At the top of the third inning, Indiana baseball held a 3-0 lead over the University of Evansville. Freshman infielder Jake Hanley stepped up to the plate, hit a pitch delivered by Evansville junior pitcher Ethan Bell and sent a home run over the wall. The home run marked Hanley’s second of the game and increased the Hoosiers’ lead to 4-0.
Hanley’s performance would be one of the main catalysts for the Hoosiers’ 14-6 victory over the Purple Aces on Wednesday at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville, Indiana.
Hanley kickstarted the scoring in the top of the second inning when he launched a solo home run to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead. Junior outfielder Devin Taylor hit a two-run home run in the next inning to put Indiana up 3-0.
Then, Hanley connected on his second home run of the game later in the frame to increase Indiana’s lead to 4-0.
The Purple Aces scored their first run in the bottom of the fifth inning when senior outfielder Harrison Taubert scored on a wild pitch and sophomore outfielder Charlie Longmeier hit an RBI single, which cut Indiana’s lead in half.
Hanley wasn’t done just yet as he smacked an RBI triple in the top of the eighth inning that brought Taylor home. Hanley then scored on a wild pitch which brought the Hoosiers’ lead back up to four runs.
Indiana officially put the game away for good in the ninth inning, as the offense produced eight runs in the frame. Evansville put up four runs of its own in the bottom of the ninth, but the game was out of reach. Indiana ultimately secured a victory over its in-state foe.
Hanley and the rest of the offense were the story of the night for the Hoosiers. Hanley went 4 for 5 with two home runs, five RBIs and four runs.
Taylor also had another solid outing, as he went 1 for 2 with three runs and two RBIs.
Freshman shortstop Cooper Malamazian had an impressive night as he tallied three hits, including a three-RBI triple in the ninth inning that blew the game open for the Hoosiers.
Wednesday was another impressive night for Indiana’s freshmen. Hanley and Malamazian were two of the most productive hitters against Evansville.
The Hoosiers improved to 24-21 on the season while the Purple Aces fell to 14-29.
Indiana will be back in action for a three-game series against Abilene Christian University at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Crutcher Scott Field in Abilene, Texas. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
