Indiana fell 6-1 to Michigan on Sunday after winning 13-8 on Saturday but losing 10-3 on Friday, dropping the series to the Wolverines. The Hoosiers are now 24-12, which puts them a game behind Nebraska at 25-11 for first place in the Big Ten baseball standings, and in a virtual tie with 25-13 Michigan for second in the league.
Indiana right-hander Gabe Bierman struck out six batters in 7 1/3 innings on Sunday and kept the Hoosiers within striking distance into the eighth inning when they trailed 3-1. However, Michigan scored three runs on a bloop double by Wolverines left fielder Tito Flores and a two-run throwing error by Indiana second baseman Paul Toetz to go up by five runs and effectively put the game away. Indiana right fielder Morgan Colopy was responsible for the Hoosiers’ only run with a fifth-inning home run over the right field wall.
In Saturday’s win, Indiana outfielder Grant Richardson homered, scored three runs and drove in four runs and first baseman Kip Fougerousse went 3 for 4 with a triple and four RBIs. Third baseman Cole Barr went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and second baseman Paul Toetz drove in two runs and scored two runs. Center fielder Drew Ashley had two hits, three runs and an RBI. Right-hander McCade Brown struck out seven batters in six innings in which he gave up three runs on three hits.
On Friday, Michigan chased Indiana left-hander Tommy Sommer in the third inning and got home runs from catcher Griffin Mazur, second baseman Ted Burton and right fielder Clark Elliott. Mazur drove in four runs on two hits and left fielder Tito Flores went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Cole Barr had two hits and two RBIs in the loss.
Indiana has eight games remaining on its schedule. The Hoosiers play a makeup game at home against Illinois Tuesday at 3 p.m. They play Nebraska at home Friday and Saturday, then Ohio State at home next Sunday and Monday May 24. They finish the season at Maryland May 28-30.
