#1 Crusader Baseball @ Horizon League Tourney

[vu72]

Isn't it the Butler Way to say that they are better than everyone else, even when they lose?  I am sure the Butler Way has a reason for why they are getting spanked 19-1 as well 

So, losing 29-3 over two games is a bad thing?   

[valpotx]

Man, a hit parade being put on by UIC, up 11-2 in the top of 3rd on WSU!

[bbtds]

When that simple single to left bounced over the left fielders head and hit the base of the wall you know this game is being affected by the wind. 13-2 UIC as they post 9 runs in the top of the 3rd inning. 

[vu72]

Wind aside, what's up with Wright State?  Lose 3 in a row to lose a share of the title and now getting pounded 13-2 in the 3rd?  Talk about folding your tent.

[StlVUFan]

Wind aside, what's up with Wright State?  Lose 3 in a row to lose a share of the title and now getting pounded 13-2 in the 3rd?  Talk about folding your tent.

PantherU was tweeting this morning, "Where were these bats yesterday?"

It's baseball

[bbtds]

UIC (visitor in this game at their home field) leads 19-9 in bottom of 9th inning. Wright State leads off with a home run. No out.

I sure hope with Valpo's pitching that we don't give up 19 runs tonight.


EDIT:19-9 is the final in favor of UIC

[bbtds]

Just announced that Tyler Deetjen will start for Valpo in the final game of the day. Not Kevin Wild.

[bbtds]

Hope Valpo LFer Hagel has a good feel for what the wind is doing after that fly ball to left that almost left the field on what looked rather like a routine play.

[VULB#62]

Watching on the HL Network -- first time seeing VU BB live.  Batters look well coached (stance, swing, timing, etc.).  To you guys who have followed this team a lot more than me:  This appears to be the result of a coach who stresses good fundamentals.  Is Woodson that kind of guy, or has he just recruited that kind of kid?

Nice field BTW.

[bbtds]

Hagel pulled out of the game after the end of the inning. He hit the wall very hard on fly ball to left that tipped off the top of his mitt and landed over the fence for a home run. Valpo 2 - YSU 1.

Last time I hope a Valpo player is judging the wind correctly. Although for Hagel it got out there so quick he couldn't judge his distance from the fence soon enough.

Middle of the 4th inning. YSU had runner on 2nd base. Hitter knocks one to left and the wind scoops it up and brand new left fielder Mark Johnson makes a nice play to end it. That is not an easy left field to play tonight at all.

[bbtds]

Valpo leaves the bases loaded for the 2nd time (2nd & 4th innings) as both times Chris Manning flies out.

Still 2-1 Valpo over YSU.

[bbtds]

Deetjen makes good play on ball hit right back at him, up the middle, with 2 out & runner on 3rd base.

Going to bottom of 5th inning Valpo 2, YSU 1.

[bbtds]

Here we go again. Valpo has bases loaded, this time with no outs in bottom of 5th inning.

EDIT: Mahoney singles up the middle and 2 runners score for Valpo. 4-1 Valpo lead. Finally!

2nd EDIT: Billy Cribbs singles & knocks Martin in from third. Mahoney moves to third & Cribbs is on 1st. YSU changes pitchers. Still no outs.

You have to wonder how long Woodson will go with Deetjen.

5-1 Valpo

3rd EDIT: Scoby flies out to CF and Mahoney scores from third on SF.   Valpo 6, YSU 1  1 out.

4th EDIT: Valpo gets runners on 2nd & 3rd base & Vavra flies to CF for 4th RBI sac fly for Valpo. 2 out.
Valpo 7, YSU 1.  That leaves runner on 3rd base with 2 out.

[bbtds]

WP by new YSU pitcher lets runner from third score. 2 out & Manning singles & Johnson walks. Runners on 1st & 2nd base.

Valpo now leads 8-1.

YSU changes pitchers again.

1st EDIT: Loeffler doubled off right field wall knocks in 2 for Valpo.   VALPO 10, YSU 1.

Final batter pops up to end the 5th inning.  8 runs on 7 hits.

Really glad to see that Valpo has better chance to score 19 runs.

[bbtds]

Mahoney leads off the 6th inning with a double after YSU goes down with 2 hits in top of 6th inning but still only sent 3 hitters to the plate.

1st EDIT: Valpo scores 11th run on 5th sac fly of the game in bottom of the 6th inning.  Valpo 11, YSU 1.

Only 8 runs to go. 

[bbtds]

Manning leads off the 7th inning with double.

What happened to "Take me out to the ball game?" 

[vu72]

Our pitching staff is so deep that I presume Coach is not going to risk another pitcher unless he thinks Miller could use some work.

[bbtds]

I thought Deetjen would be relieved after the 5th inning so I don't know that much. I guess they don't need Deetjen again till he has proper rest. Having him pitch with the wind blowing so hard to left field may turn out to be a better move. Hopefully tomorrow the wind will be much less effective.

Deetjen is currently pitching the 8th inning.

Where's that mercy rule when you need it? 

It was announced that Kevin Wild will pitch tomorrow.

[bbtds]

Valpo has scored 3 here in the bottom of the 8th inning. bases are still loaded. 1 out. We need 5 more runs before we get 2 more outs. 14-1 Valpo.

1st EDIT: Mahoney walks. another run scores. 15-1 Valpo. Grand slam would make it the 3rd team today to win & score 19 runs.

2nd EDIT: Scoby gets infield hit to 3rd baseman. Valpo 16-1. Bases still loaded. 2 outs & 3rd baseman drops foul pop up by left field foul line. Wind is still playing tricks out there.   3 runs to go.

3rd EDIT: Yoder strikes out to end 8th inning. Darn. Really needed those 3 runs. Should we let them score 15 and score 3 in the bottom of the 9th inning? Nah! I guess not.

4th EDIT: another 2 nice catches by Mark Johnson in left field when anything hit that way is tough. 2 out. 1 out to go. Now YSU gets 2 singles with 2 outs. Runners on 1st & 2nd base. Ryan Kennedy is pitching the 9th.

5th EDIT: After wild pitch that moves runners to 2nd & 3rd base. YSU gets 2 runs on single. Then Mark Johnson makes another tough catch in left for Final out.

VALPO WINS! VALPO WINS!  16-3.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

WE WIN!  16-3!  HUZZAH!

[valpotx]

That game was painful to watch as a pitcher, but great to watch as a Crusader fan.  So many of our hits were absolute ropes!  Obviously there is no mercy rule in this tournament with some of these scores! 

[bbtds]

Seems to be back to the usual at UIC today as neither Milwaukee or WSU are blowing the doors off their opponent. It's 1-0 Wright State on a wild pitch with a runner on third base in the 3rd inning. Milwaukee is threatening to score with runners on 1st & 2nd with 1 out in the top of the 7th inning. WSU has just changed pitchers.

1st EDIT: Milwaukee benefits greatly from the old ground rule double. With a runner on 1st & 2 out the Raider batter blasted one to left field, and today you have to hit it hard to left--no wind aid today--and it hit something pretty hard & bounced over the fence. It kept the runner on 1st base from scoring. After Milwaukee changed pitchers he recorded the final out of the 7th inning.  Still 1-0 WSU.

2nd EDIT: Milwaukee had runners on 1st & 3rd base with 1 out in the top of the 8th inning. The pitcher coaxed a sharp ground ball to 2nd base out of the hitter and the Raiders turned the double play. Suddenly it seemed a huge crowd from WSU erupted (or there are some loud Raider fans next to the broadcast tent).

3rd EDIT: Milwaukee tied it up in the top of the 9th inning on 2 singles and a sac bunt. Score is currently 1-1 after 10 innings. WSU stranded 2 runners in the bottom of the 10th inning. Going to top of 11th.

[bbtds]

Wright State had the winning run at third base with 2 out but a fly out ended the bottom of the 11th inning. Still 1-1 going to top of 12th.

EDIT: In the bottom of the 12th inning the Raiders got the bases loaded with no one out. Garrett Gray singled in the winning run sending Milwaukee home and Wright State to a 3:00 p.m. game with YSU.

[valpotx]

I think we should be happy that Milwaukee was sent home, as they were the better team heading into the tournament.  WSU has slumped into the tournament with many losses over the last few weeks. 

[LaPorteAveApostle]

LET'S go YOUNGStown
(clap-CLAP, clap-clap-CLAP)