Hoosiers' Big Ten Title Hopes Vanish After 3-1 Loss to League-Leader Nebraska
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana still had a chance to get back into the Big Ten race on Saturday against Nebraska, but the Cornhuskers had just one thing to say about that.
No chance.
They let their Chance – starting pitcher Chance Hroch – do all the talking for them. He threw a brilliant three-hitter for Nebraska, allowing only a ninth-inning home run to Grant Richardson with two out. He allowed two other harmless singles and struck out 10 while walking only one. He improved is record to 5-1.
"He did a really good job. He pitched a tremendous game and we weren't able to adjust nearly well enough,'' Indiana coach Jeff Mercer said. "We let too many get-me-over curveballs come in for strikes and we rolled over on lot of pitches.''
The loss eliminated the Hoosiers (24-16) from the Big Ten race. They are now four games out with four to go, but Nebraska plays Michigan next week, who's also ahead of the Hoosiers. There is no way they can pass both.
The Hoosiers are 1-5 in their past six games, losing two of three last weekend at Michigan, falling to Illinois on Tuesday in the makeup of a rained-out game and now these two to the Cornhuskers.
McCade Brown (5-3) took the loss for the Hoosiers. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs, one each in the first two innings, but was otherwise effective. "He battled and had a good start,'' Mercer said. He threw 97 pitches and allowed five hits and three walks while striking out eight.
Indiana got solid relief pitching to stay in the game late. Braden Scott pitched the sixth and gave up a run, but John Modugno was perfect in the seventh, striking out two batters, and Connor Manous pitched the final two innings, striking out four.
The relievers gave Indiana a chance to get back in the game, but no rallies materialized.
"Both John and Connor were great, and hats off to Connor as he's battled through his rehab. He had surgery and came back, but it flared up on him and he's been working very hard to get back into shape and get back on the mound.
"He got back and was really good, and John was really good, too. The bullpen gave us a chance. They did everything they could do to give the offense time to adjust, and it was frustrating for them, for the staff, that we couldn't get back in it. Those guys tonight did a really good job for us.''
But Indiana's bats couldn't muster any sort of attack. Richardson's homer in the ninth was the only threat all day. In the five losses during this recent downturn, they have scored a total of 12 runs.
That doesn't cut it in a conference race. Nor will it cut it to get a spot in the 64-team NCAA Tournament field. The Hoosiers are in this week's projected bracket, but Mercer thinks they still need some wins down the stretch. The bracket will be announced on Monday, May 31.
"I think we probably still have more work to do,'' Mercer said. "With what we've done to this point, we've had some really good wins and had some times where we struggled. We're going to need to take care of our business in these last five games.''
The Hoosiers are back at in Sunday night, taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes at Bart Kaufman Field. The game starts at 5 p.m. ET and is being televised on the Big Ten Network. They meet again on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Indiana closes out the regular season at Maryland in a three-game set next weekend.
Related stories on Indiana baseball
- NEBRASKA WINS OPENER (Friday): Nebraska gets to Indiana early and cruises to an 8-5 win in the opener of their two-game series on Friday night. CLICK HERE
- TOM BREW COLUMN: Indiana rolled the dice on Friday night, hoping that Tommy Sommer's finger would hold up. It didn't and now the Hoosiers are in a deep hole. CLICK HERE
- MERCER UPSET NO FANS: Indiana baseball coach Jeff Mercer sounded off about the university not updated its policy on allowing fans for this final weekend of the season. CLICK HERE
- BIG TEN STANDINGS, SCHEDULE: Indiana took a half-game lead in the Big Ten, barely ahead of Nebraska and Michigan. Here's the latest, plus this weekend's critical schedule. CLICK HERE
- INDIANA SCHEDULE: Here is Indiana's complete schedule for the season, including links to game stories from Tom Brew for every game this season. CLICK HERE