Middle frames prove worthy as IU wins its first Sunday game of the year
By Zach Horwitz @HorwitzZach April 5th, 2026, photos by Carl James
“We were able to be multifaceted”
— Head Coach Jeff Mercer
Indiana Hoosiers 8, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2
Inning by inning details in the Live Game Blog | Box Score
Entering Easter Sunday, Indiana had yet to win a game on a Sunday afternoon.
Behind a complete, multifaceted performance, the Hoosiers secured an 8-2 win over Rutgers to clinch the series, now their second Big Ten series victory of the season. Indiana improves to 5-10 in conference play and finally breaks through to 1-7 on Sundays.
The tone was set on the mound.
Brayton Thomas worked through traffic all afternoon, navigating jams while keeping Rutgers off the board. The left-hander allowed just three hits and worked around five walks, repeatedly escaping trouble as the Scarlet Knights stranded 10 runners.
“I would say the splitter was working really well,” Thomas said. “I got a couple of punchouts on it in big situations.”
More importantly, Thomas showed growth in finishing innings, something he emphasized postgame.
“That’s something I’ve been working on… trying to get the third out as quick as I can,” Thomas said. “I get the first two outs pretty quick, and then something happens… so just being able to finish innings.”
Out of the bullpen, Jackson Yarberry delivered his most complete outing of the season, tossing 2.2 innings with three strikeouts on 23 strikes in 31 pitches. Head coach Jeff Mercer praised his aggressiveness and composure.
“When you’re attacking and getting ahead, you’re not giving away free bases,” Mercer said. “The defense is on their toes, and guys go play behind you.”
Jacob Vogel bridged the gap as well, helping strand inherited runners and keep the momentum squarely with Indiana.
Offensively, the Hoosiers continued to lean into their evolving identity.
Brayden Ricketts led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 day, opening the scoring with a solo home run in the fourth. The catcher, who started all three games behind the plate, has embraced recent adjustments at the plate.
Indiana finished with 13 hits and eight runs, doing damage despite challenging wind conditions blowing towards the right field pole.
The decisive stretch came in the middle innings.
After Ricketts’ homer broke the scoreless tie, Indiana erupted for six runs across the fifth and sixth innings. Jake Hanley sparked the rally with a double before Hogan Denny delivered a key two-run single to extend the lead and put the game out of reach.
It was exactly the kind of offensive approach Mercer has been pushing.
“We were able to be multifaceted,” Mercer said. “Bunts, stolen base, situational hitting — just continuing to advance the game.”
The win gives Indiana momentum heading into its midweek matchup against Ball State, which is the final game of the homestand at Bart Kaufman Field, before traveling to College Park for a weekend series against Maryland.