Indiana Claims Season Opening Series Over Memphis

While snow falls in Indiana, the Hoosier baseball season is officially underway.

Although the weather played a role in the season opening series, IU and Memphis managed to get in three games this past weekend, with the Hoosiers coming out on top 2-1 in the series.

After Friday’s contest was postponed due to the conditions, the Hoosiers and Tigers played a doubleheader on Saturday in the cold, and then capped off the series on Sunday afternoon.

SATURDAY (GAME ONE) — INDIANA 6  MEMPHIS 1

Hoosier ace Pauly Milto picked up where he left off last year, throwing seven masterful innings.  The Greenwood, Indiana native gave up just two hits, and no runs or walks, while striking out seven.

IU broke through in the top of the fifth inning with four runs.  After consecutive Tiger errors, Matt Gorski, Justin Walker and Matt Lloyd all came up with hits to put Indiana up for good.

Lloyd had three hits for the game and drove in two.  Gorski added two hits, two RBIs and scored three times.

It was the first career victory at Indiana for new head coach Jeff Mercer.

Mercer spoke after the series about the Hoosiers’ start to the season:

SATURDAY (GAME TWO) — MEMPHIS 6  INDIANA 3

The Hoosiers struggled to produce runs in Tanner Gordon’s first career Division One start.  The Illinois native was solid in four innings of work.  The junior college transfer gave up three hits and one run while striking out six and walking just one batter.

But the bullpen couldn’t hold the Tigers down in this one.  Compounded by a critical error, IU’s relievers gave up five more Memphis runs before the Hoosiers could finally get on the board in the top of the ninth on a Cole Barr three-run home run.

Logan Kaletha had two hits for the game.

SUNDAY — INDIANA 6  MEMPHIS 0

Sophomore starter Tommy Sommer solidified his place in the rotation with an excellent outing on Sunday as IU claimed the series over Memphis.

Sommer, who started three games in 2018 as a freshman, pitched six shutout innings, giving up just five hits while striking out four and walking just one batter.

While the Hoosiers struggled to score in game two on Saturday, Gorski got things going immediately in the series finale with a lead-off home run in the first inning on the second pitch of the game.

Kaletha capped off a big weekend with a hit and three RBIs, and Drew Ashley and Jeremy Houston each delivered two hits.  Houston reached base three times and scored two runs on the day.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Hoosiers will head back to the Volunteer State for a weekend series in Knoxville against Tennessee.  The first pitch this Friday will be at 4:30 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday afternoon contests to follow.

Indiana’s first home game is February 26th against Cincinnati.

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