IU snapped a three-game losing streak in game two of Saturday’s double header when the conference-opening series against Rutgers was salvaged.
After dropping the first two games of the series in come-from-behind victories by Rutgers, IU (13-13, 1-2) homered three times in the series finale to keep its record at .500 on the season.
Senior starting pitcher Kyle Hart cruised through his first three innings and struck out four in game one of the series as the Hoosiers gave him an early 1-0 lead. In the fourth, the Scarlet Knights used a sacrifice fly and ground out to take a 2-1 lead and proceeded to plate two more runs in the inning off a double and single with two outs.
Hart was able to work through his next two innings unblemished but still took the loss as Rutgers starting pitcher Howie Brey tossed a complete game. Brey allowed just one run on eight strikeouts.
The Hoosier ace has struggled his last two starts by allowing seven earned runs in his last 11 innings and now owns a 2.42 ERA after having a sub-2.00 ERA all season.
IU jumped out to a hot start again in game two of the series when junior outfielder Craig Dedelow sent a ball down the right field line to score sophomore outfielder Laren Eustace from first as Dedelow motored into third with an RBI triple.
The Hoosiers added one more run to extend their lead in the third, but they couldn’t avoid the big inning defensively once again.
Senior starting pitcher Evan Bell worked through five scoreless innings before getting touched up and knocked out in the sixth.
With Rutgers already adding one run in the inning, a two-out double to left center plated two to give Rutgers a 3-2 lead. Bell was replaced by junior reliever Jake Kelzer, who struck out the final batter of the inning to end the Rutgers rally. Kelzer remained in the game to toss two more scoreless innings.
The Hoosiers struggled to string hits together and generate a rally as they stranded 11 runners on base and went just 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
The bats finally came around in game three with the No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 hitters each going deep. The Hoosiers out-powered the Scarlet Knights in a 9-2 victory. Dedelow ignited the run, scoring once again for the Hoosiers when he sent a solo shot over the left field fence in the fourth to give IU a 1-0 lead.
Sophomore outfielder Logan Sowers worked a walk after the Dedelow long ball, which set up freshman Ryan Fineman for his second home run of the season to push the Hoosier lead to 3-0.
Senior starting pitcher Caleb Baragar was solid in his shortest outing of the year. Lasting four innings, Baragar struck out two but held the Scarlet Knights scoreless.
Dedelow reached base on a bunt single to lead off the sixth as Sowers followed with his fifth home run of the season when he belted one beyond the left field wall. This put the Hoosiers up 5-1.
In the seventh, the IU offense added two more runs, including an RBI ground-rule double by Sowers to pad the team’s lead as the bullpen took care of Rutgers for the remainder of the game.
Freshmen Jonathan Stiever and Pauly Milto each worked an inning of relief after Baragar exited the game. The freshmen allowed one earned run between the two of them. Junior reliever Thomas Belcher worked the final three innings in shutout fashion to secure the victory for IU and avoid a series sweep.
The Hoosiers will travel to Cincinnati for a rematch with the Bearcats on Wednesday. IU lost the first meeting, 5-0, at home last week.
