Hoosiers Waste Great Luke Sinnard Start, Fall 9-4 as Iowa Rallies Late in Big Ten Tournament

Indiana couldn't hang on to a late three-run lead, as the bullpen gave up eight unanswered runs in a 9-4 loss to Iowa. Now Indiana needs to beat Michigan on Friday to stay alive in the Big Ten Tournament in Omaha, Neb.

OMAHA, Neb. — Jeff Mercer got everything he could have asked for and more from Indiana starting pitcher Luke Sinnard on Thursday against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament.

But in a team game, one great individual effort often isn't enough. So despite Sinnard pitching six innings of one-run ball and leaving with a three-run lead, it wasn't nearly enough. Indiana's bullpen imploded after Sinnard left, and the Hawkeyes scored eight unanswered runs in a 9-4 win over the Hoosiers.

It was a tough loss to swallow. 

“Our bullpen’s been good the whole season,'' said Sinnard, who gave up five hits and just one unearned run while striking out five. He now has 109 strikeouts on the season, tying a school record held by Vernon Wilshere (1934) and Eric Arnett (2009).. "There’s not much I can do about it. I trust those guys. They've been great.‘’

Senior Craig Yoho, who was great in late-season wins over Purdue and Northwestern, just didn't have it when he came in to replace Sinnard in the seventh. He faced only four batters, but gave up a walk and two singles to load the bases. Freshman Connor Foley replaced him, but gave up a bases-clearing double to Iowa's Kyle Huckstorf to give the Hawkeyes a 5-4 lead. They added four more in the eighth to blow the game open.

Now the Hoosiers have to play again on Friday while the Hawkeyes get a day off. Indiana will play Michigan at 3 p.m. ET in Omaha. And they'll try to rinse this loss quickly because, well, they don't have any other choice.

‘We’re taking this one day at a time and we’ll worry about next week next week,'' Indiana sophomore Brock Tibbitts said. "We’re trying to win a Big Ten championship and we’ll be ready for Michigan tomorrow.’’

It also didn't help that Indiana's bats went quiet as well after scoring twice in the first inning and adding solo runs in the second and sixth to go ahead 4-1. All four Hoosiers that scored either walked or were hit by a pitch. But they did nothing the final three innings.

“I thought we got emotional and frustrated. We expanded the zone and chased pitches that we don’t normally chase,'' Indiana coach Jeff Mercer said. "We gave some opportunities away. We didn’t do a good enough job of getting through our at-bats late in the late like we were early.''

Indiana starter Luke Sinnard pitched six innings and allowed just one unearned run, but the bullpen collapsed after his departure and Iowa won 9-4. (Photos courtesy of Big Ten) 

Indiana's relievers walked four batters and gave up six hits. They clearly missed Ryan Kraft, who was the Big Ten's best reliever this year. He suffered an arm injury last week at Michigan State and is not available for the Big Ten Tournament. 

“That’s part of life. Not having Ryan is hard. He’s such a good change of pace from Luke,'' Mercer said. "Those guys have been so awesome for us. Yoho has been good all year and Foley has been really good the last six, seven weeks. You have to give Iowa credit, they’re a good team that’s playing really well and you can’t give them free bases. Shoot, we’ve won 41 games, and you live to fight another day.

‘’They’re a veteran team and they don’t swing and miss and they don’t chase. It’s hard to beat good teams. You have to play really well. You knew Sinnard would give us a chance, and he did, but you can’t give free bases.’’

Indiana (41-17) and Michigan (27-27) did not play during the regular season. The Wolverines are coached by former Indiana coach Tracy Smith.

Big Ten Baseball Tournament Schedule

All games are at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. All games are televised on the Big Ten Network.

Tuesday, May 23 results

• Game 1: No. 3 Iowa 13, No. 6 Michigan 3
• Game 2: No. 2 Indiana 4, No. 7 Illinois 3
• Game 3: No. 1 Maryland 3, No. 8 Michigan State 2

Wednesday, May 24 results

• Game 4: No. 4 Nebraska 9, No. 5 Rutgers 7
• Game 5: Michigan 6, Illinois 3 (Illinois eliminated)

Thursday, May 25 games

• Game 6: Michigan State 6, Rutgers 4
• Game 7: Iowa 9, Indiana 4
• Game 8: Maryland 2, Nebraska 1 (10 innings)

Friday, May 26 games

• Game 9: Michigan vs. Indiana, 3 p.m. ET.
• Game 10: Michigan State vs. Nebraska, 8 p.m. ET.

Saturday, May 27 games

• Game 11: Iowa vs Winner Game 9, 10 a.m. ET.
• Game 12: Maryland vs Winner Game 10, 2 p.m. ET.
• Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs Loser Game 11, 6 p.m. ET.
• Game 14: Winner Game 12 vs Loser Game 12, 10 p.m. ET.

Sunday, May 28 game

• Game 11: Championship game, 3 p.m. ET

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• DEVIN TAYLOR HONORED: Indiana's Big Ten postseason awards were highlighted by Devin Taylor winning Freshman of the Year and six other Hoosiers earned honors. CLICK HERE
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