Matt Gorski bats during IU’s 22-1 win over Northwestern. Gorski finished with four hits and 3 RBIs. (Mark Timko/HN)
Just when it seemed like the Hoosiers were done scoring, they weren’t.
IU went down in order in the first inning. But from the second until the eighth, the Hoosiers sent no less than six batters to the plate in an inning. They scored two runs an inning from the second through the sixth, four runs in the seventh, and, for good measure, eight runs in the eighth.
A demolition broke out at Bart Kaufman Field Sunday as Indiana baseball finished off a three-game sweep of the Northwestern Wildcats with a 22-1 win.
“Good day, just got it going,” IU coach Chris Lemonis said. “Actually, the guy they threw had really good numbers on the year so we were bunting and doing everything early because we really thought it’d be a tight game.”
It all started out with freshman Drew Ashley getting things going in the second with a single that scored two runs. From then on out, IU scored in a multitude of different ways. It was six doubles, three home runs, two sacrifice flies and six stolen bases.
"I thought we did a great job this weekend of controlling the strike zone."
Indiana baseball's 40 runs scored this weekend vs Northwestern was the most runs scored in a Big Ten series in program history since 2010. #iubase pic.twitter.com/J01vVSOoUo
— The Hoosier Network (@TheHoosierNet) April 15, 2018
Northwestern had five pitchers and a catcher on the mound Sunday. No pitcher gave up less than two runs and no reliever went longer than 1.1 innings pitched. Nick Paciorek, the backup catcher, even gave up an unearned run.
It was just a slow and steady beat down all afternoon long and all weekend long. The Hoosiers outscored Northwestern 40-4 in the three games, but the all-red jerseys are still undefeated.
“We talk about the Tiger Woods, we bring them out on Sundays,” Scotty Bradley said. “We enjoy playing in them. It’s cool, you feel like Santa Claus coming out on Sundays too. It adds a little bit of flare to the game on Sunday.”
Scotty Bradley feels like Santa Claus, Coach Lemonis feels like the Kool-Aid Man.
Regardless, Indiana baseball is undefeated in their all-red uniforms and they might just bust them out Tuesday vs Notre Dame as well. #iubase pic.twitter.com/c7iwdgjzSX
— The Hoosier Network (@TheHoosierNet) April 15, 2018
While the offense was on fire, sophomore Cam Beauchamp turned in a solid performance on the hill. The southpaw fired five innings giving up one run on four hits while striking out a season high six batters.
It was Beauchamp’s longest outing since his six-inning performance against Northern Illinois on March 18. In Indiana’s search for a Sunday starter, the Peru, Indiana native gave Lemonis a lot to like.
“He’s still pitched better,” Lemonis said. “I know that sounds crazy, but he’s got such good stuff and he’s just learning on the run.”
"We throw a ton of strikes and we have a lot of depth."
Indiana baseball's offense was outstanding in the 22-1 win today vs Northwestern, but the pitching has been stellar all year.
The 2.34 season ERA for IU pitchers now second best in the nation. #iubase pic.twitter.com/QYiWc2zxx8
— The Hoosier Network (@TheHoosierNet) April 15, 2018
IU’s success just continues for another weekend. The Hoosiers have won six straight games once again this season and are climbing the Big Ten standings. With Sunday’s win, the Hoosiers are now back in the top three of the conference. There’s still a lot of baseball left to be played, but there’s a lot to like so far.
BACK TO BACK JACKS@LoganSowers51 launches his fifth long ball of the year, then @wyattcrosss goes yard for his first career home run as a Hoosier.
Indiana baseball leads 14-1, End 7 #iubase pic.twitter.com/vOyg8RUHGG
— The Hoosier Network (@TheHoosierNet) April 15, 2018
“I think it shows a lot of maturity in this team that you play a long day on Friday, essentially, with the doubleheader and taking so much out of us that second game with the comeback win,” Bradley said. “But comeback today and still have that focus and that edge to come back and put together one more good game and finish off the weekend was something that was great.”
20 runs!
Indiana baseball's 20th run of today's game came in a rather painful way for @LoganKaletha.
Hoosiers lead Northwestern 22-1, Top 9. #iubase pic.twitter.com/y5aREHqWaf
— The Hoosier Network (@TheHoosierNet) April 15, 2018
