Season Opener Slips Away

Friday, February 13

Chapel Hill, N.C.

4 p.m.

Indiana University

0-1

North Carolina

1-0

Indiana

North Carolina

2/13/2026 8:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – An error and a misjudged fly ball turned a routine inning into a six spot for No. 11 North Carolina (1-0, 0-0 ACC) in the sixth inning on Friday (Feb. 13) evening at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels rattled off three extra-base hits in the frame to beat the Indiana Baseball team (0-1, 0-0 B1G), 9-4, in the 2026 season opener.

Against All-American right-handed pitcher Jason DeCaro, the Hoosiers did a great job of working counts early in the ballgame. Sophomore outfielder Cole Decker opened the scoring in the top of the sixth with a two-run single up the middle – the first hit of his young career. Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley did damage in the ninth with a two-run double to the gap in right-center field.

IU's young offense, which featured six sophomores in the starting lineup, walked nine times and had five base hits. Redshirt junior outfielder Ayden Crouse had a pair of base knocks in his IU debut. However, the Hoosiers finished the night just 2-for-19 with runners on base and 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. IU left 10 runners on the base paths in the first contest of the year.

Graduate student left-handed pitcher Tony Neubeck was steady in his season debut. The veteran southpaw worked four scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts. Graduate student right-handed pitcher Michael Sarhatt came out of the bullpen to record the final eight outs. Graduate student right-handed pitcher Reagan Rivera (L, 0-1) was tagged with the defeat.

Redshirt freshman catcher Brayden Ricketts and freshman outfielder Cal Gates each made their collegiate debuts for the Hoosiers on Friday evening. Gates walked in the ninth and later came around to score on the Hanley double. Sophomore third baseman Will Moore was the fourth player to record a hit for IU on the night. Sophomore outfielder Hogan Denny reached three times on three walks.

IU is back in action tomorrow afternoon to wrap up the series against North Carolina. The two sides will play a doubleheader beginning at Noon ET in Chapel Hill. The second game will start an hour after the first one concludes. Senior right-handed pitcher Jackson Bergman is set to get the ball in the first game of the day.

Scoring Recap
Bottom Fifth
North Carolina broke the deadlock in the fifth inning. Jake Schaffner had an RBI sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Cooper Nicholson. Gavin Gallaher added to the tally with a two-run triple down the line in left field.
North Carolina 3, Indiana 0

Top Sixth
IU answered back in the sixth inning to get on the board for the first time this season. Cole Decker single up the middle, off the second base bag and into center field. The hit scored Hogan Denny and Cooper Malamazian.
North Carolina 3, Indiana 2

Bottom Sixth
North Carolina opened up a big lead in the bottom of the sixth. Winslow, who reached on an error, scored on a wild pitch. Tyler Howe hit a double that was misplaced by the IU defense to score Erik Paulsen from third. A double from Colin Hynek and a triple from Jake Schaffner put the game out of reach. Schaffner would end the inning by scoring on a wild pitch.
North Carolina 9, Indiana 2

Top Ninth
Jake Hanley took a big piece of a fastball for a two-run double into the gap in right-center field. It was his first hit of the night and IU's only extra-base knock.
North Carolina 9, Indiana 4

Top Hoosier Performers
#29 Neubeck, Tony
4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 K

#34 Hanley, Jake
1-5, 2B, 2 RBI

#5 Crouse, Ayden
2-4

Inside the Box Score
• IU's pitching staff walked just four batters while picking up six strikeouts.
• Four different Hoosiers had a hit. Ayden Crouse had the lone multi-hit game of the evening.
• The Hoosiers collected nine walks at the plate – led by three from Hogan Denny.

Notes to Know
• Sophomore third baseman Will Moore collected a hit in the Friday defeat. Moore was one of four players with at least one base knock. He extended his hitting streak to five games which dates back to last season. He's reached base safely in 19-consecutive games over the last two years.

• Redshirt junior outfielder Ayden Crouse recorded a pair of hits in his first game at the division one level. After two seasons of junior college baseball, the Arizona native went 2-for-4 in his debut for the Hoosiers. He was one of three players on either team with a multi-hit effort.

• Graduate student left-handed pitcher Tony Neubeck went four scoreless innings as the Opening Day starter for IU. It was his longest outing since March of 2023 (4.0 – vs. Texas Southern) after battling back from extensive arm/elbow injuries. Neubeck scattered just one hit against 14 batters faced.