LEXINGTON, Ky. – A seven-run seventh inning compounded a tough night for the Indiana baseball program in a 16-6 loss to Kentucky on Sunday (June 4) at Kentucky Proud Park.
After winning 10-0 over West Virginia in its first game of the day, Kentucky (39-19) got off to a quick start with four runs in the second inning. Indiana (43-19) cut the deficit in half with two runs in the third inning, but UK added two more in the fourth. IU got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, but a two-run home run from the Wildcats continued to extend the lead. The two teams traded single runs in the sixth inning, before UK opened up the lead with a seven-run seventh.
Freshman Devin Taylor drove in one RBI to push his season total 59 RBIs and set the program freshman record. He broke a tie with Phil Dauphin (58; 1998) and teammate Carter Mathison (58; 2022). He was on-base twice in the game with the RBI single and a walk.
Mathison finished the night 3-for-4 with single, double, and home run. He scored once and drove in two RBIs. Sophomore Evan Goforth hit his first home run of the season in his first multi-hit and multi-RBI games of the year, as he added a double to his total in the ninth inning. Senior Phillip Glasser posted a two-hit game for his 31st multi-hit game of the season.
Senior Ben Seiler (1-3) made the start and allowed four runs on four hits, one walk and three hit batters in the loss. Four Indiana relievers combined to allow 12 runs over the final 7 2/3 innings. IU issued four walks and hit nine batters in the loss.
Starting pitcher Logan Martin (1-1) threw three innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out three. Ryan Hagenow (3-1) picked up the win with 4 2/3 innings of work and three runs allowed on seven hits. He struck out four and walked one. Four Wildcats hit home runs in the game including Hunter Gilliam as part of his 3-for-6 day at the plate with three runs scored and five RBIs.
Scoring Recap
Top Second
Hunter Gilliam singled to start the inning and Ruben Church was hit by a pitch to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt, Nolan McCarthy homered to left field. After a pitching change with the bases loaded, a wild pitch added the fourth run of the inning.
Kentucky 4, Indiana 0
Bottom Third
Evan Goforth hit a solo home run to straight-away centerfield with one out and Phillip Glasser followed with a base hit. After a groundout moved the runner to second, Devin Taylor singled to right field to drive in the run.
Kentucky 4, Indiana 2
Top Fourth
A pair of hit batter started the inning and Luke Hayden came on in relief to get a strikeout. A groundout moved both runners up a base and Gilliam singled to center field to drive in two runs.
Kentucky 6, Indiana 2
Bottom Fourth
Carter Mathison hit a solo home run to lead off the inning.
Kentucky 6, Indiana 3
Top Fifth
An infield single from Jackson Gray was bookended by outs before Devin Burkes hit a two-run home run with two outs.
Kentucky 8, Indiana 3
Top Sixth
A throwing error allowed the first batter to reach, and Church followed with a double. Ryan Waldschmidt followed with an RBI base hit to right field and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.
Kentucky 9, Indiana 3
Bottom Sixth
Brock Tibbitts doubled to start the inning and came around to score on a Mathison base hit.
Kentucky 9, Indiana 4
Top Seventh
The first seven batters of the inning reached base, as a single and hit batter started the inning and a pair of wild pitches brought in the first runs. A walk put two runners on base and Emilien Pitre doubled to bring in the second run. Gilliam homered to plate the next three runs, and after a hit-by-pitch Ryan Waldschmidt hit a two-run home run.
Kentucky 16, Indiana 4
Bottom Ninth
Riley Langerman singled and came all the way around to score on a Goforth double. After a groundout, Bobby Whalen singled to plate the runner from second.
Kentucky 16, Indiana 6
Up Next
The two teams will meet on Monday (June 5) at 6 p.m. in the winner-take-all regional final. Television designations will be announced at a later time. The