With Indiana baseball holding a 3-2 lead over Indiana State University in the seventh inning Tuesday, junior right-handed pitcher Jackson Yarberry returned to the mound for the Hoosiers.
Yarberry, who had just thrown a scoreless inning, proceeded to walk two batters in the eighth inning. Indiana State senior outfielder Jorge Cartagena tied the game with an RBI double down the left-field line.
This was just the start of the collapse for Indiana’s pitching, which ultimately led to the Hoosiers’ 5-4 loss at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington. The Cream and Crimson’s defense also made a crucial throwing error in the fourth inning that cost them two runs.
After Yarberry, Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer turned to graduate right-hander Kaden Jacobi, who threw a wild pitch on his second offering to give Indiana State a lead it would not relinquish.
Jacobi held a 12.15 ERA in 6.2 innings pitched prior to Tuesday’s contest. While he gave up the lead against the Sycamores, the three earned runs were surrendered under Yarberry. Yarberry fell to 0-3 on the year, taking the pitching loss.
Jacobi struck out the next batter, ending the inning. He only pitched 0.2 innings in relief but didn’t allow a single hit, leaving the game in a 5-3 deficit. The University of Missouri transfer lowered his season ERA to 11.05 through eight appearances despite the loss.
The Sycamores added another run with a sacrifice fly by freshman right-handed pitcher/infielder Colin Sander.
“You can’t walk the first guy or the third guy of the inning in the eighth inning with a one-run lead,” Mercer said postgame. “You present those guys an opportunity... you just can’t open the window like that. If someone earns it, by taking a tough competitive walk, for example, you tip your cap. But that can’t happen.”
Indiana still had a chance to tie — or even win — in the bottom of the ninth inning. However, sophomore left-handed pitcher/outfielder Caleb Koskie grounded into a controversial 5-4 fielder's choice to end the contest.
Koskie’s ground ball was snagged by Indiana State sophomore infielder Mason Roell, who threw it to Sander at second base. All he had to do was step on the base. But Sander appeared — initially — to miss it with his foot, allowing sophomore catcher/outfielder Hogan Denny and Koskie to both reach safely.
However, the play was reviewed and overturned. The umpires determined Sander grazed second base, recording the final out of the game and ending a potential Indiana rally in the ninth inning.
Indiana’s pitching staff had been nearly flawless until the eighth inning in the game. Starting pitcher graduate student left-hander Conner Linn, freshman right-handed pitcher Ivan Mastalski and graduate student right-handed pitcher Michael Sarhatt threw the first five innings.
Linn pitched three innings, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out two batters. The southpaw lowered his season ERA to 6.91 in 14.1 innings thrown.
Mastalski went 1.2 innings, allowing three hits and two unearned runs. He also struck out two Sycamore batters. Mastalski holds a 3.31 ERA through nine appearances this year.
Sarhatt walked one batter but escaped a bases-loaded jam. He got Indiana State junior catcher Caden Miller to pop out to end the Sycamores’ rally.
The two runs allowed by the Cream and Crimson were aided by a throwing error by sophomore infielder Will Moore with two outs and a runner on base in the fourth inning. If Moore had made the play, the inning would have been over; instead, Indiana State capitalized off the miscue.
Indiana State senior infielder Nomar Garcia hit a ground ball to Moore. The Paris, Ontario, native fielded the ball behind the third base bag but his throw to first base was short. Sophomore infielder Jake Hanley was unable to field the ball, which was well short, despite being fully outstretched. The inning continued with two outs and runners on first and second base.
It’s only the third error Moore has made in 48 chances this season.
The Sycamores took advantage of the careless misplay by Indiana by hitting back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game.
“We got a ground ball to the third baseman, and we didn't throw it to the first baseman,” Mercer said. “Now you’re in the middle of the lineup, you have a young guy on the mound; the inning should have been over... it’s a routine play, you have to make that play.”
Mercer also said that Mastalski was “hung out to dry,” especially as a younger pitcher in that situation with runners on base.
Moore’s throwing error and the three runs given up in the eighth inning plagued the Hoosiers. Those mistakes could continue to impede them throughout their schedule moving forward.
The Hoosiers begin a week-long road trip with a weekend series against No. 24 Nebraska which starts at 7 p.m. Friday in Lincoln.
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.
