Indiana baseball has consistently found ways to put runners on base this season. Capitalizing off those opportunities, however, has been the challenge.
That issue surfaced against Indiana State University on Tuesday night at Bart Kaufman Field, as the Hoosiers fell 5-4 after leaving the bases loaded in the seventh inning, a missed opportunity that mirrored a season-long trend.
With the contest tied at two in the seventh inning, Indiana freshman infielder Mateo Noto drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore catcher/outfielder Hogan Denny followed with an intentional walk before sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley delivered a double into left-center field, scoring Noto and taking a 3-2 lead late in the game.
Sophomore outfielder Caleb Koskie then worked a walk to load the bases and put Indiana in position to take the lead.
The Hoosiers could not take advantage.
Sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian struck out swinging to end the inning, leaving the go-ahead runs stranded.
“Coop’s been one of our best guys, but he chased the same breaking ball twice and didn’t adjust in the at-bat,” Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer said postgame. “We didn’t adjust to the pitch height and expanded the zone early and late, which put us in a tough spot with the bases loaded.”
Mercer said its important for Indiana to attack early in big moments, which it failed to do against the Sycamores.
Indiana State created a lead in the eighth inning, with three runs highlighted by an RBI double from senior outfielder Jorge Cartagena and a sacrifice fly from freshman infielder Colin Sander.
Indiana answered with a run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Hanley but could not complete the comeback as Indiana State held on for a 5-4 victory.
The squandered opportunity reflected a larger pattern for the Hoosiers.
Indiana has generated consistent traffic on the bases throughout the season, but timely hitting with runners in scoring position has remained elusive. Even in games where the offense shows flashes, those missed opportunities have often proven crushing.
In the eighth inning of Indiana’s 7-6 loss to Oregon on March 15, the Hoosiers found themselves with two runners on and a chance to extend their 6-5 lead.
However, the rally was short-lived as junior catcher TJ Schuyler grounded out to end the inning scoreless with two runners left on base, leaving the door open for what was an eventual Oregon comeback.
The Hoosiers have leaned on production from the top of their lineup to create those chances.
Malamazian, one of Indiana’s most consistent hitters this season, entered tuesday’s game against Indiana State with 24 hits in 89 at-bats and the second-most RBIs on the team with 19. He finished 1 for 4 against Indiana State, but like much of Indiana’s lineup, was unable to deliver in the game’s most critical moment.
Tuesday’s missed opportunity was the latest example.
Despite the loss, Indiana once again showed its ability to compete late. The Hoosiers worked deep counts, drew walks and forced Indiana State’s pitching staff into high-leverage situations.
But the final step, delivering the decisive hit, never came.
The result dropped Indiana to 10-14 overall and continued a stretch in which close games have been decided by small margins, as the Hoosiers fall to 0-5 on the season in games decided by one run.
The Hoosiers will now turn their attention to a much bigger test, as they travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, this weekend for a three-game series against No. 24 Nebraska, the fourth-highest ranked team in the Big Ten. The series begins 7 p.m. ET Friday, presenting another test against one of the conference’s top programs as the Hoosiers search for consistency in Big Ten play.
Follow reporters Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) and Will Kwiatkowski (@WKwiatkowski_15 and wdkwiatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana baseball season.
