Hoosiers Fall Late, Drop First Series since March

Sunday, May 12

Lincoln, Neb.

12:00 PM

Indiana University

28-21-1, 0

Nebraska

32-18, 0

Indiana

Nebraska

Hoosiers Fall Late, Drop First Series since March

5/12/2024 3:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LINCOLN, Neb. – Missed opportunities was the story of the past two days for the Indiana Baseball team (28-21-1, 13-8 B1G). The Hoosiers left nine runners on base in the final five innings in Saturday's defeat and were just 2-13 (.154) with runners on base in Sunday's 4-2 defeat at Haymarket Park.

The pitching staff once again gave the visitors a chance to win the game. Junior lefty Ryan Kraft, who wasn't factored into the decision, allowed just two runs (one earned) in 2.2 innings of work. Sophomore reliever Aydan Decker-Petty (L, 1-2) went four innings and allowed two runs as well (one earned) but was ultimately dealt the loss after conceding the third and fourth runs of the game for Nebraska.

Freshman second baseman Jasen Oliver and sophomore shortstop Tyler Cerny each hit solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings respectively to tie the game. But that was all the offense IU could muster. IU had prime opportunities to score in the third and seventh but failed to capitalize each time.

Each team scored just 14 runs the entire weekend in a back-and-forth affair but Nebraska received timely hitting from Cole Evans in each contest to take the final two games of the series. The loss deeply hurts IU's conference title chances. The Hoosiers remain in at-large consideration but will have to turn on the offense in the final week of the regular season.

IU returns to action on Tuesday at Louisville before finishing the regular season slate at home against Michigan. One more conference win will clinch the Hoosiers' berth in the Big Ten Tournament in Omaha (begins May 21).

Scoring Recap
Bottom Third
Nebraska struck first after an error from third baseman Josh Pyne allowed the inning to continue. Case Sanderson hit a ground-rule double down the left-field line to bring home Rhett Stokes. After a pitching change, the Huskers got one more on a wild pitch.
Nebraska 2, Indiana 0

Top Fifth
Jasen Oliver hit a solo home run, his second of the weekend, to bring IU within one run.
Nebraska 2, Indiana 1

Top Sixth
Tyler Cerny quickly tied the game with a solo home run of his own to chase Nebraska's starting pitcher.
Indiana 2, Nebraska 2

Bottom Sixth
The Hoosiers once again hurt themselves in the bottom of the inning, allowing the home team to take the lead for good. Aydan Decker-Petty committed a throwing error on a soft ground ball back to the mound. After intentially walking Josh Caron, Cole Evans made IU pay once again with a single into left field.
Nebraska 3, Indiana 2

Bottom Seventh
Caron got an insurance run for the Huskers in the seventh with another single to left field. Stokes scored the fourth run for Nebraska which is all it would need.
Nebraska 3, Indiana 2

Top Hoosier Performers
#2 Oliver, Jasen
1-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI

#8 Cerny, Tyler
1-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI

#55 Decker-Petty, Aydan
4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 K

Notes to Know
• Indiana dropped its first series since losing two-of-three to Illinois in mid-March. IU is 5-2 in Big Ten series this season but has lost a pair of weekend slates to the top two teams in the conference in Illinois and Nebraska.

• The Hoosier pitching staff has allowed seven-or-fewer runs in 10-straight contests. However, IU is just 6-3-1 in those contests including back-to-back losses this weekend. Nebraska never scored more than five runs in a game this weekend and won the series.

Up Next
The final week of the regular season awaits the Hoosiers with four games. The Hoosiers head to Louisville on Tuesday before a three-game set with Michigan. Tuesday's first pitch is at 6:00 PM. It will be streamed on ACCNX and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.