Indiana baseball lost to No. 2 Louisiana State University 14-7 on Friday afternoon at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida, in its opening game of the Live Like Lou Jacksonville Baseball Classic.
Louisiana State University — the reigning NCAA Division I national champions led by head coach Jay Johnson — struck first on an RBI single from junior infielder Steven Milam in the first inning.
However, graduate student left-handed pitcher Tony Neubeck, who started the game for the Hoosiers, settled in after that. He retired LSU’s lineup in order 1-2-3 in the second inning.
But misplays were also a factor in putting the Hoosiers behind further early in the contest.
Indiana freshman infielder Landen Fry dropped a pop-up extending the third inning. Neubeck then balked to move runners into scoring position before LSU senior infielder Zach Yorke lifted a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-0.
Ultimately, the 6-foot-2 southpaw allowed five hits in three innings. Neubeck limited a potent LSU offense — which averaged 12.6 runs per game in five contests — to only one earned run in three innings.
Indiana’s offense finally jumpstarted in the third inning. The Hoosiers loaded the bases with one out and broke through on an RBI single by sophomore catcher and outfielder Hogan Denny.
Indiana tied the game and took the lead with a single by redshirt freshman catcher Brayden Ricketts. LSU sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide threw the ball away, allowing another Hoosier run and giving Indiana a 3-2 lead.
Indiana graduate student right-handed pitcher Michael Sarhatt pitched 1.1 innings after Neubeck exited but gave up the lead. The Tigers tied the game in the fifth inning on a single by Milam. LSU took a 4-3 lead a couple batters later after a bases-loaded walk.
Indiana brought in graduate student right-handed pitcher Gavin Seebold in the middle of the fifth inning. He pitched 2.2 scoreless innings.
LSU’s starting pitcher, sophomore right-handed pitcher Casan Evans, worked five innings, giving up three total runs but only two earned. He gave way to the Tigers’ bullpen.
However, Indiana took the lead in the seventh inning against LSU’s bullpen. Sophomore infielder Will Moore tied the game on fielder’s choice to second base. Then, Denny roped a single to give the Hoosiers a 5-4 lead.
The back-and-forth between both teams continued. Junior right-handed pitcher Jackson Yarberry came into the game replacing Seebold in the top of the eighth. He allowed two runners to get on base before Yorke hit a three-run home run to give the Tigers a 7-5 lead.
LSU scored six more runs in the inning. The Tigers ultimately put up nine total runs in the inning, totaling seven hits.
The Hoosiers added two more runs both on singles in the bottom of the eighth inning, but it would not be enough. LSU put up one more run in the top of the ninth inning. The Tigers won by a final score of 14-7.
Indiana’s record is now 1-4. The Hoosiers’ next game in the Live Like Lou Jacksonville Baseball Classic will be Saturday against the University of Central Florida. The first pitch will be at 4 p.m.
Follow reporters Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) and Will Kwiatkowski (@WKwiatkowski_15 and wdkwiatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana baseball season.
