Indiana baseball returned home for just the second game at Bart Kaufman Field this year. The Hoosiers entered the contest with a 5-7 record on the year. Indiana took care of business, defeating Washington 4-2 to secure the first win in conference play this year.
Indiana trotted out graduate student left handed pitcher Tony Neubeck to start the series. Neubeck had been dominant entering the outing, sporting a 1.46 ERA and allowing just two earned runs in 10 innings of work this year.
The lefty continued his fantastic start to the year, tossing six innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs, while striking out a season-high nine Husky batters. Neubeck earned the win, his first of the year, moving his record to 1-1 on the season.
The Indiana offense got started early with an RBI double by sophomore utility player Hogan Denny in the bottom of the first inning to give Indiana a 1-0 lead.
Washington picked up the next two runs of the game thanks to sophomore outfielder Jackson Hotchkiss who had an RBI double in the top of the second inning, and a solo homer to center in the top of the fourth.
Indiana would score the next three runs of the game and hold on to win. Brayden Ricketts continued his blistering start to the season with an RBI double to left center in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game.
The sixth inning was the deciding factor on the scoreboard, giving Indiana the lead for good.
Freshman second baseman Landen Fry drove in sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley on an RBI double; shortly followed up by sophomore outfielder Caleb Koskie driving in Fry with an RBI single to right. That 4-2 score would hold true for the remainder of the night.
Graduate student pitcher Gavin Seebold threw two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth inning, followed by junior right hander Jackson Yarberry closing the door with a scoreless ninth inning, securing the save and a Hoosier victory.
Indiana picks up a much needed series opening win and looks to build on its two-game winning streak on Saturday for game two of the series starting at 1 p.m.
