Hoosiers Fall in Opener at Michigan State

Thursday, May 18

East Lansing, Mich.

8 P.M.

Indiana University

39-15, 15-7

Michigan State

31-19, 11-11

Indiana

Michigan State

5/18/2023 11:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –Michigan State scored six runs in its final three innings and handed the Indiana baseball program an 8-6 loss on Thursday (May 19) evening at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.

A pair of two-out runs for Indiana (39-14, 15-6 B1G) opened the scoring before Michigan State (30-19, 10-11 B1G) tied the game on a two-run home run. The Hoosiers scored one in the fourth and one in the fifth, before the Spartans plated three runs in the sixth to take its first lead. Two MSU runs in the seventh and one in the eighth were scored before IU tallied two in the ninth.

Sophomore Luke Sinnard (6-3) struck out 10 batters over 5 2/3 innings of work to move his season total 104 punchouts on the year and move into a tie for No. 5 with Dan Ferrell (104; 1996) on the single season charts. He is the seventh Indiana pitcher to reach the century mark and moved past Jonathan Stiever (97; 2018), McCade Brown (97; 2021), Andrew Saalfrank (98; 2019), Pauly Milto (100; 2019) in the game. He allowed five runs on eight hits with two walks in the loss.

Eight of the nine Hoosier starters collected hits in the game and all nine reached base at least once. Sophomores Carter Mathison and Brock Tibbitts each posted two-hit games, while seniors Hunter Jessee and Peter Serruto also chipped in two hits apiece.

Redshirt junior Bobby Whalen posted a multi-RBI game with two runs batted in, while Jessee and sophomore Josh Pyne chipped in the only two extra base hits for IU with doubles.

For Michigan State, Dillon Kark had three hits, scored one run and drove in one RBI. The top two hitters in the Spartan lineup had three RBIs, with Jack Frank going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI and Trent Farquhar hit a home run as part of a two-hit night. Relief pitcher Joseph Dzierwa (6-3) got the win with 3 1/3 innings of one-run work. Wyatt Rush (9) picked up his ninth save of the season with two runs allowed on three hits in two innings.

Scoring Recap
Top Second
With one out, Hunter Jessee and Tyler Cerny singled. A two-out walk to Phillip Glasser loaded the bases and Bobby Whalen's base hit scored two.
Indiana 2, at Michigan State 0

Bottom Third
A one out single from Jack Frank was followed by a Trent Farquhar home run.
Indiana 2, at Michigan State 2

Top Fourth
Cerny was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a Peter Serruto single. Glasser followed with a groundout to push the run across.
Indiana 3, at Michigan State 2

Top Fifth
Josh Pyne doubled with two outs and Jessee drove him home with a double of his own.
Indiana 4, at Michigan State 2

Bottom Sixth
Alternating singles and strikeouts started the inning before a walk loaded the bases with two outs against Indiana starting pitcher Luke Sinnard. After Ryan Kraft entered, Frank doubled to clear the bases.
at Michigan State 5, Indiana 4

Bottom Seventh
A hit-by-pitch and a single put two runners on base with one out. A Dillon Kark base hits scored the first run of the inning and Casey Mayes' sacrifice fly scored the second.
at Michigan State 7, Indiana 4

Bottom Eighth
A single and a pair of wild pitches moved Frank to third base and Farquhar drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
at Michigan State 8, Indiana 4

Top Ninth
Devin Taylor and Brock Tibbitts singled with one out and Carter Mathison singled to score the first run of the inning. Pyne followed with a sacrifice fly, before the final out was recorded.
at Michigan State 8, Indiana 6

Up Next
Game two of the series between Indiana and Michigan State will also begin at 8 p.m. and air on the Big Ten Network. It will also be carried on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.