March 31, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Brad Hartong hit the go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning, one of three straight two-run inning to end the game, pacing the Indiana Hoosiers to an 11-7 midweek win over Kentucky, on a perfect Tuesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (18-11) and Indiana battled in a back-and-forth midweek tilt, with IU opening up with two unearned runs in the second inning, before UK rallied with five runs in the bottom of the inning on six hits. The teams traded runs in the third, with IU scoring twice in the fifth and UK once in the bottom of the fifth. With UK holding a 7-5 lead, IU got a two-run inning in the seventh and the two-run homer from Hartong in the eighth to take the lead.
The UK offensive attack collected 15 hits in the game, with junior leftfielder Ka’ai Tom and senior third baseman Thomas Bernal each collecting three hits. Marcus Carson, JaVon Shelby and Evan White each had two-hit performances, with White extending his hitting streak to a club-high 12 games.
UK freshman starter Zach Pop, making his second career start, worked 2.2 innings, allowing four hits and three runs — two earned — walking one. After an infield hit in the third inning, UK turned to lefty Dylan Dwyer in relief with two outs. Dwyer tossed 2.1 innings, allowing five hits and two runs — one earned — not issuing a walk and striking out four. Freshman southpaw Brad Schaenzer took over to start the sixth inning, hurling 1.1 innings, allowing two runs. Senior Andrew Nelson was called on in relief of Schaenzer with one out in the seventh, getting a strikeout but allowing the game-tying RBI single with two outs. Nelson (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing two hits and one run, with Logan Salow allowing the go-ahead homer in the eighth. Salow got two outs, allowing two hits, before UK gave the ball to junior Zach Strecker, who allowed a two-run homer to Logan Sowers. Strecker got three outs, notching a strikeout.
Indiana (17-8) starter Christian Morris worked 2.1 innings, allowing eight hits and six runs, walking one and striking out one. Junior righty Scott Effross took over in the third inning, tossing 2.2 innings, allowing only two hits and one run, striking out two. IU also used Thomas Belcher hurled 1.1 innings without allowing a run, before Luke Harrison (3-0) took over. Harrison picked up the win, working the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit.
Kentucky will return to action on Thursday, hosting No. 1 Texas A&M in a three-game series with all three games televised live on the SEC Network.
The Hoosiers took a lead in the top of the second, starting when Casey Rodrigue reached on a one-out error. Logan Sowers then singled to put two runners on base, with a groundout pushing both runners into scoring position. Isaiah Pasteur then singled on a flare out to shallow rightfield, with second baseman JaVon Shelby’s leaping grab just coming short, with the two runs scoring.
Kentucky plated five runs on six hits in the bottom of the second inning to take a 5-2 lead. Shelby led off the inning with an infield knock and Hairston followed with a bad-hop single up the middle. Carson then scored Shelby with a single to rightfield, before Bernal loaded the bases with a single into leftfield. Arnold was then grazed by a bases-loaded pitch to force in Hairston, with Heady and Barrett each forcing in a run with RBI groundouts. White then singled on an infield, bad hop, giving UK a three-run lead.
IU got a run back in the top of the third inning, as Scott Donley drew a two-out walk, taking second on an infield hit from Austin Cangelosi and scoring on Rodrigue’s RBI single to centerfield.
UK got the run back in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 6-3 lead. Carson drew a four-pitch walk with one out, scoring on Bernal’s double, painted down the leftfield line.
Indiana rallied in the top of the fifth inning as Donley led off with a single, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a balk by Dywer. Rodrigue grounded into an error with one out, stealing second and scoring on a triple off the wall in rightfield by Sowers.
UK got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, which started with a leadoff double from Shelby. After a groundout from Hairston moved him to third, Carson singled over the drawn-in infield to score Shelby.
IU plated two runs on three hits in the seventh inning, as Donley led off with a single, taking second on a balk and stealing third base with one out. Rodrigue then singled over the leaping glove of Shelby, scoring Donley. After Nelson came on and got a strikeout, Will Nolden singled up the middle, scoring Rodrigue with the tying run.
Hartong gave the Hoosiers the lead in the eighth inning, belting a two-run homer giving IU a 9-7 lead.
Sowers hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning, scoring Rodrigue, who singled off Salow to leadoff the frame.
