With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning, Wright State University threatened to flip the game at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington. Indiana led 4-3.
Hoosiers head coach Jeff Mercer had just taken graduate pitcher Michael Sarhatt out of the game after the right hander walked the previous two hitters. With a 2-0 count and two outs, graduate right-handed pitcher Kaden Jacobi came into the game.
Jacobi, a transfer from the University of Missouri, then threw three straight strikes. He pumped his first in excitement as he came off the mound, his teammates pouring out of the dugout to congratulate him.
Off Jacobi’s pivotal strikeout, Indiana capitalized on the momentum in the bottom half of the inning scoring three runs and later pulled away with a five-run eighth inning to defeat Wright State 12-4.
Mercer said postgame that turning to Jacobi in the middle of the at-bat was a decision influenced by pitching coach Matt Myers, who advised Mercer to make the call to the bullpen.
“For him (Jacobi) to come in and grab a strike early, that changed the whole swing of the game. We scored three runs the next inning,” Mercer said. “If he babies it... we would’ve been in trouble. I told him, ‘Don’t be afraid to fail.’ I thought Jacobi was fearless. It was a really good call from coach Myers. That was a pivotal moment for him and us.”
Indiana’s offense found its groove Tuesday after only scoring 10 runs across three games versus Washington over the weekend.
Indiana scored four runs in the first inning against Wright State, then three in the sixth and five in the eighth. Sophomore left-handed pitcher and outfielder Caleb Koskie batted 3 for 4 in the contest and recorded five RBIs.
Mercer said Koskie’s strong night at the plate helped the rest of Indiana’s lineup succeed, especially with runners on base. He said that kind of offensive performance was the expectation from the lineup construction heading into the year.
“Caleb had a really good night,” Mercer said postgame. “We haven’t done a great job of scoring with runners in scoring position; that changed tonight... the idea is for us to be in the seven-to-eight runs a game range.”
The Hoosiers had contributions from all over the lineup.
Sophomore Will Moore, Indiana’s leadoff hitter, set the tone. The 5-foot-9 infielder batted 1.000, going 4 for 4 from the plate, and picked up an RBI. He also scored three times.
“I think it’s good pressure that I want, obviously I want to succeed, but I also want the team to succeed,” Moore said postgame. “I feel like, pressure, it’s what we came here for.”
Sophomore catcher and outfielder Hogan Denny had three hits in six at-bats with two runs driven in. Sophomore infielder Jake Hanley had two hits in five at-bats and two RBIs. Freshman infielder Landen Fry batted .500 in four at-bats.
The Hoosiers’ blend of younger and older pitchers came together Tuesday as well, something Mercer emphasized Sunday prior to the midweek game.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Ivan Mastalski pitched two innings, allowing one earned run. Freshman right-handed pitcher Kellen English also covered an inning while recording two strikeouts.
Sarhatt and Jacobi combined to pitch two total innings. Sarhatt walked two Wright State hitters, but Jacobi struck out the only batter he faced. Redshirt junior Jacob Vogel finished the final inning without allowing an earned run.
The Hoosiers’ win over Wright State on Tuesday marked their third midweek victory. Indiana previously beat Bradley University 15-3 on Feb. 17 and Xavier University 10-4 on Feb. 25.
Indiana’s next contest kicks off a four-game road swing. The Hoosiers travel to Eugene, Oregon, to play Oregon in a three-game weekend series. The first game starts at 7:05 p.m. Friday. The game will be televised on Big Ten+.
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.
