Pitching Pushes Winning Streak to Six Games

Friday, March 21

Los Angeles, Calif.

9:00 PM

Indiana University

13-9, 5-2

UCLA

16-5, 4-2

Indiana

UCLA

3/21/2025 11:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Senior left-handed pitcher Ryan Kraft and graduate student right-handed pitcher Cole Gilley had their best outings of the season on Friday (March 21) at Jackie Robinson Stadium, combining on nine innings of one-run ball in a 5-1 win over UCLA for the Indiana Baseball team (13-9, 5-2 B1G).

The Hoosiers scored all five of their runs via the long ball. Junior outfielder Devin Taylor smoked a first-inning, two-run home run to dead center. Not to be outdone in the chase for the team lead in home runs, redshirt sophomore Korbyn Dickerson smashed a solo home run in the third. IU got its necessary insurance in the fourth via a two-run blast from Tyler Cerny.

IU pitching coach Dustin Glant called a tremendous game and his veterans delivered on the mound. Kraft's first start of the season was a brilliant outing. He tossed 4.1 innings of scoreless work before being replaced by Gilley (W, 3-1) in the fifth inning. Gilley worked the final 14 outs of the contest while allowing just one run – a solo home run in the sixth.

Despite making a pair of errors, IU's defense turned up at the right moments. The Hoosiers turned a double play to end the seventh inning and got fantastic flashes from Dickerson and freshman third baseman Cooper Malamazian. IU held the Bruins to just one run, the fewest they've scored in a game since May 12, 2024 (1 – at Oregon State).

Redshirt senior Jake Stadler – who is batting .476 in Big Ten play – had the lone multi-hit game for the Hoosiers. He was also fantastic behind the plate and helped the IU pitching staff to eight strikeouts. Taylor's first-inning home run helped him extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

After picking up a Friday victory, the Hoosiers have two chances to pick up a massive series win in Los Angeles. The Hoosiers' ace, right-handed veteran Ben Grable, will take the mound tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT on B1G+.

Scoring Recap
Top First
Devin Taylor got the Hoosiers off to a great start with a two-run blast to dead center. It was his eighth home run of the season and the 44th of his career.
Indiana 2, UCLA 0

Top Third
Korbyn Dickerson extended his team lead in home runs with a solo blast to straightaway center. It was his 11th of the season.
Indiana 3, UCLA 0

Top Fourth
It felt like Tyler Cerny was due for a big blast. He got his pitch to hit in the fourth inning and smashed a two-run home run to left field.
Indiana 5, UCLA 0

Bottom Sixth
UCLA finally broke through on the scoreboard with a solo home run from Mulivai Levu.
Indiana 5, UCLA 1

Top Hoosier Performers
#29 Kraft, Ryan
4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K

#32 Gilley, Cole
4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 6 K

#5 Taylor, Devin
1-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Inside the Box Score
• The IU pitching staff allowed just two walks all night in comparison to eight strikeouts.
• All five runs for IU were scored via the home run.
• Five of IU's seven hits were for extra bases.
• For the second time this year, IU's pitchers held opponents to one run or less.

Notes to Know
• Junior outfielder Devin Taylor hit his eighth home run of the season and the 44th of his illustrious career. He moved into sole possession of fourth place in IU history. Three different players are tied for the program record of 47 long balls. Taylor needs just four more to break the all-time record.

• Senior southpaw Ryan Kraft went 4.1 innings of work while allowing zero runs. It was his first outing of at least four innings – while allowing zero earned runs – in nearly two years. He last did it in a brilliant outing against Northwestern on May 6, 2023 (7.1 IP, 0 ER).

• Graduate student pitcher Cole Gilley was fantastic in relief on Friday night. Part of his success has come by limiting free passes. He's now thrown 11-consecutive innings without allowing a walk. In this week alone, he threw 6.2 innings and recorded nine strikeouts to zero walks.

• The Hoosiers have won six-straight games for the first time since a stretch of six wins from Feb. 17 – Feb. 25, 2024. In this stretch, IU's pitching staff is allowing just 3.5 runs per game. Five of those six games have featured four-or-fewer runs allowed.

Up Next
IU will take its first crack at the series win tomorrow in Los Angeles. First pitch on Saturday (March 23) is set for 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT at Jackie Robinson Stadium. It will be streamed on B1G+ while Ben Haller will have the call on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.