Hoosiers take midweek matchup 13-0 behind a slew of arms and potent offense
By Zach Horwitz @HorwitzZach March 25th, 2025
photos by Carl James
“This is a big part of our program development… we should be capable of winning games like this and getting guys in there. “
— Head Coach Jeff Mercer
Indiana Hoosiers 13, Bellarmine Knights 0
Inning by inning details in the Live Game Blog | Box Score
Despite a gloomy spring afternoon in Bloomington, Indiana, the Hoosiers took to the diamond for a midweek tune-up against Bellarmine to commence a 9-game home stand. The bats were rolling out the gate as Korbyn Dickerson mashed an RBI double off the left field wall, clocking in at 115 mph off the bat. The offensive production continued as Jake Hanley trotted around the bases with the fourth home run of his freshman campaign. Tyler Cerny also added to his total in an unorthodox way, as he laced a liner that ate up the diving Casey Sorg in centerfield, dribbling all the way to the fence for an inside-the-park home run. Cerny’s number is up to four, as he’s tallied a homer in two consecutive contests.
On starting the ballgame with a comfortable lead, head coach Jeff Mercer pointed to the inverse relationship in the offense and pitching approach.
“Being able to go where we put an adult in there to get off the ground, then build a bit of a lead, and everybody settles in. That part has helped, having (Cole) Gilley and Ryan Kraft up front, then everybody can just play.”
The party continued in the second inning as Devin Taylor tracked triple-digits in the exit velocity category as he mashed his ninth home run of the season. The projected first-rounder shortens the three-way tie of Alex Dickerson, Mike Smith, and Mike Sabo, in the top spot for the Indiana career home run record. The three Hoosiers hold 47 home runs each, and Taylor stands just three away from the lone lead of the program.
Hogan Denny’s double set up Cooper Malamazian for a 2-RBI single which stretched the Hoosiers lead to eight after two frames.
The approach stayed in sync with another five-spot in the fourth inning as Devin Taylor started the damage with a double down the right field line. Korbyn Dickerson’s second RBI of the day was sandwiched between Indiana’s dagger off the swing of Cooper Malamazian. The freshman shortstop poked a fly ball to the opposite field, which was carried out by the wind for Indiana’s second grand slam of the season.
In the latter half of the game, Jeff Mercer substituted multiple freshmen in the matchup with the commanding lead in hand.
“This is a big part of our program development… we should be capable of winning games like this and getting guys in there. We can practice all day long, but it’s not the same as doing it in real time.” Mercer mentioned Cole Decker and Caleb Koskie as two talented options that he was glad to insert in the field.
On the mound, Indiana had a stellar one-inning stint from seven different arms. Friday’s winning duo of Cole Gilley and Ryan Kraft opened up the ballgame, followed by lesser-utilized arms in Grant Holderfield, Aydan Decker-Petty, Ryan Rushing, Trey Telfer, and Brayton Thomas. The seven combined for seven strikeouts and six walks. As a collective group, Indiana’s stuff completely outmatched the ASUN member’s offense.
After not recording a strikeout at the plate in 32 at-bats, Indiana improves to 14-11 overall, and plays host to eight straight home games which includes Big Ten opponents in USC and Michigan State, along with a huge RPI-boost opportunity with the Louisville Cardinals coming to town during the midweek on April 1.
This weekend’s set with the USC Trojans is tentatively scheduled for Friday at 6:00 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm, and Sunday at noon. The initial two games will be broadcasted on B1G+ with Sunday’s matinee televised on Big Ten Network.