Foley Delivers Career Day

Saturday, March 23

Bloomington, Ind.

2:00 PM

Indiana University

12-11, 0

Illinois

9-12, 0

Illinois

Indiana

3/23/2024 6:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In a time where it needed it most, the Indiana Baseball team (12-11, 1-1) received a career performance from sophomore right-hander Connor Foley (W, 2-1) on Saturday (March 23) afternoon at Bart Kaufman Field. The Jasper, Ind. native delivered seven scoreless innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts, limiting the Illinois lineup to just two hits in the 8-1 victory.

Foley gave IU a career high in innings (7.0), strikeouts (10) and pitches (103), handing over a 4-0 lead to the bullpen in the eighth inning. The Hoosiers added insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth as a sacrifice bunt and heads up base running allowed four more runs to score. Fellow sophomore Brayden Risedorph finished off the contest with two innings of one-hit ball.

Junior outfielder Nick Mitchell and freshmen infielders Jasen Oliver and Joey Brenczewski all had two-hit days. Junior third baseman Josh Pyne's two-run double in the third inning was the effective go-ahead hit on the afternoon as Foley cruised through the Illinois lineup with the lead.

The three hits conceded by Foley and Risedorph are the fewest allowed by the Hoosier pitching staff this season. It limited Illinois' offense to just one run, the fewest given up since a win over Baylor (6-1) on February 24th. Foley's 10-strikeout day was the first double-digit strikeout effort from an IU pitcher since Luke Sinnard in May of 2023 against Michigan State.

IU will have a chance to win the opening Big Ten series for the second-straight season in tomorrow's rubber match against Illinois. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM at Bart Kaufman Field.

Scoring Recap
Bottom Third
Josh Pyne opened the scoring with a two-out, two-run double to left field to score Devin Taylor and Nick Mitchell. This hit served as the eventual winning hit with IU leading the rest of the way.
Indiana 2, Illinois 0

Bottom Sixth
A nice piece of hitting and an RBI-single from Joey Brenczewski allowed Mitchell to add some breathing room with the third run of the contest.
Indiana 3, Illinois 0

Bottom Seventh
Mitchell added a fourth run with a sacrifice fly to the center fielder to score Tyler Cerny.
Indiana 4, Illinois 0

Top Eighth
Illinois got one back in the eighth. Jacob Schroeder singled through the right side on a ball hit off the end of the bat, allowing Coltin Quagliano to score from second.
Indiana 4, Illinois 1

Bottom Eighth
A handful of Illinois mistakes and heads up baserunning from Carter Mathison allowed IU to effectively put the game to rest in the eighth. Brandon Burckel laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. It was thrown away by the third baseman as Jasen Oliver and Sam Murrison scored. Burckel advanced to third on the throw. Cerny put down a bunt of his own to score Burckel. Later in the inning, Mathison stole home with the pitcher not paying attention.
Indiana 8, Illinois 1

Top Hoosier Performers
#14 Foley, Connor
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 10 K

#20 Mitchell, Nick
2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI

Notes to Know
• Connor Foley's 10-strikeout day was the first double-digit strikeout effort from an IU pitcher since Luke Sinnard (10) at Michigan State on May 18, 2023.

• Josh Pyne recorded the 178th hit of his college career. His two-run double served as the go-ahead play on the afternoon, his first game-winning play of the season.

• Devin Taylor collected his team-leading 34th hit of the season. He is followed closely by Tyler Cerny (32) and Brock Tibbitts (32).

Up Next
IU continues its three-game set with Illinois tomorrow at Bart Kaufman Field with a first pitch of 1:00 PM. The rubber match will decide the series and the contest will be streamed on BTN+ or can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.