First Midweek Defeat of the Year

Tuesday, March 24

Bloomington, Ind.

6 p.m.

Indiana University

10-14

Indiana State

11-13

Indiana State

Indiana

3/24/2026 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana Baseball team (10-14, 3-6 B1G) couldn't overcome a series of mistakes as it dropped its first midweek game of the campaign. Visiting Indiana State took advantage of an error in the fifth inning and a pair of free passes in the eighth inning in a 5-4 win over IU on Tuesday (March 24) at Bart Kaufman Field. It's the second-straight year that Indiana State has won in Bloomington.

IU's pitching staff was rolling through the first five innings before a throwing error from third baseman Will Moore handed the Sycamores new life. With freshman right-handed pitcher Ivan Mastalski deep into his second inning of work, Indiana State singled in a pair of runs to tie the game.

The Hoosiers would get the lead back in the seventh inning on an RBI single from sophomore Jake Hanley. Sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian had the chance to add insurance in the frame but struck out with the bases loaded. In total, IU left nine runners on base in the loss.

Junior right-handed pitcher Jackson Yarberry (L, 0-3) went out for a second inning of work in the eighth but struggled to find the same command he had in the seventh. After a pair of walks and an RBI double tied the game, IU turned the ball over to graduate student right-handed pitcher Kaden Jacobi. He got the final two outs but not before Indiana State plated two more to take the lead.

IU had a chance to win the game in the ninth but left the game-tying run on base. Freshman catcher Owen ten Oever had a pinch-hit single and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Hanley. However, the Hoosiers couldn't muster more than the one run in the inning. The loss to Indiana State was the first midweek defeat of the year.

Up next for head coach Jeff Mercer and the Hoosiers is a trip to Nebraska to face the No. 24 Cornhuskers at Haymarket Park. The series will get underway on Friday (March 27) evening at 7 p.m. ET on B1G+.

Scoring Recap
Bottom First
Caleb Koskie clubbed a ball off the wall to bring home Hogan Denny on an RBI double
Indiana 1, Indiana State 0

Bottom Fourth
Landen Fry singled in the second run of the game.
Indiana 2, Indiana State 0

Top Fifth
After an error extended the inning, Andrew Ortiz and Carter Beck each singled home runs to tie the game.
Indiana 2, Indiana State 2

Bottom Seventh
Jake Hanley came through with a clutch hit to left-center field as IU took the lead back.
Indiana 3, Indiana State 2

Top Eighth
In an inning where IU needed a zero, the Sycamores plated three. Jorge Cartagena doubled to left field to tie the game. He would come around to score on a wild pitch as the visitors took the lead. A sacrifice fly from Colin Sander doubled the lead in the eighth.
Indiana State 5, Indiana 3

Bottom Ninth
Hanley brought home Owen ten Oever on a sacrifice fly.
Indiana State 5, Indiana 4

Top Hoosier Performers
#2 Denny, Hogan
2-4, R, BB

#28 Linn, Conner
3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K

#34 Hanley, Jake
1-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Inside the Box Score
• IU's pitching staff allowed just five runs – three earned – in the defeat.
• Hogan Denny and Cole Decker produced multi-hit days for IU.
• Four different IU pitchers recorded multiple strikeouts.

Notes to Know
• Graduate student southpaw Conner Linn continues to impress in his midweek starts. He's thrown 6.2 scoreless innings in the past two Tuesday contests. Against Indiana State, he worked three scoreless while allowing just one hit. Linn has struck out seven batters in his past two outings.

• Sophomore outfielder Cole Decker has been rock solid in the IU lineup since the start of the Oregon series. He's now riding a seven-game hitting streak after the second multi-hit game of his career. His batting average dipped back under .200 on March 13th but is now up to .268 after eight hits in his last seven games.

• Sophomore outfielder Hogan Denny collected a pair of base knocks in his eighth multi-hit game of the season. Over the last six games, the Indiana native has provided 10 hits. He's had at least two base knocks in four of the five midweek contests this season.

Up Next
The final weekend of March will take the Hoosiers to Lincoln to face Nebraska in a Big Ten series. All three games will be streamed on B1G+ and will be carried on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.