Series Secured with Massive Fifth Inning

Saturday, March 21

Bloomington, Ind.

2 p.m.

Indiana University

10-12, 0

Minnesota

15-8, 0

Minnesota

Indiana

3/21/2026 5:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Energy was at an all-time high as the Indiana Baseball team (10-12, 3-5 B1G) put the finishing touches on a series victory over Minnesota (15-8, 1-4 B1G) at Bart Kaufman Field. A five-run fifth inning – that featured three home runs – delivered a blow that the visitors couldn't recover from. IU's bullpen worked three scoreless frames to close out a 7-2 win on a beautiful Saturday (March 21) afternoon in Bloomington.

Minnesota starter Isaac Morton recorded the first 12 outs of the game without giving up a hit. That quickly changed in the fifth inning as redshirt freshman designated hitter Brayden Ricketts led off the inning with a solo home run into the bullpen in left field. A solo blast from sophomore outfielder Cole Decker and a three-run shot from sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley – both to the same spot in left field – gave IU a lead it wouldn't give up.

Extra insurance runs came in the sixth and seventh innings with RBI singles from freshman second baseman Landen Fry and sophomore outfielder Caleb Koskie. The top eight hitters in IU's order all recorded base knocks, led by a 2-3 day from Fry. Seven different players scored a run for the Hoosiers.

Graduate student southpaw Tony Neubeck (W, 2-2) turned in his second quality start of Big Ten play. He provided six innings of two-run baseball. He walked two guys but recorded eight strikeouts on just 87 pitches. Neubeck handed the ball over to the bullpen for three scoreless frames from junior right-handed pitchers Jacob Vogel and Jackson Yarberry. IU's relievers have given up just three runs in 16.1 innings of work this week.

Saturday's victory kept pitch counts low and sets IU up for a chance to sweep the Gophers tomorrow (March 22) at Bart Kaufman Field. IU is going for the 11th conference sweep in the head coach Jeff Mercer era (since 2019). First pitch has been moved up to 12:30 p.m. to accommodate travel considerations. It will stream on B1G+.

Scoring Recap
Top Fourth
The visitors finally broke the scoreless game with an RBI single through the right side from Michael Lippe.
Minnesota 1, Indiana 0

Top Fifth
Jack Spanier got a hold of a two-strike pitch up in the zone and hit a home run off the scoreboard in left field.
Minnesota 2, Indiana 0

Bottom Fifth
Indiana's offense got to Isaac Morton with a massive fifth inning. Brayden Ricketts and Cole Decker hit back-to-back home runs to tie the game. With a pair of runners on, Jake Hanley hit a three-run home run to open a 5-2 lead.
Indiana 5, Minnesota 2

Bottom Sixth
Landen Fry singled to right field to extend the lead.
Indiana 6, Minnesota 2

Bottom Seventh
The Hoosiers put the contest to bed with an RBI single in the seventh from Caleb Koskie.
Indiana 7, Minnesota 2

Top Hoosier Performers
#29 Neubeck, Tony
6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K

#34 Hanley, Jake
1-4, HR, 3 RBI, R

#25 Fry, Landen
2-3, R, RBI

Inside the Box Score
• The top eight players in IU's order all recorded base hits. Landen Fry had the only multi-hit day for IU.
• IU's pitching staff racked up 11 strikeouts – led by eight from Tony Neubeck.
• Minnesota failed to score after the fifth inning for the second-straight day.
• The Hoosiers allowed just four free passes on the night.

Notes to Know
• IU got back-to-back home runs from redshirt freshman designated hitter Brayden Ricketts and sophomore outfielder Cole Decker to tie the game in the fifth inning. It's the first time that IU's hit consecutive long balls since a win over Abilene Christian on May 3rd, 2025 (Dickerson, Hanley).

• The Hoosiers slugged three home runs in the fifth inning of Saturday's win over Minnesota. It's the most home runs in a single inning since hitting three in the sixth inning of a run-rule victory over Maryland on April 20th, 2025 (Dickerson, Hanley, Cerny).

• Graduate student left-handed pitcher Tony Neubeck provided his second quality start in Big Ten play this season. He recorded eight strikeouts over six innings and allowed just two runs. On the campaign, the veteran has compiled 30 strikeouts to just eight walks. He's only given up 11 earned runs in 28.1 innings this year.

• IU's pitching staff gave up just two runs in the victory, keeping Minnesota off the board in each of the final four innings. It's the 12th time this season – and the third time in league play – that IU has allowed four-or-fewer runs. The Hoosiers have also complied 10-or-more strikeouts in eight outings this year.

Up Next
The series between these two sides will end tomorrow (March 22) at Bart Kaufman Field. Getaway day in Bloomington will begin at 12:30 p.m. on B1G+ and will be carried on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.