Indiana baseball leaned on its most reliable hitter, and it’s leader in all major hitting stats, to secure its first Big Ten series win of the season, as sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley powered the Hoosiers past Minnesota over the weekend.
Hanley led the charge at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington, recording the 100th hit of his career while combining for seven hits and six RBIs across three games against the Golden Gophers.
The Hoosiers opened the series with an 8-6 win Friday behind one of their most complete offensive performances of the season. Indiana responded to an early four-run deficit with immediate production at the plate, highlighted by a two-out triple from sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian that cut into the lead, Indiana’s first triple of the season.
Indiana’s offense continued to apply pressure throughout the game. Hanley recorded four hits and scored three runs while Malamazian added three hits and three RBIs.
Hanley set the tone in the middle of the lineup, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored. The Hoosiers’ top five hitters combined went 10-for-21, providing consistent pressure that carried the comeback.
Hanley carried his momentum into the second game of the series Saturday.
Entering the fifth inning, Indiana once again trailed, but the Hoosiers responded with their most explosive inning of the series. Redshirt freshman catcher Brayden Ricketts and sophomore outfielder Cole Decker opened the frame with back-to-back home runs to tie the game.
With two outs, Hanley stepped in and delivered again, launching a three-run home run to left field — his second in as many games — to break the game open and give Indiana a 5-2 lead it would not relinquish.
The swing capped another multi-RBI performance for Hanley and proved decisive in securing the 7-2 victory and series win for the Hoosiers.
Indiana’s pitching matched its offense. Graduate left-hander Tony Neubeck delivered six strong innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out eight, before the bullpen closed out the win.
Indiana's most reliable hitter performed similar in Sunday's finale, but a lopsided result against the Hoosiers followed.
Minnesota struck early and never let Indiana settle in, scoring multiple runs in each of the first four innings behind a two-run home run from senior catcher Weber Neels in the first and a three-run home run from junior outfielder Ty Allen in the second.
Hanley capped his weekend with a 2-for-4 performance and an RBI in Sunday’s finale, but it wasn’t enough as the Hoosiers managed just two runs in the 14-2 loss to the Golden Gophers.
Despite the blowout finale, Indiana’s work in the first two games, powered by Hanley’s production, secured the Hoosiers’ first conference series win of the season. Through 23 games, the Hoosiers now sit at 10-13 overall and 3-6 in Big Ten play, while improving to 5-3 at home.
Indiana next takes on in-state rival Indiana State University at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington. Indiana is 20-15 all-time against the Sycamores and are coming off a 7-5 loss to the Sycamores last season.
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.
