Indiana Baseball: Hoosiers face elimination after wasting huge rally

The Indiana baseball program has their back up against the wall as they face elimination in the NCAA Tournament.

In what has been a disappointing last week, it didn’t get any better for the Indiana baseball program on Friday afternoon.

After being selected as the No. 2 seed in the Louisville region, the Hoosiers fell to Illinois State 8-7, heading to the losers bracket.

In the double-elimination tournament, Indiana now faces off against Illinois-Chicago for a chance to keep their tournament hopes alive.

Down as much as 7-2 in their matchup on Friday, the Hoosiers used a five-run seventh inning to tie the game, only to give up the lead in the next half inning.

Pauly Milto struggled all game, giving up 14 hits in 5.1 innings, while the Indiana bats were non existent for the majority of the game, until their five-run rally.

A concerning moment in the game was when outfielder Matt Gorski dove for a pop fly and jammed his wrist into the ground, ultimately leaving the game.

Head coach Jeff Mercer told reporters after the game that it was his decision to take Gorski out of the game, and that he wanted to stay in. For now, it looks like a sprain and it is undetermined if Gorski will play today, although he will do everything he can to be out there.

Now the ball is handed off to either All-American pitcher Andrew Saalfrank or Tanner Gordon.

While this seems to be a no brainer, Mercer may take his chances with Gordon in today’s matchup in order to save Saalfrank for Sunday’s game.

The Hoosiers take on Illinois-Chicago at 11:00 am ET.