What was a close game halfway through turned into a beatdown by game’s end, as Indiana baseball (7-9, 1-2 Big Ten) knocked off Wright State (5-9), 12-4 Tuesday at Bart Kaufman Field.
The Hoosiers bounced back after suffering a home series loss at the hands of the Washington Huskies last weekend, in which they only scored 10 runs across the three games. They outdid that number in nine innings of baseball Tuesday, accumulating 12.
“Being patient, but not passive…some guys were better at that today,” head coach Jeff Mercer said after the game on the offensive bounceback.
The offense for the Hoosiers came in bulk, as the Hoosiers scored all 12 of their runs in just three innings: four in the first, three in the sixth and five in the eighth.
Sophomore Caleb Koskie led the way for Indiana, going 3-for-4 while driving in five runs. Koskie set the tone early, crushing a three-run homer in the bottom of the first. He followed that up with a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth, putting the game out of reach for the Raiders.
It was a career day for Koskie, who continues to see his role expand as the season goes on. Tuesday marked his seventh consecutive start, and he has hit safely in three of his last four, going 6-for-11 in the process.
Indiana’s 16 hits were a season-high, with seven different players recording a knock. First baseman Jake Hanley added two RBIs, while third baseman Will Moore went 4-for-4 at the top of the order, reaching base six times.
Moore appears to have taken his leadoff spot back, as he started in that spot for the second straight game. Ayden Crouse had led off for Indiana the previous eight games, but moved down to the eighth spot in the order Sunday and stayed there once again Tuesday.
The Hoosiers’ collective effort on the mound was also important in securing the victory. Indiana pitchers allowed 22 runs over the final two games of the Washington series.
Eight pitchers saw action for the Cream and Crimson, and they combined to only allow four runs while fanning 10. Freshman Ivan Mastalski was used as the opener and pitched two innings of one-run ball.
Wright State played some long ball, mashing three solo home runs, two of which came against RHP Evan O’Neill, who made his first appearance for IU this season.
Kaden Jacobi relieved Michael Sarhatt in the top of the sixth, in a 4-3 (Indiana) game, with the bases loaded and two outs, inheriting a 2-0 count. The former Missouri Tiger threw three consecutive strikes to get his man and escape the jam unscathed.
“He’s got great stuff…He went for it. And that changed the whole swing of the game,” Mercer said of Jacobi after the game. “I thought Jacobi was fearless…It was a pivotal moment.”
That was the closest Wright State would get to tying or taking the lead, as a four-spot for Indiana in the bottom of the sixth immediately followed the missed opportunity.
Indiana has had a much higher rate of success in midweek games than they did early on last season. In 2025, the Hoosiers dropped four midweek games at home, including two in the first month of the season. Their poor play in those games played a factor in costing them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
So far this season, Mercer’s squad is 3-0 in midweeks, winning each game by six runs or more. The Hoosiers are averaging 13 runs per midweek game, and outsourcing their opponents, 39-11.
Indiana will resume their Big Ten schedule this upcoming weekend, as they head all the way out to the West Coast to face the Oregon Ducks (13-3, 2-1 Big Ten) in a three-game series. First pitch for the series opener Friday night is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST
