By: Thomas Nelshoppen of The Baseball Zealot
On the second day, we had three games on the docket, so let’s get straight to the action.
Indiana 10 Ohio State 8
In the first game, both teams were facing elimination and tension was a bit high both on the field and in the stands. By the time I got to Fisher Stadium in the top of the first, Indiana had already scored two runs. By the time I found a seat, Jake Hale had balked and Ohio head coach was having a conversation with the ump. Before the first inning was over, four Hoosier runs were across and I thought this would be a wash.
Not even close. Ohio State came back with two runs in the second and four in the third mostly against touted Hoosier hurler Matt Bashore. By the end of the game the lead would change seven times.
Tied 8-8 in the top of the 10th, a double by Andrew Means and a base hit by Chris Hervey drove in two runs which would prove to be the deciding runs.
Matt Carr who pitched the last 7 2/3 innings and allowed no earned runs got the win.
Purdue 15 Penn State 6
It looks like Purdue picked up from where they left off last weekend against Illinois. Boy, they can hit! They lit up Penn State starter Seth Whitehill for 9 runs in less than two innings . Matt Black was big star going 4 for 4 with 2 dingers and 6 rbis. Matt Lilly was 3 for 5 with a triple, 3 rbis and 2 runs.
I got to hand it to the PSU fans though. They kept it up throughout the game even when their team was by ten runs.
Michigan 5 Illinois 2
Finally, the game I was waiting for. I got to hand it to the starting pitchers. Illinois’ Scott Shaw and Michigan’s Zach Putnam both pitched their hearts out. By the top of the seventh, it was 2-1 Illinois and I thought Illinois might pull it out but Michigan found their bats.
With a double by Ryan Lamarre, and two walks (one intentional to Nate Recknagel), Adam Abraham drove in two with a base hit. Abraham later scored on a hit by Derek Van Buskirk.
Michigan added an insurance run in the 8th to make it 5-2 the final score. Putnam’s win brings his record to 8-0 for the year.
Next up:
Illinois faces Indiana in an elimination game at noon on Friday. The winner of that game faces Penn State in the later afternoon game.
Friday night, Michigan and Purdue, who both look to be the heavy favorites in my book, face off.
