Northern Kentucky at Indiana

Frisco Classic

Wed, March 6, 2024, 4 p.m. first pitch |

Northern Kentucky Norse: stats | roster

Indiana Hoosiers: stats | roster

entry by @iubase17 - March 5, 2024, 11:42 a.m.:

entry by Carl - March 5, 2024, 12:30 p.m.:

Northern Kentucky comes to Bloomington with a 4-7 record. They lost both of their midweek contests: 10-2 on the road to Cincinnati and 7-5 at home to Morehead State.  On the weekends they won two road series over Tennessee-Martin and Missouri. Yes - they are coming off of an SEC road series win, so this is not a team to be taken lightly.

Taking a statistical look at the Norse pitching, I removed the three weekend starters who have been consistent and I would not expect to see them Wednesday.

Most impressive is Nick McClanahan who has made 6 appearances so far totaling 10 innings with a 1.3 WHIP and a 30.4% strikeout rate. Opponents are batting 0.229 against him. If the Norse have a lead after the stretch, I would expect to see McClanahan try to lock that down. He also last threw 13 pitches on Sunday.

One pitcher I would expect to see is Ryan Pherson. He's been used 5 times and threw 31 pitches on Sunday. He has a respectable 1.55 WHIP and a 13.3% strikeout rate.

In total, this group looks very hittable. Indiana may be thin on pitching options, so it will be crucial to score lots of runs. It'll also be a good idea to be alert as this group has hit 21 batters with pitches on the year. That is almost 2 HBPs per game.

entry by Carl - March 5, 2024, 12:35 p.m.:

Offensively Northern Kentucky has some hitters. Most impressive statistically is first baseman Liam McFadden-Ackman who is hitting .366 with a 1.393 OPS with 6 home runs and 17 runs batted in. Remember the Norse have played over half of their games so far against SEC pitching, so these numbers are real.

Designated hitter Jack Paulick has 20% fewer plate appearances than McFadden-Ackman, but is hitting .484 with an eye-popping 1.439 OPS and 3 long balls. Suffice to say Hoosier pitching will have their hands full with this group.

entry by @iubase17 - March 5, 2024, 3:27 p.m.:

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 8:53 a.m.:

Gameday Info vs. Northern Kentucky

Wednesday, March 6th, 4pm ET

Probable Starters

  • Indiana: Seth Benes (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

  • Northern KY: TBD

entry by @iubase17 - March 6, 2024, 3:44 p.m.:

entry by @iubase17 - March 6, 2024, 4:13 p.m.:

End of top of inning 1 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 0 runs | 0 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 0 runs | 0 hits | 0 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 4:14 p.m.:

Phillips works around a lead-off walk with three contact outs.

entry by @iubase17 - March 6, 2024, 4:21 p.m.:

Bottom of inning 1 with 1 outs:

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 0 runs | 0 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 1 runs | 3 hits | 0 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 4:22 p.m.:

Bases are juiced with one out for Tyler Cerny

entry by @iubase17 - March 6, 2024, 4:27 p.m.:

Bottom of inning 1 with 2 outs:

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 0 runs | 0 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 5 runs | 5 hits | 0 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 4:28 p.m.:

Five runs and five hits - the Norse go to the bullpen. Not sure why “Bad Day” isn’t the song of choice here 🤣.

End of bottom of inning 1 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 0 runs | 0 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 5 runs | 5 hits | 0 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 4:30 p.m.:

Brandon Burckel’s bunt is a bit too hard and it’s an easy play for the pitcher. All 9 Hoosiers have been to the plate.

Top of inning 2 with 2 outs:

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 1 runs | 2 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 5 runs | 5 hits | 1 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 4:42 p.m.:

A pair of hits, and a fielder’s choice plates a run. An error extends the inning. Ryan Kraft is the new Hoosier pitcher.

End of top of inning 2 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 1 runs | 3 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 5 runs | 5 hits | 1 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 4:48 p.m.:

Kraft fails to make the play on an infield single l, but ends the inning on a strikeout.

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 4:49 p.m.:

Nick Mitchell draws a walk. Getting in base from the lead off. Very good for the Hoosiers.

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 4:54 p.m.:

Tibbitts walks with two outs. Mitchell on second.

End of bottom of inning 2 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 1 runs | 3 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 5 runs | 5 hits | 1 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 4:57 p.m.:

Mathison goes down swinging and strands two.

End of top of inning 3 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 1 runs | 4 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 5 runs | 5 hits | 1 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:08 p.m.:

Kraft gets out of jam with no damage. Pumping 91 on the fastball. Induces weak contact.

entry by @iubase17 - March 6, 2024, 5:21 p.m.:

End of bottom of inning 3 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 1 runs | 4 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 7 runs | 6 hits | 1 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:23 p.m.:

Wiggins pinch hits for Burckel and gets his first collegiate homer. He hit that one opposite field.

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:24 p.m.:

Hayden Carlson replaces Wiggins in the order at second base defensively.

Top of inning 4 with 1 outs:

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 1 runs | 5 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 7 runs | 6 hits | 1 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:27 p.m.:

Kraft in a two-on, one out jam. Mound visit.

Top of inning 4 with 2 outs:

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 3 runs | 6 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 7 runs | 6 hits | 2 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:32 p.m.:

Two unearned runs cross as Cerny can’t make a play on a grounder. Kraft’s day is done. Drew Buhr is the new Hoosier pitcher.

End of top of inning 4 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 3 runs | 6 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 7 runs | 6 hits | 2 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:36 p.m.:

Buhr gets Logen Davenport looking at a fastball on the inside corner.

End of bottom of inning 4 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 3 runs | 6 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 7 runs | 7 hits | 2 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:43 p.m.:

Brock Tibbitts rips a single, but is stranded. For the second game it seems the Hoosiers are swinging at too many pitches out of the zone. Northern KY can hit. Should not be satisfied with a 4-run lead.

End of top of inning 5 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 3 runs | 6 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 7 runs | 7 hits | 3 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:48 p.m.:

Cerny makes up for another error by turning a double play.

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:50 p.m.:

Cerny rips a double to right to lead off the inning.

Bottom of inning 5 with 0 outs:

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 3 runs | 6 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 9 runs | 9 hits | 3 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:53 p.m.:

Jake Stadler rips a 2-run bomb. New Norse pitcher.

End of bottom of inning 5 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 3 runs | 6 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 9 runs | 9 hits | 3 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 5:57 p.m.:

Three quick outs end the inning.

entry by @iubase17 - March 6, 2024, 5:58 p.m.:

Top of inning 6 with 1 outs:

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 4 runs | 8 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 9 runs | 9 hits | 3 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 6:09 p.m.:

McFadden-Ackman rips an RBI-double. Two in scoring position. Mound visit, but Glant sticks with Buhr.

Top of inning 6 with 2 outs:

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 5 runs | 8 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 9 runs | 9 hits | 3 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 6:11 p.m.:

RBI fielder’s choice plates one, but Cerny gets the runner at third to limit the damage. Two outs now. Jeff Mercer goes to the bullpen. Julian Tonghini is the new pitcher.

entry by @iubase17 - March 6, 2024, 6:25 p.m.:

End of bottom of inning 6 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 5 runs | 8 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 9 runs | 11 hits | 3 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 6:27 p.m.:

Two Hoosiers are stranded.

End of top of inning 7 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 5 runs | 9 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 9 runs | 11 hits | 3 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 6:34 p.m.:

Carlson starts a double play to erase a single. Time stretch!

End of bottom of inning 7 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 5 runs | 9 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 9 runs | 11 hits | 3 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 6:40 p.m.:

Hoosiers go down 1-2-3

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 6:50 p.m.:

The fourth Hoosier error of the game brings the tying run to the plate for the Norse.

End of top of inning 8 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 5 runs | 9 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 9 runs | 11 hits | 4 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 6:53 p.m.:

Tonghini escapes a base loaded one out jam with no damage. Strikeout and groundout.

entry by @iubase17 - March 6, 2024, 7:01 p.m.:

Bottom of inning 8 with 1 outs:

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 5 runs | 9 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 10 runs | 13 hits | 4 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 7:02 p.m.:

Bases loaded with Hoosiers. New Norse pitcher.

entry by @iubase17 - March 6, 2024, 7:05 p.m.:

End of bottom of inning 8 :

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 5 runs | 9 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 11 runs | 13 hits | 4 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 7:06 p.m.:

Hoosier take a six run lead into the final frame.

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 7:09 p.m.:

First batter off the 9th is the ninth Norse K victim.

End of top of inning 9 (FINAL):

Team Totals:

  • Norse: 5 runs | 9 hits | 0 errors

  • Hoosiers: 11 runs | 13 hits | 4 errors

entry by Carl - March 6, 2024, 7:13 p.m.:

One walks, but a double play ends the game.