Indiana baseball won a crucial series over Maryland from April 18-20 at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington. It took home a come-from-behind win in the series opener and shook off a Saturday beatdown to take two of three games versus Maryland, which swept Indiana when the two last met in Bloomington in 2023.
Comeback kids on Friday
The Hoosiers trailed for most of the series opener on account of a second-inning grand slam from veteran Terrapin outfielder Eddie Hacopian and a strong start from Maryland southpaw Kyle McCoy. The lefty worked through seven innings of three-run ball, striking out eight Indiana batters. He left the game with a 6-1 lead, in line for the win.
Indiana fought back with five runs in the bottom of the eighth, including a two-run single from freshman designated hitter Hogan Denny and a two-run homer from freshman shortstop Cooper Malamazian. The Hoosiers tied the game on an infield single from center fielder Korbyn Dickerson.
Indiana sent its fans home happy in the ninth. Second baseman Tyler Cerny was hit by a pitch — he’s been plunked more in his career than anyone in Indiana history — and advanced from first to third on a two-base error by Maryland reliever Cristofer Cespedes. After pinch-hitter Joey Brenczewski and Malamazian both struck out, freshman third baseman Will Moore lifted the Hoosiers to a 7-6 walk-off victory with a base hit to left-center. Indiana relievers Ryan Kraft (4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R), Jacob Vogel (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R) and Ben Grable (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R) kept the Hoosiers within striking distance, ensuring Maryland had limited chances to add insurance runs.
Subpar Saturday
The middle game of the series wasn’t quite as storybook. In rainy conditions, Maryland ambushed Indiana starter Cole Gilley (2 IP, 7 H, 6 R) and led 14-1 after three innings. Elijah Lambros and Jacob Orr hit grand slams in the second and third innings, respectively. Five of the Terrapins’ 15 hits were homers and they evened the series with a 17-4, seven-inning win.
Indiana hit three homers of its own — a two-run shot from third baseman Jasen Oliver, a 478-foot solo homer from center fielder Dickerson and a solo shot from left fielder Devin Taylor. Although the latter cut Maryland’s deficit to 12 runs, it was the most significant run-scoring hit of the game for Indiana. It marked Taylor’s 48th career homer, a new Indiana record.
“It’s an incredible achievement of consistent, great play,” Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer said postgame Saturday. “I thought he’d be a great player when he came to college, but I don’t think anyone thought he would break the career home run record in less than three years.”
Sunday’s rubber game
Much like Saturday, there was no shortage of offensive firepower in Sunday’s series finale. Indiana led 3-1 after five innings thanks to a strong start Grable, who turned in four innings of one-run ball while striking out four Terrapins on short rest. Moore scored on a wild pitch in the first frame while Dickerson gave Indiana a 2-0 lead with a third-inning RBI single. First baseman Jake Hanley’s fifth-inning home run re-established Indiana’s two-run advantage, answering a fourth-inning solo shot from Maryland catcher Alex Calarco.
The Terps backstop hit a game-tying two-run home run off of Indiana reliever Gavin Seebold in the sixth inning — his second long ball of the afternoon — but the visitors never sniffed the lead after tying the game 3-3.
Indiana answered Maryland’s two-spot with five runs in the bottom of the sixth: Taylor doubled to deep center field, Dickerson belted a two-run homer, and Hanley and Cerny both added solo shots. With the series hanging in the balance, Indiana’s bats answered the call. After taking an 8-3 lead in the sixth, the Hoosiers ran away from the Terps and won Sunday’s series finale, 15-5 in seven innings, taking the series 2-1. Taylor hit a three-run homer to left-center to seal the mercy-rule win.
In two wins over Maryland, Indiana relievers were key. The Hoosier bullpen allowed just six runs in 11 innings in Indiana’s two wins, keeping Maryland at arm’s length and giving the offense enough chances to do what it is capable of.
“You have to keep showing up,” Mercer said postgame Sunday. “It’s an everyday game. If you keep fighting, you get a chance. If you roll over and feel bad, then you never have a chance.”
Indiana is 22-18 and 12-9 in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers take on Ball State on Wednesday at victory field before a three-game series at first-place Iowa begins Friday at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on the IU Sports Radio Network and Indiana’s series at Iowa will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.
