Fansided

Stanford gets walk-off win against Indiana Hoosiers, advance to Super Regional

By Jacob Rude

Jun 19, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; Indiana Hoosiers outfielder Justin Cureton (22) after their College World Series 2-1 loss against the Oregon State Beavers at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Dave Weaver-USA Today Sports
Jun 19, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; Indiana Hoosiers outfielder Justin Cureton (22) after their College World Series 2-1 loss against the Oregon State Beavers at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Dave Weaver-USA Today Sports /
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The Indiana Hoosiers were often labeled to cardiac cats, scoring 15 runs in the tournament with two outs in the inning. However, it was the Stanford Cardinal who had the final laugh, with Tommy Edman’s walk-off home run in the 9th inning leaving Bloomington in a stunned silence and leaving Stanford in an uproar.

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Coming in the top seed in the regional, the Hoosiers rolled through their first two games, including a victory over Stanford in their second game of the tournament to advance to the title game. However, Stanford halted IU in back-to-back nights to win the regional and advance to the Super Regional.

It was Edman, who had two home runs prior to the night’s dramatics, who sealed the deal on the evening. After an infield single from Nick Ramos in the 8th inning gave Indiana a 4-3 lead. After striking out Dominic Jose in the bottom of the 8th inning, the Hoosiers came into the ninth just three outs away from defending home turf.

Stanford had other ideas.

Despite the Hoosiers managing two hits in the top of the 9th, Dustin DeMuth struck out, leaving runners stranded on the corner for IU, in desperate need of an insurance run. It was the lack of that run that would cost them.

After Wayne Taylor lined a pitch into center for a single, Edman stepped up to the plate, a chance to become the hero. And on the first pitch of the at-bat, he did just that, blasting a home run over the right field fence and sending Stanford into the Super Regional in Nashville, where they’ll face Vanderbilt.

It was a shock to the Hoosier faithful, who saw their team time and again come up in high-pressure situations and deliver, to see the team lose in such dramatic fashion. After finishing with one of the best seasons in school history, including a Big Ten championship, the 44-15 Hoosiers will be sent home devastated, the last two losses being the most painful. In Sunday night’s match-up, the Hoosiers had a late-inning collapse that led to a Stanford victory, forcing the do-or-die game Monday night.

For Stanford, tonight marks their 15th win in the last 20 games, a perfect time to get hot. Their only lost in the last 9 games came at the hands of Indiana earlier in the tournament, which they certainly made amends for. Now, the Cardinals will go on to face Vanderbilt in the Super Regionals, with eyes set on a trip to Omaha for the College World Series.

Following tonight’s performance, Edman was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, with Indiana University’s Kyle Schwarber, Sam Travis, Joey DeNato, and Scott Donley from IU named to the All-Tournament Team.