Saturday Struggles Linger in Evanston

Saturday, May 2

Evanston, Ill.

3 p.m.

Indiana University

21-26, 7-16

Northwestern

18-25-1, 6-17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Indiana	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	11	0
Northwestern	0	0	3	0	2	0	2	0	X	7	5	0

5/2/2026 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

EVANSTON, Ill. – Struggles in the middle innings have been a regular staple of Saturday afternoons in the Big Ten.

A 7-4 loss to Northwestern (18-25-1, 6-17 B1G) in Evanston (May 2) by the Indiana Baseball team (21-26, 7-16 B1G) was the sixth-consecutive loss on a Saturday and the fifth straight in conference play. On the year, the Hoosiers are just 1-7 in the middle game of a Big Ten weekend and 0-4 on the road. IU will have the chance to win the series tomorrow in the fifth rubber match of the year.

Another hot start from IU's offense had the feeling that momentum rolled over from Friday's victory at Wrigley Field. The Hoosiers scored in the first inning and had two on with no outs in the third inning after a two-run double from sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian. However, a strikeout and an unconventional double play halted any juice from the IU offense and shifted it right back to the home team.

Northwestern unleashed seven unanswered runs before IU finally stopped the bleeding with an RBI groundout from freshman second baseman Landen Fry in the eighth inning. The tying run came to the plate in the ninth inning but IU couldn't get anything across in the frame.

Sophomore outfielder Hogan Denny was the star of the show on Saturday afternoon. He provided his third four-hit day of the season and his first in conference action. His first inning single was the 100th career of his young, but outstanding career in Bloomington. Denny reached all five times but never came to the plate with runners on the bases. Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley and sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian each had multi-hit efforts.

IU will head into its fourth rubber match of the season in conference action. The Hoosiers' lone win in a series decider in Big Ten play came against Rutgers on April 5th. First pitch from Evanston will come at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT on B1G+ and online at iuhoosiers.com/watch.

Scoring Recap
Top First
Owen ten Oever put up an RBI groundout to score Hogan Denny from third base.
Indiana 1, Northwestern 0

Top Third
Cooper Malamazian doubled to the left field wall to extend the early advantage.
Indiana 3, Northwestern 0

Bottom Third
Ryan Kucherak doubled to clear the bases and tie the game in the third inning.
Indiana 3, Northwestern 3

Bottom Fifth
Jack Lausch smashed a two-run home run to right field.
Northwestern 5, Indiana 3

Bottom Seventh
Kucherak laced a single to center field to extend the advantage. Lausch came around to score in the inning on a fake steal that was bobbled by IU's second baseman.
Northwestern 7, Indiana 3

Top Eighth
Landen Fry grounded out to the shortstop but scored Malamazian from third.
Northwestern 7, Indiana 4

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

#15 Malamazian, Cooper
2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R

#34 Hanley, Jake
2-4, R, BB

Inside the Box Score
• There were 16 strikeouts compared to just eight walks by both pitching staffs in the game.
• Northwestern was outhit by six but managed to win the game by three runs.
• Hogan Denny had four hits but never came up with runners on base.

Notes to Know
• Sophomore Hogan Denny had his third four-hit day of the season but his first in conference play. His first knock of the day gave him 100 hits for his career. He (103) joins fellow sophomores Jake Hanley (137) and Cooper Malamazian (110) across the century mark in the hit category.

Up Next
IU has a chance to win its first road series of the year tomorrow against Northwestern. First pitch on B1G+ is set for 2 p.m. ET in Evanston. It will also be carried on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.