After opening the series with an 11-3 win on Friday, Indiana dropped its next two games as it fell 14-4 in seven innings on Saturday and 8-6 on a walk-off grand slam Sunday.
At its best, the Hoosiers looked like a team capable of competing at the top of the Big Ten. At its worst, the same pitching staff struggled to hold leads, ultimately costing Indiana a chance at a series win.
The contrast began Friday.
Graduate student left-hand pitcher Tony Neubeck delivered one of Indiana’s strongest outings of the season, holding Maryland to just one run over six innings while striking out five. His command and ability to limit traffic let Indiana build momentum early, as the Hoosiers broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning on the way to an 11-3 win.
Neubeck’s performance set the tone for what Indiana hoped would be a complete weekend on the mound.
But that consistency didn’t carry over to Saturday.
With a bullpen-heavy approach following a season-ending injury to senior starter Jackson Bergman back in early March, Indiana turned to five pitchers. After a shaky start from graduate right-hander Reagan Rivera, the staff struggled to find consistency and was unable to contain Maryland’s offense.
The Terrapins capitalized on free passes and consistent contact, scoring 14 runs on 14 hits in a seven-inning run-rule victory. Indiana issued 10 walks in the game, feeding directly into Maryland’s patient approach at the plate and allowing innings to spiral.
After jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the first inning from a two-rbi double from sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian and another double from sophomore outfielder Cole Decker, Indiana was unable to stop the momentum swing. Maryland responded with a five-run second inning and never relinquished control, as Maryland's starting pitcher sophomore Logan Hastings settled in and delivered a complete game effort.
On Sunday, Indiana’s pitching was steady to start with a strong starting outing from sophomore left-hander Brayton Thomas, but faltered in the final moments of the game.
Thomas allowed two runs in the first inning but recovered well, settling into the game and keeping Maryland in check through the middle innings. Thomas worked four innings, allowing three runs while striking out four and limiting damage after the early deficit.
When Thomas ran into trouble in the fifth, Indiana turned to junior right-hander Jackson Yarberry.
He held Maryland to just one run across 4.1 innings, keeping Indiana in front as the Hoosiers built a 6-4 lead heading into the final innings and into the bottom of the ninth. His ability to stabilize the game mirrored what Indiana had seen from its bullpen in recent outings.
But once again, the final outs in closing out Indiana's win evaded them and proved difficult.
Indiana found itself in the ninth inning with just one out, clinging to a 6-4 lead.
Maryland had already applied pressure with a single and a walk before turning to its bullpen, forcing Indiana into a late-game pressure situation.
The Hoosiers then turned to graduate right-hander Michael Sarhatt in hopes he could weather the storm and bring Indiana its first Big Ten road series victory.
Instead, the situation unraveled quickly for the Hoosiers.
Sarhatt issued a walk to the first batter he faced to load the bases, bringing Maryland redshirt-junior catcher Devin Russell to the plate — the last hitter Indiana wanted to face. Russell had already ended Saturday’s game with a home run in the run-rule victory, and once again, found himself with an opportunity to send his Terrapins home with a win on just one swing.
And he did not waste his chance.
On the next pitch, Russell launched a grand slam to center field, turning a 6-4 Indiana lead into an 8-6 loss and sealing the series for Maryland.
Again, the bullpen faltered when Indiana needed it most. The Hoosiers dropped another Big Ten series in dramatic and painful fashion, continuing a trend of late-game collapses.
Indiana now turns its attention to a busy midweek slate, beginning with a road matchup against Indiana State University on Tuesday, April 14 in Terre Haute. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
The Hoosiers will then return home to face Evansville University on Wednesday, April 15 at Bart Kaufman Field, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on B1G+.
Both matchups will be rematches from earlier this season, with Indiana falling 5-4 to Indiana State on Mar. 24 and 5-4 to Evansville in 11 innings a week later on Mar. 31.
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.
