Mistakes Hurt Hoosiers Across the Board

Sunday, March 9

University Park, Pa.

1:00 PM

Indiana University

7-9, 1-2

Penn State

11-2, 2-1

Indiana

Penn State

3/9/2025 5:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Three fielding errors, eight walks from the pitching staff, two baserunning mistakes and eight runners left on base added up to a tough 10-6 loss for the Indiana Baseball team (7-9, 1-2 B1G) on Sunday (March 9) afternoon at Medlar Park in University Park.

Penn State closed out Sunday's contest to win the series in Happy Valley, IU's first series loss to the Nittany Lions since 2008. The Hoosiers have gone back-to-back years with a series loss in the opening Big Ten weekend. Following IU's defeat to Illinois in 2024, it rattled off five-consecutive series victories in conference action.

IU got off to a fast start with two runs in the first three innings but missed too many opportunities to put the game away early. Junior outfielder Devin Taylor was thrown out trying to advance home in the first inning. Junior shortstop Tyler Cerny was thrown out on a failed hit-and-run situation in the second inning. Back-to-back missed chances with the bases loaded in the sixth summed up the game for IU.

Graduate student right-handed pitcher Cole Gilley gave IU four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth frame. He finished with 4.1 innings of work, allowing just three hits and two runs (both unearned). He wasn't factored into the decision. Graduate student reliever Drew Buhr (L, 0-1) had an uncharacteristic day out of the bullpen. He allowed four runs (one unearned) with four walks in just 2.2 innings of action.

Three Hoosiers finished with multi-hit days but the team was just 4-for-15 in RBI opportunities. The biggest hit of the game in the top of the ninth when redshirt sophomore designated hitter Joey Brenczewski cleared the bases with a double in the gap. On the season, IU is just 7-for-35 (.200) with the bases juiced.

The Hoosiers will need to put this series behind them before a stretch of five-straight games in the state of Indiana. IU has midweek action in Terre Haute against Indiana State (March 11) before the first home weekend of the campaign against Ohio State (March 14-16) at Bart Kaufman Field.

Scoring Recap
Top First
The Hoosiers struck early on a string of hits in the first frame. Joey Brenczewski singled through the left side to score Andrew Wiggins. IU had another chance to score but Devin Taylor was thrown out at home while trying to advance.
Indiana 1, Penn State 0

Top Third
IU added to the early lead with a RBI double into the gap from Korbyn Dickerson.
Indiana 2, Penn State 0

Bottom Fifth
The home team finally got on the board. Cohl Mercado, the nine-hole hitter, singled into center field. It was a routine single into center field but Dickerson over ran the ball and it got past him. Jesse Jaconski came around to score from first. With Mercado already advanced to second, he was able to score on a RBI single from Paxton Kling. Both runs were unearned to IU starter Cole Gilley.
Indiana 2, Penn State 2

Bottom Sixth
After a series of walks, Penn State took advantage of the IU mistakes. Matt Maloney hit a sacrifice fly to the left fielder to score Bryce Molinaro.
Penn State 3, Indiana 2

Top Seventh
IU got the run back on a RBI groundout from Dickerson. The Hoosiers had a chance to strike for more but couldn't advance runners any further.
Indiana 3, Penn State 3

Bottom Seventh
Things quickly unraveled for IU in the seventh inning. Reliever Drew Buhr allowed a single and two walks to load the bases. Joe Jaconski and Molinaro each had sacrifice flies to go up two runs. Ryan Weingartner scored the third run of the inning after Taylor committed a fielding error in left field.
Penn State 6, Indiana 3

Bottom Eighth
Kling added some insurance to the board with a single through the left side. Joe Jaconski added another pair of runs with a double that glided over the head of the third baseman. Molinaro doubled off the wall as Penn State broke open the game in the eighth.
Penn State 10, Indiana 3

Top Ninth
IU got some consolation in the top of the ninth with Brenczewski clearing the bases on a double into the gap. All three runners, who all reached on walks, came around to score.
Penn State 10, Indiana 6

Top Hoosier Performers
#23 Brenczewski, Joey
2-5, 1 2B, 4 RBI

#5 Taylor, Devin
2-4, 2 R, 1 BB

#32 Gilley, Cole
4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 K

Inside the Box Score
• IU outhit Penn State 11-7 but was outscored 10-6.
• The Hoosiers left eight runners on base.
• IU's pitching staff walked eight batters.
• Three IU errors led to three unearned runs.

Notes to Know
• The Hoosiers had 10+ hits as a team for the fifth-consecutive game. The program has had double-digit outputs in hits in 12 of the last 13 contests. In those games, IU is just 7-5.

• Redshirt sophomore center fielder Korbyn Dickerson had a pair of RBIs to take his team lead up to 27 on the season. He also leads IU in runs scored (24), hits (27) and home runs (8).

• Redshirt sophomore designated hitter Joey Brenczewski picked up his second career game with at least four RBIs. Three of those four RBIs game on a bases-clearing double in the ninth inning. In his career against the Nittany Lions, Brenczewski has racked up 12 RBIs and seven hits.

Up Next
IU returns to its home state for over a week. The Hoosiers have a midweek contest at Indiana State on Tuesday (March 11) before a three-game set against Ohio State (March 14-16). Tuesday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ before the weekend series goes live on B1G+. Austin Render will have all four games on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.