Offense Stalls in Series Opener

Friday, April 11

Champaign, Ill.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

19-15, 0

Illinois

19-12, 0

Indiana

Illinois

4/11/2025 11:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Indiana Baseball team (19-15, 9-7 B1G) couldn't find any rhythm at the plate on Friday (April 11) evening in Champaign, dropping a 4-2 contest to Illinois at Illinois Stadium. The Hoosiers finished with just five hits and went 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.

Illinois starter Tyler Schmitt had his best outing of the season, going seven innings and never allowing the Hoosier bats to get going. IU scored just once in the first seven innings of the game, an unearned run that started with a double from junior outfielder Devin Taylor.

That hit for Taylor was the 200th of his illustrious IU career, making him the 25th player in program history to record 200 hits for the Hoosiers. He had the chance to play hero on the same time he reached the milestone but grounded into a double play with two runners on and no outs in the ninth.

IU's pitching staff kept the visitors in the game despite most guys throwing on short rest. Redshirt junior Pete Haas and senior Ryan Kraft combined for six scoreless frames and nine strikeouts. Junior lefty Anthony Gubitosi (L, 1-1) was tagged for a three-run home run in the third inning, the difference-making hit on the night.

The Hoosiers will look to even the series up on Saturday (April 12) afternoon with graduate student right-handed pitcher Ben Grable on the bump. Three times last year, IU lost the weekend opener in a Big Ten series and came back to win the series. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT tomorrow.

Scoring Recap
Top Third
The Hoosiers struck first on a cold night in Champaign. Devin Taylor doubled and advanced Jake Stadler to third base. Illinois attempted to get Taylor out at second base but the ball trickled out of the infield and allowed him to go to third while Stadler scored.
Indiana 1, Illinois 0

Bottom Third
With two outs and two strikes, Vytas Valincius crushed a three-run home run over the left field fence. That swing would ultimately decide the contest.
Illinois 3, Indiana 1

Top Eighth
Hogan Denny came up with a run to get back into the game. He pinch hit with two outs and singled through the right side to score Tyler Cerny. Cooper Malamazian was left stranded at third base on the next pitch.
Illinois 3, Indiana 2

Bottom Eighth
Illinois promptly got that run back in the home half, putting together three-straight singles. Grant Ross drove a pitch through the shift on the right side that allowed Colton Quagliano to score.
Illinois 4, Indiana 2

Top Hoosier Performers
#29 Kraft, Ryan
4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K

#51 Haas, Pete
2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K

#15 Malamazian, Cooper
1-3, BB

Inside the Box Score
• IU's offense was held to just two runs on five hits.
• The Hoosiers went errorless in the field.
• Pitchers for IU recorded nine strikeouts but also walked five.

Notes to Know
• Junior outfielder Devin Taylor became the 25th member of the 200-hit club at Indiana with his third-inning double. He is the second player to do it in the last two years. Taylor's teammate Josh Pyne did it in a game against Ball State in 2024.

• Senior pitcher Ryan Kraft moved into a tie for fifth in program history with his 75th career appearance on the mound. He becomes the sixth player all-time at IU to make at least 75 pitching appearances and the first since Scott Effross closed out his career in 2015.

• In his career in Champaign, the native Illinoisan – Ryan Kraft – has tossed a combined 10 scoreless frames. He threw six shutout innings in 2023 before following that up with four more tonight in 2025. In those 10 innings, Kraft has allowed just eight hits while striking out seven batters.

• IU's pitching staff was effective on Friday against Illinois, holding the home team to just four runs on seven hits. It's the seventh time in the last two years that the Hoosiers have failed to win a game in which it allowed five-or-fewer runs. It's the first time it's happened since the season opener this year against UNLV (L, 2-4).

Up Next
The Hoosiers continue the weekend slate with Illinois tomorrow (April 12th) at 4:00 p.m. ET. All the games this weekend will be broadcasted on B1G+. The series with Illinois can also be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.