After a convincing 11-3 win Friday night, Indiana baseball (14-20, 6-11 Big Ten) could not clinch its first road conference series, dropping game two to Maryland (16-19, 3-11), 14-4 in seven innings. After the Hoosiers had won four of the last five, Saturday’s blowout was a major setback.
The first inning looked a lot like Indiana’s victory Friday night. Cooper Malamazian’s two-run single and Cole Decker’s RBI double gave the cream and crimson an early three-run advantage.
Indiana sent veteran right-hander Reagan Rivera to the hill, as the graduate student from San Diego was fresh off a quality start against Rutgers last Sunday, tossing six innings of three-run ball.
Upon beginning his start, Rivera immediately struggled with control, as he walked three Terrapins in the bottom of the first. The third walk came with the bases loaded to cut Indiana’s deficit to 3-1.
After skating on thin ice in the first, Rivera completely fell apart when he returned for his second inning of work. A leadoff hit-by-pitch set the tone for a five-run second inning for Maryland, which included a trio of RBI-doubles. Rivera exited without getting a single out in the home half of the second, and was charged with all five runs.
The home team controlled the pace from there on out. Terrapin starter Logan Hastings held Indiana without a hit after the third inning, while only walking one batter for the game and fanning five Hoosiers.
The Terrapins’ offense wasn’t done after their five-run montage in the second. In the bottom of the fourth, Maryland played small ball against Indiana freshman Ivan Mastalski, tacking on two more runs via a bunt base hit and a fielder’s choice.
In the sixth inning, Maryland delivered the exclamation point, as yet another five-spot for the Terrapin offense put the game out of reach for Indiana. Leading 13-4 headed into the seventh, Devin Russel walked it off with a solo shot off of Anthony Gubitosi.
Familiar issues plagued the Hoosiers in Saturday’s defeat. Indiana arms handed out 11 free passes, including 10 bases on balls. They were also unable to lengthen the lineup, as the lower third in the order was held hitless.
Saturday’s loss dropped Indiana to 1-7 on the road in conference play. They will need a Sunday afternoon victory to win their third Big Ten series of 2026. The Hoosiers are currently 1-1 in rubber matches.
First pitch on Sunday afternoon at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium in College Park is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern.
