Hoosiers drop a close contest late to Indiana State
By Carl James @jovian34 March 24th, 2026
Indiana Hoosiers: 4, Indiana State Sycamores 5
Inning by inning details in the Live Game Blog | Box Score
“They adjusted better than we did.”
— head coach Jeff Mercer
Indiana State used nine pitchers Tuesday. Only one of those, Hunter Small, threw more than an inning. Indiana got a 3 inning, no run, one hit start out of Conner Linn. Reagan Rivera had a clean inning of relief, striking out two batters. In all, Indiana pitching gave up just three earned runs on the day, but a throwing error and the offense not capitalizing on opportunities lead to a 5-4 loss in the non-conference midweek matchup.
The Hoosiers outhit the Sycamores 9 to 7, and even got on via free passes more than Indiana State, but it was the Sycamores who tied the game with two unearned runs in the 5th inning after a Will Moore throwing error, and took the lead with three runs in the 8th inning when Jackson Yarberry, starting his second inning of work, walked two of the first three batters leading to a three-run inning.
After the game, Coach Mercer reflected on the choice to stick with Yarberry and stretch him out into a second inning. “They [Indiana State] weren’t great against the spin. Throughout the course of the game, they had expanded down. Jackson’s curveball still felt like it was a good matchup down.” When Yarberry has struggled this season, it has usually come in his second inning of work. At one point in the season he had a couple of 1-inning outings that were clean.
Offensively the Hoosiers made several loud outs, but cooler weather and the wind blowing in, balls just seem to die on the warning track, a bit for both teams. Hogan Denny and Cole Decker each had a pair of hits. Jake Hanley drove in two runs with a double as he continues a monsterous tear he’s been on at the plate.
In the end, Indiana State just executed slightly better and stole a road win. Indiana will need to regroup and prepare for a big road trip Friday through Sunday at number 24 Nebraska.