Hoosiers Fall to No. 9 Commodores

Tuesday, March 12

Nashville, Tenn.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

9-7

#9 Vanderbilt

15-3

Indiana

Vanderbilt

3/12/2024 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Trailing by eight runs through two innings, the Indiana Baseball team (9-7) faced a deficit it could not erase on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field; falling to No. 9 Vanderbilt 13-5.

A pitching staff, stretched thin through injury and a run of eight games in 10 days, got hit early and often by Vanderbilt's potent offense. Redshirt freshman Jacob Vogel and freshman Ryan Rushing helped manage the damage in innings five through seven, allowing just one run, to keep the contest going. Rushing went three innings and struck out three batters.

IU closed the deficit after scoring four runs in the fourth inning but the Commodores responded with the next five runs to expand their comfortable lead. Junior catcher Brock Tibbitts finished with a pair of hits while freshman infielder Jasen Oliver connected on his first career hit.

The Hoosiers return home on Wednesday night against Illinois State, hoping to kick start a run of wins at Bart Kaufman Field this week.

Scoring Recap
Bottom First
Vanderbilt jumped on the board early as the first five batters stepped to the plate and recorded hits. Davis Diaz doubled to score the first run of the game. Three-consecutive singles off of IU starter Seti Manase helped put the Commodores up six after the first inning of work.
Vanderbilt 6, Indiana 0

Bottom Second
Designated hitter Alan Espinal got a hold of a pitch low in the zone from IU reliever Grant Holderfield, driving a two-run home run into the left field bleachers to extend Vanderbilt's lead.
Vanderbilt 8, Indiana 0

Top Fourth
The Hoosiers cracked into the Vanderbilt lead, bringing all nine batters to the plate. Tyler Cerny, Joey Brenczewski, Morgan Colopy and Cal Sefcik all drove in runs to get back in the ballgame.
Vanderbilt 8, Indiana 4

Bottom Fourth
Vanderbilt answered IU's four runs with four of its own in the bottom of the inning, extending the lead back out to eight runs. Matthew Polk took IU reliever Eli Shaw deep into left field for the Commodores' second home run of the game.
Vanderbilt 12, Indiana 4

Bottom Seventh
RJ Austin singled into center field, driving Jonathan Vastine around to score.
Vanderbilt 13, Indiana 4

Top Eighth
Nick Mitchell drove in the fifth run of the game for IU, grounding out to the shortstop as Tyler Cerny came around to score.
Vanderbilt 13, Indiana 5

Notes to Know
• Junior infielder Brock Tibbitts recorded the 165th and 166th hits of his collegiate career on Saturday. He also extended his streak of consecutive starts, without missing a game, to 135 games. Tibbitts now has six multi-hit games on the year.

• Junior infielder Josh Pyne tallied the 171st of his career, moving closer to the 200-hit plateau in Bloomington. He's hitting a collective .312 across three seasons at IU.

• Freshman pitcher Ryan Rushing threw a career-high three innings, striking out three batters while conceding just two hits and one run. Redshirt freshman pitcher Jacob Vogel also added a scoreless inning and relief.

• Freshman infielder Jasen Oliver recorded his first career hit, singling off the left field wall in the eighth inning.

Top Hoosier Performers
#9 Tibbitts, Brock
2-5, 1 R

#34 Rushing, Ryan
3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1. ER

Up Next
IU returns home to meet Illinois State for a second midweek contest this week. The contest will be available via BTN+ or can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.