Series Finale Escapes on Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, March 8

Bloomington, Ind.

Noon

Indiana University

6-9, 0

Washington

5-10, 0

Washington

Indiana

3/8/2026 4:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Even after striking for an early lead in the first inning, the Indiana Baseball team (6-9, 1-2 B1G) couldn't find a way to hang on to momentum on Sunday (March 8) afternoon at Bart Kaufman Field. Visiting Washington (5-10, 2-1 B1G) scored 11 unanswered runs to pull away for a 13-4 victory in the rubber match of the opening weekend of the Big Ten season. It's the third-straight season that IU has lost the first conference series of the year.

Without the services of normal Sunday starter Jackson Bergman, IU's bullpen had to pick up the load earlier than expected. Graduate student right-handed pitcher Reagan Rivera went four innings and gave up four runs. Graduate student right-handed pitcher Kaden Jacobi pitched well before hanging a breaking ball to catcher Colton Bower. Bower hit a go-ahead two-run blast, one of three home runs on the day, in the sixth inning to give Washington a lead it wouldn't concede.

Sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian gave IU a lead in the first inning with a two-run single. Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley added a solo home run in the fourth inning. Momentum killers proved massive for the Hoosiers on Sunday afternoon. Double plays in the first and eighth inning with the bases loaded were part of a day where IU was 2-20 (.100) with runners on base.

IU will look to erase the sting of this weekend's loss with a midweek contest against Wright State on Tuesday (March 10) at Bart Kaufman Field. The Hoosiers will head on the road for the first time in conference play next weekend at Oregon (March 13-15).

Scoring Recap
Bottom First
Cooper Malamazian provided a two-run single to open the scoring on Sunday afternoon.
Indiana 2, Washington 0

Top Third
Colton Bower hit an opposite field home run to right field to get Washington on the board. Braeden Terry added a triple later in the inning to tie the game.
Indiana 2, Washington 2

Bottom Third
IU took the lead right back on a solo home run from Jake Hanley.
Indiana 3, Washington 2

Bottom Fourth
Will Moore reached on an error, allowing Caleb Koskie to score from third. In the process, Moore was tagged out after accidentally rounding the base at first.
Indiana 4, Washington 2

Top Fifth
Bower and Landon Young hit back-to-back solo home runs to chase Reagan Rivera from the game.
Indiana 4, Washington 4

Top Sixth
Bower hit a two-run home run on a breaking ball that Kaden Jacobi left over the plate.
Washington 6, Indiana 4

Top Seventh
Sam DeCarlo hit a ball past the diving reach of Ayden Crouse for a two-run triple into right field.
Washington 8, Indiana 4

Top Ninth
Things really got away from IU in the ninth inning. A bunt single from Mic Paul got a run on the board before a triple and an error scored three more from Bower. Young scored on a double steal move to end the frame.
Washington 13, Indiana 4

Top Hoosier Performers
#34 Hanley, Jake
3-4, HR, RBI, BB

#15 Malamazian, Cooper
2-5, 2 RBI

#5 Crouse, Ayden
2-2, 2 BB

Notes to Know
• This weekend's series against Washington was just the fifth Big Ten home weekend that head coach Jeff Mercer has lost in his time in Bloomington. For the third-straight season, and the second time at home, IU has lost the opening Big Ten series of the season.

• Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley picked up three hits to take his career tally to 93 base knocks in only 71 games. He's seven away from reaching 100 career hits in just the second month of his sophomore campaign. His fourth-inning home run was the 17th of his collegiate career.

Up Next
IU will finish out the four-game homestand against Wright State on Tuesday (March 8) evening. First pitch is currently set for 5 p.m. and will be streamed on B1G+ and carried on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.