Hoosiers Fall in Big Ten Opener

Friday, March 22

Bloomington, Ind.

6:00 PM

Indiana University

11-11, 0

Illinois

9-11, 0

Illinois

Indiana

3/22/2024 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After taking a 1-0 lead, the Indiana Baseball team (11-11, 0-1) fell victim to a massive eight-run sixth inning as visiting Illinois (9-11, 1-0) cruised to a 9-1 victory on Friday (March 22) evening at Bart Kaufman Field. This was the first home Big Ten opener the Hoosiers have lost since 2018.

Sophomore shortstop Tyler Cerny handed IU a one-run lead after a sacrifice fly to the right fielder in the fifth inning but Illinois jumped all over relievers Ty Bothwell (L, 2-1) and Julian Tonghini in the ensuing frame. The Hoosiers conceded eight runs, five which came with two outs, as Illinois built a substantial lead to hand over to left-handed reliever Regan Hall. Hall pitched the final four innings as the IU bats went down quietly to finish out the Friday contest.

IU had just four hits on the evening with two of those coming off the bat of junior outfielder Carter Mathison. Junior infielder Brock Tibbitts reached twice on a pair of hit-by-pitches but IU stranded 10 base runners in the contest including two in the fifth and seventh innings.

The two teams will return tomorrow afternoon (2:00 PM) for the middle game in a three-game set. IU will turn the ball over to sophomore flamethrower Connor Foley as it looks to even up the series in Bloomington and pick up the first Big Ten win of the year.

Scoring Recap
Bottom Fifth
Tyler Cerny broke the deadlock in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Cerny hit a sacrifice fly to the right fielder to drive in Morgan Colopy.
Indiana 1, Illinois 0

Top Sixth
Illinois did nearly all its damage in the sixth, batting all the way around its order and then some. After the first two batters reached, Vytas Valincius doubled to left field to drive Drake Westcott and Camden Janik in to score. Cal Hezja grounded out to the second baseman to drive in a third. The Illini did the rest of its damage with two outs. Connor Milton hit a slow roller to third base to score Ryan Moerman before Janik got hit by a pitch with the bases juiced. A pair of singles from Westcott and Valincius drove in three more insurance runs.
Illinois 8, Indiana 1

Top Seventh
Brody Harding tacked on another run for the Illini, singling past the outstretched arm of Jasen Oliver at second base.
Illinois 9, Indiana 1

Top Hoosier Performers
#3 Mathison, Carter
2-3, 1 BB

#2 Oliver, Jasen
1-3, 1 BB

Up Next
IU continues its three-game set with Illinois tomorrow at Bart Kaufman Field with a first pitch of 2:00 PM. The contest will be streamed on BTN+ or can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio. It will be free admission.