Saturday Sweep Secures Series

Saturday, April 15

Urbana-Champaign, Ill.

1:30 P.M.

Indiana University

24-11, 0

Illinois (Game 1)

15-16, 0

Indiana

Illinois

4/15/2023 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

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

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Don't tell the Indiana baseball team that one of the toughest things to do is sweep a doubleheader. The Hoosiers grabbed both games of the twinbill on Saturday (April 15) at Illinois to win its fourth-straight Big Ten series to open conference play in 2023.

In the first game, Indiana (25-11, 9-3 B1G) won a seesaw contest, 6-4, over Illinois (15-17, 4-8 B1G), before a decisive 16-3 victory in the nightcap. The doubleheader sweep is the third in three tries this season for IU in conference play and marked the fourth straight Big Ten series win for the Hoosiers.

In game one, each team scored four runs over the first three innings, with Indiana getting two in the first and two in the third. Illinois got two in the second inning and two in the third to knot the game at four heading to the fourth. The Hoosiers scored one in the fourth and one in the sixth to earn the win.

A scorching start to the series for sophomore Brock Tibbitts continued with a 4-for-5 day at the plate. He drove in four RBIs, a double and a home run. Sophomore Josh Pyne hit a home run and drove in two RBIs, while four other Indiana hitters posted multi-hit games. Seniors Hunter Jessee and Peter Serruto both collected three-hit games. Senior Phillip Glasser and freshman Devin Taylor both posted two-hit games.

Sophomore Ryan Kraft (4-1) scattered six hits over six scoreless innings of relief work to earn the victory. He struck out three and walked two in the outing and didn't allow a base runner to reach third base. Sophomore starting pitcher Luke Sinnard threw three innings and allowed four runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Game two saw Indiana jump out to an early lead with a five-run third inning. Illinois scored one in the bottom of the third, before IU scored nine straight to take control of the game, 14-1. Illinois put up one in the sixth and one in the seventh inning, before IU finished the scoring with two runs in the ninth.

Six Hoosier hitters posted multi-hit games, led by a 4-for-5 day at the plate for freshman Tyler Cerny. He scored three runs and hit his third home run of the season, all in Big Ten play. Taylor hit his eighth home run of the season and plated four RBIs in the second game, while Glasser had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored. Redshirt junior Bobby Whalen had two hits, sophomore Carter Mathison added two hits and Pyne chipped in two in the nightcap.

Junior Brooks Ey (1-0) got the win with six innings of work in the start. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out two batters. Ey did not walk a batter in the game in his first start for the Hoosiers.

Game One Scoring Recap
Top First
Bobby Whalen doubled with one out and came in to score on a Devin Taylor triple. Brock Tibbitts followed with an RBI single.
Indiana 2, at Illinois 0

Bottom Second
Ryan Moerman singled to start the inning and Jacob Schroeder homered to tie the game.
Indiana 2, at Illinois 2

Top Third
A one-out single from Tibbitts got the inning started and, after the second out was recorded, Josh Pyne hit a two-run home run to left field.
Indiana 4, at Illinois 2

Bottom Third
After the first two batters reached, a double play put two outs on the board with a runner on third. After a passed ball scored the first run of the inning, a walk and a single followed to put runners on the corner. A wild pitch scored the equalizer.
Indiana 4, at Illinois 4

Top Fourth
Phillip Glasser singled and move to second when Whalen was hit by a pitch. Tibbitts doubled with one out to drive in one RBI.
Indiana 5, at Illinois 4

Top Sixth
Tibbitts hit a one-out solo home run.
Indiana 6, at Illinois 4

Game Two Scoring Recap
Top Third
The first three batters reached base before Illinois got a force out at home plate for the first out. Devin Taylor followed with a grand slam. After a hit-by-pitch and single put two more runners on base, Josh Pyne added the fifth run of the inning with an RBI single.
Indiana 5, at Illinois 0

Bottom Third
Branden Comia doubled to right center field and moved to third on a Brody Hardin base hit. A double play ball pushed the run across.
Indiana 5, at Illinois 1

Top Fourth
A one-out double by Phillip Glasser got the inning going and Bobby Whalen brought him around with a base hit up the middle.
Indiana 6, at Illinois 1

Top Fifth
After the first batter was retired, seven straight batters reached safely and the Hoosiers got seven runs on six hits and benefitted from one Illinois error. Peter Serruto's double scored the first run and Glasser hit a three-run home run. Carter Mathison pushed one run across and Pyne drove in a pair of RBIs with a base hit. All seven runs scored with one out.
Indiana 13, at Illinois 1

Top Sixth
Tyler Cerny hit a solo home run to lead off the inning.
Indiana 14, at Illinois 1

Bottom Sixth
Cal Hejza singled to start the inning and moved to third on a Danny Doligale base hit. For the second time in the game, IU turned a double play that allowed a run to score.
Indiana 14, at Illinois 2

Bottom Seventh
Drake Westcott hit a solo home run to start the inning.
Indiana 14, at Illinois 3

Top Ninth
Whalen walked and Taylor doubled to put two runners on base. A wild pitch scored the first run of the inning and Mathison plated the second run with a base hit.
Indiana 16, at Illinois 3

Up Next
Seven of the next nine games will be played on Bart Kaufman Field and that begins with a midweek tussle with Louisville on Tuesday, April 18. The game will air on ESPNU and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.