Costly Errors Spoil Home Opener

Wednesday, February 26

Bloomington, Ind.

2:00 PM

Indiana University

3-5

Xavier

5-3

Xavier

Indiana

2/26/2025 6:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A trio of errors and timely Xavier hitting cost the Indiana Baseball team (3-5) a chance at a win in its home opener at Bart Kaufman Field. The Hoosiers dropped an 8-4 decision on Wednesday (Feb. 26) afternoon, its second close loss of the season to the Musketeers.

IU got the momentum back in Wednesday's contest after back-to-back home runs from junior outfielder Devin Taylor (two-run) and sophomore outfielder Korbyn Dickerson (solo). The Hoosiers got two more runners on but a hard-hit double play ball at the shortstop halted IU's fifth-inning run.

From there, it was all Xavier. The Musketeers scored four runs (three unearned) in the final four frames to take the season series from IU. Junior right-handed pitcher Aydan Decker-Petty (L, 0-1) was tagged with the loss after recording just one out and allowing two runs (zero earned).

Redshirt junior southpaw Grant Holderfield had the most success on the mound, tossing 2.2 innings of work against Xavier. He recorded eight outs and let in just one earned run. IU's defense unraveled in the eighth inning with an error from sophomore second baseman Jasen Oliver and a missed team bunt defense assignment.

The Hoosiers recorded 11 hits but continued to struggle in hitting with runners in scoring position. IU hit .222 (2-9) in the category. It also hit .222 with two outs in the inning. Outside of Dickerson and redshirt sophomore designated hitter Joey Brenczewski, the rest of IU's lineup has just 13 hits through eight games with runners in scoring position.

IU will look for a quick turnaround as it prepares to head to Florida for a four-game weekend with Stetson and Mount St. Mary's. Head coach Jeff Mercer's team will play two games each against Stetson and Mount St. Mary's at Conrad Park in DeLand, Florida.

Scoring Recap
Top First
Xavier smashed a couple home runs in the first inning. Aedan Anderson hit a solo home run before Landon Mensik slugged a two-run blast over the scoreboard.
Xavier 3, Indiana 0

Bottom First
Jake Hanley started his afternoon with a RBI double into left-center field. His hit brought home Korbyn Dickerson to score IU's first run. The Hoosiers had a chance to strike for more but left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first frame.
Xavier 3, Indiana 1

Top Fifth
Xavier scored on a fielder's choice after a Connor Misch groundout to the third baseman.
Xavier 4, Indiana 1

Bottom Fifth
The Hoosiers crawled back into the game in the fifth inning. Devin Taylor launched a two-run home run to bring IU within one. Korbyn Dickerson followed that up with a solo blast to dead center.
Xavier 4, Indiana 4

Top Sixth
After getting the game tied in the fifth, IU let the lead slip away. An error led to an unearned run on a RBI single from Jason Jelic. Anderson drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to the left fielder.
Xavier 6, Indiana 4

Top Eighth
Things got away from the Hoosiers in the eighth. Xavier led off the inning with a double that dropped into the corner and a bunt single on a miscommunication from IU's defense. IU then committed an error that led to another run for Xavier. An additional sacrifice fly allowed an eighth run of the game to score.
Xavier 8, Indiana 4

Top Hoosier Performers
#20 Dickerson, Korbyn
2-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

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

#18 Holderfield, Grant
2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K

Inside the Box Score
• The Hoosiers outhit the Musketeers 11-7.
• Four players had multi-hit days for Indiana.
• IU's pitching staff allowed just four earned runs.
• The Hoosiers had three errors – the fourth multi-error game of the season.
• There were 10 strikeouts from IU's pitching staff – the fourth time its reached double digits this year.

Notes to Know
• Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley had the third multi-hit day of his young career and extended his hitting streak to eight games. He's the first IU true freshman with base knocks in each of his first eight career starts since Paul Toetz (13 starts – 2021).

• Redshirt sophomore outfielder Korbyn Dickerson had his fifth-consecutive multi-hit game. Over his past five games, he is hitting .480 (12-25) with four home runs, 12 runs scored and 14 RBIs. He's the first IU player with five-straight multi-hit games since Devin Taylor (6 – April 27 – May 10, 2024).

• Junior outfielder Devin Taylor (two-run) and Dickerson (solo) hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. It was the first time a pair of IU teammates have gone yard back-to-back since Tyler Cerny (two-run) and Taylor (solo) did so against Butler (March 30, 2024) last season.

• IU has had 10+ hits in five-straight games (since Feb. 17). This is the second-straight year the Hoosiers have gone on a stretch of at least five games with 10+ hits in the month of February. IU had double-digit outputs in base hits in six-straight contests (Feb. 17 – Feb. 25, 2024) last season.

• Sophomore outfielder Andrew Wiggins walked two times in Wednesday's defeat. He's walked 12 times in the last five games and leads the Big Ten with 13 free passes on the season. His fellow teammate, Taylor, is in a lengthy tie for second in the conference with 10 walks.

Up Next
IU will quickly look to put this one behind it. The Hoosiers are set for a four-game weekend in Florida with two games each against Stetson and Mount St. Mary's. Ben Haller will carry the broadcast on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.