Late Lead Lost in Weekend Finale

Sunday, March 15

Eugene, Ore.

3:30 p.m.

Indiana University

7-12, 1-5

Oregon

17-3, 5-1

Indiana

Oregon

3/15/2026 7:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

EUGENE, Ore. – The Indiana Baseball team (7-12, 1-5 B1G) saw a five-run lead slip away on Sunday (March 15) afternoon at PK Park. Oregon's potent offense woke up late, scoring six unanswered runs in a 7-6 victory over the Hoosiers. With two on and no outs in the ninth inning, outfielder Angel Laya singled through the right side to finish off a series sweep in Eugene.

IU jumped out to a big lead, scoring twice in each of the first three innings. An RBI groundout from redshirt freshman Brayden Ricketts and an RBI single from sophomore Cooper Malamazian in the first inning gave the Hoosiers an advantage they would hold until Oregon tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. IU scored all six of its runs in the opening three frames but got just one runner to third base in the final six innings of the ballgame. Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley and sophomore outfielder Caleb Koskie each had multi-hit days.

Sophomore southpaw Brayton Thomas gave IU a solid start even while battling some fatigue issues. He went four innings of one-run baseball. The Indiana native struck out a career high five batters and issued just one walk. He worked around some trouble to hand the ball over to the bullpen with a 6-1 lead. Oregon did its heavy damage in the sixth behind a bases-clearing double from infielder Ryan Cooney. The Ducks tied it in the eight and walked it off in the ninth.

The Hoosiers will finish off their spring break road trip by heading to Nashville to play Vanderbilt on Tuesday (March 17) evening at Hawkins Field. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. against the second SEC foe of the year. IU will return home to Bart Kaufman Field next week (March 20-22) for a three-game set against Minnesota.

Scoring Recap
Bottom First
IU scored in the opening frame after Brayden Ricketts picked up an RBI on a groundout to the second baseman. Cooper Malamazian added a second run on an RBI single.
Indiana 2, Oregon 0

Top Second
The lead was extended in the second inning with an RBI fielder's choice groundout from T.J. Schuyler. Hogan Denny drove in a fourth run on a sacrifice fly.
Indiana 4, Oregon 0

Bottom Second
The hosts got on the board via a long single to the wall from Burke-Lee Mabeus. One runner came around to score but IU got the second runner out at the plate on a relay throw.
Indiana 4, Oregon 1

Top Third
Two more runners came around to score on a sacrifice bunt that turned into a pair of throwing errors. It was the last runs that IU would score.
Indiana 6, Oregon 1

Bottom Sixth
Ryan Cooney cleared the bases with a three-run double to trim the lead. Dominic Hellman closed the gap to just one with a double over the head of IU's centerfielder.
Indiana 6, Oregon 5

Bottom Eighth
Hellman would strike again with a single up the middle to tie the game in the eighth.
Indiana 6, Oregon 6

Bottom Ninth
Angel Laya won the game with an RBI single through the right side.
Oregon 7, Indiana 6

Top Hoosier Performers
#14 Thomas, Brayton
4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 5 K

#34 Hanley, Jake
2-5, R

#17 Koskie, Caleb
2-3, 2B, R

Notes to Know
• For the first time in the head coach Jeff Mercer era, IU rolled out a starting lineup – and a starting pitcher – that were all recruited out of high school to Bloomington. Nine of the 10 total players in the game were underclassmen. Junior T.J. Schuyler was the only starter with more than one year of experience in college.

• Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley recorded a pair of base knocks in the defeat to Oregon on Sunday. He's just two hits away from reaching 100 in his young career in Bloomington. The weekend finale was also the 75th-straight start he's made. Hanley has started every possible game of his career for the Hoosiers.

• Even while not pitching at full strength, sophomore left-handed pitcher Brayton Thomas turned in a fantastic start for IU. He recorded a career-high five strikeouts with a good mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches. He went four innings of one-run baseball and allowed just three hits. He's allowed just one run in four of his five starts this year.

Up Next
Midweek action awaits the Hoosiers on Tuesday (March 17) evening in Nashville. IU will play Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. It can also be heard on the radio and at IUHoosiers.com/Audio.