After splitting the first two games of the weekend in College Park, Maryland, Indiana entered Sunday’s rubber match against Maryland with a chance to win back-to-back conference series for the first time this season.
Despite leading the majority of the game, the Hoosiers suffered a 8-6 walk-off loss to lose the series to the last-place Terrapins. Indiana took a two-run lead into the bottom of the ninth, but a grand slam from Devin Russell dealt the Hoosiers a series loss that puts IU’s Big Ten Tournament hopes in jeopardy.
The Hoosiers found themselves in a hole early. Starting pitcher Brayton Thomas surrendered a two-RBI single in the first inning. But Indiana bounced right back.
Ayden Crouse, Indiana’s offensive leader on the afternoon, got the Hoosiers on the board in the third inning with an RBI double down the left field line. Will Moore tied the score at two an inning later with an RBI single.
In the fifth inning, the Hoosiers took control. Crouse launched his first home run of the season to center field to give Indiana its first lead of the ball game. Jake Hanley followed suit just two batters later with a two-run shot, his 10th long ball of his sophomore season.
Hitting in the No. 9 spot, Crouse played a vital role in turning over the lineup and giving the Indiana bats a chance to extend innings. He finished 3-for-4 with two extra base hits and two RBIs.
Thomas would go out for a fifth frame, but his outing would end after allowing back-to-back baserunners. He finished four complete innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs to go with four strikeouts. For the second straight start, the Fort Wayne, Indiana native recorded at least four punch outs.
The Terps cut into the deficit an inning later with a sacrifice fly, but Crouse would get the run right back in the top of the sixth.
Leading off of first base, Crouse scored after Maryland pitcher Austin Weiss’ pick-off attempt sailed into foul territory. The Terps struggled to get the ball in on time, allowing Indiana’s right fielder to score on a play at the plate and regain Indiana’s three-run lead.
Maryland got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run off Jackson Yarberry. The right-hander worked his way through 4.1 innings with mixed results, but ultimately left the Hoosiers in a position to clinch the series.
Yarberry went out looking to earn a save, but ran into some trouble in the ninth, allowing a one-out single and a walk to bring the winning run to the plate.
Head coach Jeff Mercer turned to Michael Sarhatt to finish the job. Then, disaster struck. After a walk to load the bases, Sarhatt allowed Russell's walk-off grand slam to lose the series.
The brutal loss has a significant influence on a potential Big Ten Tournament berth. To put themselves in the best position for postseason baseball, the Hoosiers will have to scrape out some wins against Iowa and Illinois at home, as well as fourth-place Purdue and Northwestern on the road.
But before then, the Hoosiers travel to Terre Haute, Indiana on Tuesday looking to avenge their tight loss at home back in March. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
