After what seemed like a step in the right direction for Indiana with an 11-0 series-opening win, the Hoosiers experienced all too familiar struggles Saturday, falling to Rutgers 9-6 at Bart Kaufman Field. After trailing by as many as four runs, the Scarlet Knights used eight unanswered runs over four innings to force a winner-take-all game three.
Following a five-hour rain delay, graduate student RHP Reagan Rivera took the mound for Indiana (11-19, 4-10 Big Ten), posting arguably his best line of the season. Over six innings, Rivera allowed three earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out five on 75 total pitches.
Rutgers (16-14, 5-6) jumped on the Hoosiers early as junior Peyton Bonds scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Matt Chatelle in the opening frame. However, in the bottom of the first, Indiana quickly responded as sophomore Caleb Koskie extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-run home run to right field, scoring sophomore Hogan Denny.
Indiana added another run in the bottom of the third as Denny scored via a sacrifice fly from sophomore Cooper Malamazian. Meanwhile, in the bottom of the fifth, Koskie added two more RBIs of his own, doubling down the left field line to score sophomore Jake Hanley and Denny to give the Hoosiers their largest lead of the game at four runs.
After four scoreless innings from Rivera, the Scarlet Knights pulled within two in the top of the sixth as sophomore Yomar Carreras homered to right field, scoring Chatelle. Those were the first two of seven total RBIs for Carreras on the day, who had the Hoosiers’ number and played a big part in Rutgers forcing a rubber match.
Graduate student RHP Gavin Seebold entered the game in relief of Rivera, and after a scoreless top of the seventh, things quickly went south. Junior Charlie Meglio homered to left field to bring the Scarlet Knights within one, and a two-run double from Carreras scored Chatelle and senior Trey Wells to give Rutgers its first lead since the first inning.
Entering the ninth inning, Indiana trailed 6-5 and despite having blown a four-run lead, the game was well within reach. However, Carreras had other plans. With freshman RHP Ivan Mastalski on the mound, Carreras launched a three-run home run to right field, scoring freshman Gabriel Rivera and Chatelle to provide the Scarlet Knights with much-needed insurance.
Hanley homered to right to cut the deficit to three, but it was too little, too late. Saturday was another example of the Hoosier offense producing early but floundering late, placing added pressure on back-end arms to maintain a lead. They weren’t able to do so, and Indiana fell for the seventh time in its last eight games.
The Easter Sunday rubber match between the Hoosiers and the Scarlet Knights is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bart Kaufman Field. Sophomore LHP Brayton Thomas will make the start for Indiana, who is looking to win its second series of 2026 in Big Ten play.
