As the setting sun and smoky storm clouds combined to create a dome of darkness over Bart Kauffman Field, Indiana shortstop Cooper Malamazian hammered a solo home run over the center field wall.
The sophomore’s second long ball of the season was just the second Hoosier run of the night, as the bats struggled to produce in a 9-2, series-tying loss to Washington on Saturday.
Overall, the Hoosiers managed just five hits and didn’t work a single walk. It’s the third time this season Indiana has scored two runs or less. It is winless in all three.
Head coach Jeff Mercer thinks it was easily the worst offensive outing of the season.
“Today was the first time (this season) we just didn’t play very well,” he said. “There are times that we’ve had leads late and kind of lost it for whatever reason, but we’ve always played pretty well…it’s time to just tip the cap and move on.”
While the results weren’t there in the box score, there were plenty of opportunities for the Hoosiers to be more productive.
In the first inning, center fielder Ayden Crouse led off with a hit by pitch. Third baseman Will Moore forced a throwing error by the Huskies defensively, moving Crouse to third. Crouse would score as designated hitter Brayden Ricketts grounded into a double play, but that would be the only scoring until Malamazian’s home run in the final frame.
Several more Indiana at-bats ended in well-struck outs. Hard contact often led to loud flyouts or an unfortunate bounce would result in a groundout. In a sport where sometimes you need a little luck, there was none to lean on.
Instead, the Hoosiers’ youth and inexperience reared its ugly head.
“I think there was some immaturity, some youthfulness, which is a little frustrating,” Mercer said.
That frustration was evident. Indiana is now 6-8 on the season and 1-1 through two conference games. The bats have managed just six runs on 13 hits so far against the Huskies. If this series has shown anything, it’s how unpredictable and up-and-down the Hoosier lineup can be.
“Offenses go through ebbs and flows,” Mercer said, adding that this current stretch has definitely included more down than up.
But Sunday provides a chance to reset. An opportunity to start trending upward again.
The rubber match at noon Sunday in Bloomington will be a valuable evaluation point for Mercer. Against a team which entered the weekend with just three wins on the year, the Hoosiers must show they can put away conference opponents they should be able to beat.
But with how unpredictable Indiana has been in 2026, who knows what happens next.
