IU wins 7-4, moves onto championship

With the game tied at 4-4 between IU and Michigan State and a bid to the Big Ten Championship on the line, Tim O’Conner led off the top of the ninth inning.

He came into the game batting just .185, but he reached base when Michigan State pitcher Walter Borkovich plunked O’Conner’s foot.

With its season on the line, Michigan State changed pitchers. It brought in its ace, Mick VanVossen.

The first batter VanVossen saw was second baseman Casey Rodrigue. The Hoosiers’ leadoff hitter was trying to lay down a sac bunt to advance O’Conner, but VanVossen’s pitch got away, and he hit Rodrigue.

After falling behind 3-0 on his next batter, preseason All-American Kyle Schwarber, VanVossen gave up a single to Schwarber. The ball wasn’t deep enough to score any runners. Thus, the bases were loaded with no outs for Big Ten Player of the Year Sam Travis.

On the first pitch, Travis hit a slow grounder to Spartan shortstop Ryan Richardson. Richardson went home with the throw to get O’Conner on the force play, but the catcher didn’t have enough time to get Travis at first.

That left the bases loaded with one out for cleanup hitter Scott Donley.

And he came through for IU.

Donley drilled a ball over the right fielder’s head, scoring Rodrigue and Schwarber and giving IU the 6-4 lead.

Michigan State went with another pitching change, bringing in reliever Chase Rihtarchik. With runners on second and third, the Spartans opted to walk Dustin DeMuth to load the bases and hope for an inning-ending double play.

On the intentional walk, Rihtarchik unexpectedly threw the pitch over the catcher’s head. An alert Travis reacted and slid into home before the throw could be made.

IU had a 7-4 lead, which would be the final score. Rihtarchik was able to induce fly balls from Brad Hartong and Will Nolden to end the inning, but the damage was done. In the bottom of the ninth, Michigan State couldn’t get a legitimate threat going and the game ended.

And with an at-large bid highly unlikely, the Spartans’ season is over.

No. 1 seed IU moves on to play No. 2 seed Nebraska in Sunday's Big Ten Championship game. The two teams didn’t play each other this season, but IU defeated the Huskers 4-3 in 2013's conference title game to win the Big Ten tournament.

IU Coach Tracy Smith said after the game Sullivan Stadler – who is 2-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 24.2 innings pitched this season – will get the start. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Omaha, Neb., and the championship will air on BTN.