Indiana defeats Indiana State in Terre Haute, overcoming a Sycamore starter who retired 14 straight Hoosiers.
By Carl James @jovian34 March 12th, 2025
“We talk about being the tougher, more fundamental team in the last three or four innings and pulling away and executing. And we did that.”
— Head Coach Jeff Mercer
Indiana Hoosiers 9, Indiana State Sycamores 4
Inning by inning details in the Live Game Blog | Box Score
A key moment came in the top of the 6th inning. The Hoosiers had finally got a baserunner with a Korbyn Dickerson single after Indiana State starter Brayllin Suriel retired 14 straight Indiana hitters. Indiana scored twice on the bullpen arm and a walk loads the bases and forces another pitching change.
While the new pitcher was coming out, Jeff Mercer pulled the batter, freshman infielder Will Moore, aside for a conversation. “Hey, if that third baseman stays over… the whole third base line is wide open. You’ve got a reliever coming in, he’s never going to expect it.” (especially with two outs and a force play at home)
Moore lays down a great bunt which even with a great play would have everyone safe station-to-station, but the Sycamore pitcher threw it past the first baseman into the visitor bullpen, which is in play, and Moore ends up on third and the Hoosiers are up 7-2.
Mercer talked after the game about how this was a moment two years in the making. Indiana’s offense had been dominated by power hitters for years and Jeff Mercer’s hitting development program attracted even more of those. Mercer said the program made a point to recruit more fundamentally skilled players and this years’ freshman group including Moore, B1G Freshman of the Week Cooper Malamazian, and outfield Cole Decker, represent that philosophy. The timing couldn’t be better as 4 former Pac 12 teams enter the B1G which may very well change the mix of how the game is played and won. West coast teams are known for a more fundamental style of baseball, while the Midwest has traditionally been about power.
Pitching keeps it competitive
Despite the struggles Indiana hitters had with ISU’s starter, Indiana pitchers kept it tied after 5 innings setting up that decisive top of the sixth. St. Francis transfer Deron Swanson made his Hoosier debut in this game as the starter. The lefty looked like a starter, not just an opener.
“He was just really tough. He’s throws a fastball for strike. The breaking ball was fine, the change-up I thought was good. He controlled the tempo. He’d catch the ball and get back in there,” was how Mercer described Swanson after the game. Swanson’s only allowed run in 3.0 innings of work was a solo homer in the second inning. Swanson was thrilled to be on the mound for a division 1 program. “Something I’ve worked for my whole life… to throw for Indiana is really cool.”
While it was by no means a flawless pitching performance from Indiana, but they worked to limit the runs. Even with free base struggles from Will Eldridge, Brayton Thomas, and Matthew Bohnert, they got enough outs at critical times to limit Indiana State to just four runs. Even among those three, Eldridge got an out, Thomas completed an inning and Bohnert was just missing in competitive full counts. Pete Haas gave up one run on a hit in 1.2 innings.
In the bottom of the seventh Bohnert had walked the bases loaded, and Mercer made the unexpected choice, of bringing in weekend starter Gavin Seebold for a 7-out save.
“He didn’t get to his pitch count last week. Two years ago, we won a bunch of games by just kind of chopping games up, and if you’re not going to go five or six as a starter, we can live with that, but we’ve got to cover those innings until [some banged up pitchers] get back.”
Seebold was excellent, allowing only 1-run in the ninth when the Hoosiers were up six and very willing to trade a run for an out. His fastball looked firm and his off-speed was effective.
Dickerson leads the hitting group
Centerfielder Korbyn Dickerson continues his very impressive season. He had three of Indiana’s eight hits, including the one that ran Suriel and got that huge sixth inning started. After the game, Dickerson credited off-season work with his success. “We changed my load a little bit, got more competitive in the box, and it’s panning out in the games.” Dickerson is now hitting .395 on the season with an eye-popping 1.265 OPS.
Freshman Jake Hanley also had a multi-hit day. He’s hit in every game this season except for one and leads the team with a .406 batting average.
The Hoosiers now have a 4-game home stand in front of them starting Friday at 6pm when Ohio State comes to town for a B1G series.