalen's lone hit was a two-RBI double down the right field line to give IU the lead. Freshman Tyler Cerny provided the insurance run with a sacrifice fly. Seniors Phillip Glasser (two hits) and Hunter Jessee (three hits) both posted multi-hit games, while freshmen Josh Pyne and Carter Mathison each walked to start the eighth inning and scored.

Bellarmine starting pitcher Nolan Pender (ND) fired seven one-run innings with five strikeouts. He exited after allowing seven hits – six of those singles – with two walks and five strikeouts. Matt Craven (1-2) took the loss with four runs allowed on two hits and two walks in one inning. Peyton Back drove in all three RBIs for the Knights with a pair of hits. Dylan Byerly and Tommy Dilz each had three hits in the game, and Reed Blaszczyk had two hits and scored two runs.

Scoring Recap
Top Third
A one out base hit from Reed Blaszczyk was followed by two errors to move the runner to third. A fielder's choice from Back drove in the first run of the game.
Bellarmine 1, Indiana 0

Top Fifth
After reliever Cooper Hellman recorded the first out, Blaszczyk and Tommy Dilz singled and moved to second and third, respectively, on a passed ball. Back followed with a base hit to score two runs.
Bellarmine 3, Indiana 0

Bottom Seventh
Peter Serruto hit a solo home run to left field with two outs.
Bellarmine 3, Indiana 1

Bottom Eighth
The first three base runners reached against reliever Matt Craven with Josh Pyne and Carter Mathison each working walks to start the inning. Brock Tibbitts doubled down the right field line to score the first run of the game and Bobby Whalen ripped a two-run double to five IU the lead. Tyler Cerny capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Indiana 5, Bellarmine 3

Up Next
Indiana and Bellarmine continue the series with a single game on Friday, March 10. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. and can be seen on B1G+ and heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.