Korbyn Dickerson lifts his 10th home run in a season barely one month old
By Carl James @jovian34 March 16th, 2025
“Today was vision a little bit of what we had in mind trying to be more diverse as an offense.”
— Head Coach Jeff Mercer
Indiana Hoosiers 14, Ohio State Buckeyes 3 (7 innings)
Inning by inning details in the Live Game Blog | Box Score
The concern was there. After some issues in finishing games in the early part of the season, after a double header sweep and day off before the series finale, how would Indiana play out of the gate? After the game, head coach Jeff Mercer echoed that, “It’s a really easy day to overlook. It’s a really easy day to not show up.”
Indiana showed up.
Starting pitcher Deron Swanson set down the first three batters of the game on looking strikeouts. “The big thing is the change-up for all of those guys. It was more of a focal point in the off-season and we weren’t as consistent with it early on. Swanson really showed the path to be able to pitch off of your change-up.”
Swanson got 7 of his 10 outs via the strikeout. He didn’t surrender a hit until the fourth inning when Ohio State hitters put together three straight hits, including a two-run blast. Gavin Seebold took over and didn’t allow the inherited run to score.
This marked Seebold’s third appearance in the past week, in which he logged a total of 6.2 innings pitched which is more than his typical start has been. “We went back to where we were two years ago when we chopped games up. You had one primary starter in [Luke] Sinnard, and we’ll keep Grable there. Then we’re going to chop them all up as long as everyone comes in, attacks, and throws multiple pitches, we should be able to chop it up.” Seebold is showing he’s more effective spreading the innings (and even the opponents) out.
Seebold got swing and miss from his sweeper which had up to 18 inches of horizontal break which was obvious even from the press box. After the game Seebold said that he, “developed that pitch over the past year. It really started in the summer with like the consistent shape of it.” He added, “It helps when I can throw it for a strike and then expand off.”
The offense took advantage of a disastrous first inning by the Ohio State defense to jump out to an early three-run lead. The Hoosiers add four earned runs in the second, and put the game out of reach with a 7-run fifth inning.
That second inning speaks to the offensive diversity Jeff Mercer is wanting to see.
Junior shortstop Tyler Cerny has been struggling at the plate this season. The MLB Draft prospect came into today hitting .243 on team that is collectively well over .300. He opened up the second inning with type of hit Mercer wants to see. “When Tyler’s really good, Tyler’s low in the middle of the field the other way.” He sent a rocket that split the outfielders in right center to wall for a lead-off double.
That brought up Indiana’s freshman bunting machine, second baseman Will Moore. “I called the group up and I said we are going to bunt and we’re going to show bunt until [the Ohio State players] either execute it or they were able to figure it out, and they didn’t. Moore bunted for a single.
Andrew Wiggins did what he’s best at and drew a walk to load the bases for Devin Taylor. Taylor did his thing lacing a ball 112-mph off the bat for a 2-RBI single. Korbyn Dickerson added an infield single, and Jake Stadler put the ball in play in a run-producing out. It’s four runs that extend the lead to 7 and Ohio State never came all that close.
The Hoosiers went back to the bunt in the bottom of the fifth inning. Malamazian showed bunt and got plunked. Cerny showed bunt and drew a 4-pitch walk. Andrew Wiggins drove them both in with a hit that Mercer said, “Andrew maybe had the best swing of his young career with that double to center with two guys on.”
Korbyn Dickerson then called game with a three-run blast. After the game the centerfielder talked about how he’s stayed hot all season. “We’ve put in the same work every day, just talk about being competitive in the box.” Mercer felt that Dickerson was “pulling off early” but made an adjustment that allowed him to get that big blast.
While not a huge spot with an 11-run lead, Grant Holderfield came into the game to pitch was charged with keeping at least a 10-run lead intact so the game could end in the 7th inning. He’s been very inconsistent with some good and bad outings. Today he looked great. Like with Swanson, the key was the change-up. Holderfield got four outs to end the game, allowing only one base runner via a hit batsman. Three of Holderfield’s out were by strikeout.
Swanson earned the win for the solid open. The game takes Indiana to a respectable 11-9 overall and 4-2 in the B1G standings, good enough for 5th place. Indiana will welcome the Evansville Purple Aces on Tuesday at 6pm, before flying to California for a huge conference series at UCLA starting Friday at 9pm ET.