Offense Crushes Five Home Runs in Series Finale

Friday, May 17

Bloomington, Ind.

6:00 PM

Indiana University

30-22-1, 0

Michigan

30-26, 0

Michigan

Indiana

Offense Crushes Five Home Runs in Series Finale

5/17/2024 9:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana Baseball team (30-22-1, 15-9 B1G) did what it does best on Friday (May 17) night at Bart Kaufman Field: blast home runs and strike out batters in bunches. The Hoosiers hit five long balls including two from freshman second baseman Jasen Oliver while punching out 17 Wolverines on the mound in an 8-4 victory to finish off the regular season.

Friday's win gave IU its sixth Big Ten series victory of the season. Over the past two years, the Hoosiers are 12-4 in conference weekends, going 6-2 in both campaigns. It also gave IU its 30th regular season win of the year. The Hoosiers have reached that mark in 11 of the past 12 full seasons (25; 2022).

Sophomore outfielder Devin Taylor gave his final regular season performance as he chases the Big Ten Player of the Year award. He went deep again for his co-conference leading 17th home run of the season. He tallied 77 hits in 53 games with 28 multi-hit contests.

The pitching staff was brilliant once again as pitching coach Dustin Glant gets the group for a potential run through the Big Ten Tournament. IU conceded just nine runs on the entire weekend, the fewest given up in a conference series since allowing nine vs. Iowa in 2023. Its 17 strikeouts were a season best from the staff, led by a career-high eight punchies from sophomore right-hander Aydan Decker-Petty.

IU heads to Omaha and the Big Ten Tournament as the league's No. 3 seed, meaning it will play the opening game on Tuesday (May 21) at 10:00 AM against an undetermined opponent. Since April began, the Hoosiers have won 15 of 24 games and six of its last seven Big Ten series.

Scoring Recap
Bottom Second
Jasen Oliver worked a full count before blasting a three-run home run over the bullpen in left field to hand IU an early lead.
Indiana 3, Michigan 0

Top Third
Michigan got one back in the third inning. A throwing error from third baseman Josh Pyne allowed Brock Leitgeb to score an unearned run all the way from first base.
Indiana 3, Michigan 1

Bottom Third
The Hoosiers got two runs in the bottom of the frame as Tyler Cerny and Carter Mathison each hit solo home runs.
Indiana 5, Michigan 1

Bottom Fourth
Oliver hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot to left field to extend the lead.
Indiana 6, Michigan 1

Top Fifth
Kyle Dernedde crushed a breaking ball from IU reliever Ryan Kraft to trim the deficit in half.
Indiana 6, Michigan 3
Bottom Fifth
Devin Taylor continued his scorching hot streak, taking a ball away over the bullpen in left field for a two-run blast.
Indiana 8, Michigan 3

Top Eighth
Collin Priest blasted a solo shot into right field, the last run by either side in the game.
Indiana 8, Michigan 4

Top Hoosier Performers
#2 Oliver, Jasen
204, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

#5 Taylor, Devin
2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB

#55 Decker-Petty, Aydan
3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 8 K

Notes to Know
• Indiana won its sixth Big Ten series of the season, winning three both at home and on the road for the second-straight year. Getting to 30 regular season wins marked the 11th time in the past 12 full seasons the Hoosiers have reached that benchmark.

• Jasen Oliver hit a pair of home runs on Friday night, the second multi-home run game of his young career (March 26 vs. Middle Tennessee State). It was the third game of his freshman season with at least four RBIs.

• The Hoosier pitching staff, led by Aydan Decker-Petty (8), recorded a season-high 17 strikeouts against Michigan. IU had 17 in a contest vs. Iowa last year (April 8, 2023) but it was the most in a nine-inning contest since punching out 17 at Clemson in February of 2022.

• On top of the 35 strikeouts from the IU rotation this weekend, the Hoosiers also conceded just nine runs (eight earned) over 27 innings against Michigan. It was the fewest runs allowed in a Big Ten series since giving up nine vs. Iowa last season (April 7-9, 2023).

• Tonight's five home run effort marked the third game this year with five long balls, matching the season-best tally also recorded in home wins over Butler (March 30) and Rutgers (April 28). Tyler Cerny hit his 10th long ball of the year, giving IU's offense three guys with 10+ home runs (Taylor – 17, Mathison – 13).

• IU will be the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament next weekend and will play in the opening game at Charles Schwab Field next Tuesday morning (10:00 AM). The Hoosiers have made 11-consecutive conference tournaments, the league's longest active streak.

Up Next
The Hoosiers will meet an undetermined opponent on Tuesday morning as the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Tuesday's first pitch is at 10:00 AM. It will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.