Clutch Home Runs Decide Midweek Tilt

Tuesday, March 18

Bloomington, Ind.

6:00 PM

Indiana University

12-9

Evansville

5-15

Evansville

Indiana

3/18/2025 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Brilliant bullpen work and big home runs helped the Indiana Baseball team (12-9, 4-2 B1G) overcome a slow offensive day on Tuesday (March 18) evening at Bart Kaufman Field. IU got home runs in the seventh and eighth innings to finish off a 7-4 midweek win over Evansville.

After Evansville came back to tie the game, junior outfielder Devin Taylor immediately responded in the home half of the seventh inning. He hit a solo home run to the opposite field on a pitch that tailed away from him across the plate. That gave IU the lead but freshman third baseman Cooper Malamazian put the game to bed in the eighth with a 414-foot, two-run blast.

Redshirt junior pitcher Pete Haas (SV, 1) continued to impress in his relief role. He racked up four strikeouts by peppering change ups past the Evansville hitters. He's the third IU pitcher to record a save this season. Redshirt junior left-handed pitcher Grant Holderfield (W, 1-0) did a great job of inducing weak contact in his two innings of work.

Taylor and junior shortstop Tyler Cerny combined for five of the seven IU hits. Cerny continued to show brilliance in the field. His over-the-head diving catch in shallow center field kept runs off the board and preserved the IU lead in the sixth inning. After earning the No. 2 play on SportsCenter this past weekend, he should find himself among the top-10 plays in sports again on Tuesday evening.

IU won its fifth-straight game on Tuesday, its longest winning streak since putting together six-straight victories in February of 2024. The Hoosiers will get a stiff test this weekend as they head to Los Angeles to face Big Ten newcomers UCLA. After the west coast swing, IU will play its next nine games at Bart Kaufman Field.

Scoring Recap
Bottom Third
IU put runs on the board in the second inning thanks to an Evansville error that prolonged the inning. Devin Taylor came around to score after the shortstop fumbled a routine ball. Korbyn Dickerson added another run to the tally when he laced a ball off the left field wall that came off the bat at 112 miles per hour.
Indiana 2, Evansville 0

Top Fifth
The visitors got onto the board in the fifth inning. Aaron Nehls led off the inning with a triple off the wall in center field. He came around to score on a fielder's choice off the bat of Evan Waggoner.
Indiana 2, Evansville 1

Bottom Fifth
The Hoosiers added a pair of runs to the board in the fifth inning. Taylor split the shift for a RBI single before Jake Hanley walked with the bases loaded.
Indiana 4, Evansville 1

Top Sixth
Evansville got a pair of runs back on a tough outing from reliever Seth Benes. Ty Rumsey scored on a wild pitch after reaching on an infield single to begin the inning. Charlie Longmeier drove home a run on a sacrifice fly to the center fielder.
Indiana 4, Evansville 3

Top Seventh
On a tough break for the Hoosiers, the visitors were able to tie the game. Grant Holderfield induced a jam shot single that landed in no man's land. IU avoided any further damage when Hanley covered second base to tag out the runner trying to advance.
Indiana 4, Evansville 4

Bottom Seventh
Taylor immediately responded, hitting his 43rd career home run. It was a solo shot to left field to give IU the lead.
Indiana 5, Evansville 4

Bottom Eighth
IU got insurance in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run blast from Cooper Malamazian.
Indiana 7, Evansville 4

Top Hoosier Performers
#51 Haas, Pete
2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 K

#5 Taylor, Devin
3-4, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B

#8 Cerny, Tyler
2-4, 1 R, 1 2B

Inside the Box Score
• IU had just seven hits – its fewest number of hits in a win since April 26, 2024 (vs. Rutgers).
• The Hoosiers walked just three batters on the mound.
• Devin Taylor was the only player in the entire game to record three hits.
• IU's pitchers allowed just two extra-base hits.
• The IU pitching staff had 10+ strikeouts in the third-straight ballgame.

Notes to Know
• Junior outfielder Devin Taylor hit his 43rd career home run with a solo blast in the seventh inning. He moves into a tie for fourth all-time in program history. His next long ball will move him into sole possession of fourth place on IU's all-time charts. Three players (Last: Alex Dickerson) hold the IU home run record at 47.

• The Hoosiers have settled in on the mound after some early peaks and vallies. IU has allowed seven-or-fewer earned runs in seven-straight contests. In five of those seven games, Dustin Glant's pitching staff has given up fewer than five runs.

• Redshirt junior pitcher Pete Haas has found extreme success with his changeup as the season has progressed. The veteran reliever has pitched five times in the past 10 games with a 2.70 earned run average. In his 10 innings during that span, he's recorded 15 strikeouts to just two walks.

Up Next
IU heads west to meet UCLA for the first time as a member of the Big Ten. First pitch Friday is tentatively scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET. All three games will be streamed on B1G+ and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.