Hoosiers Offense Explodes Against Louisville

After a devastating weekend against Iowa, Indiana (19-25) faced Louisville (26-18), hoping to end its losing skid. Louisville had won five straight games and sought to hold off the Hoosiers on their home field. Indiana got off to slow starts in every game against Iowa, but this game, they would get out to a hot start.

Indiana’s offense was dominant throughout the game, scoring in six of nine. Owen Ten Oever continued his hot streak

With Conner Linn on the mound to start for Indiana, the Hoosiers saw five dominant, scoreless innings. He was masterful with is pitching, and allowed for Indiana’s bats to take over the game.

In the first, Cooper Malamazian doubled, which scored Jake Hanley. In the second inning, Hogan Denny hit a sacrifice fly that sent Will Moore home, putting Indiana up 2-0.

The third inning saw five Hoosier runs, which started with Cole Decker’s RBI double, which scored Hanley and Ten Oever. Then Landen Fry hit a two-RBI single and sent home both Malamazian and Decker. Fry would then cap off the inning by scoring on a wild pitch. Indiana was up 7-0 after three.

All seven of those runs would come when Louisville pitcher Jake Bean was on the mound. He then got pulled for Brandon Shannon.

The fourth and fifth innings were silent as Linn continued to pitch a shutout, and Shannon put two scoreless innings together for Louisville.

In the sixth inning, Ten Oever continued his hot streak with a solo homer to put Indiana up 8-0.

In the bottom of the inning, Indiana put Jacob Vogel on the mound, as he gave up a solo home run to left field by Jimmy Nugent, making it 8-1. Without Linn on the mound, Louisville’s offense started to get some real momentum, as Indiana’s pitch depth presented itself as a problem once again.

The seventh inning saw TJ Schuyler hit an RBI double to score Fry, making it 9-1 Indiana. The bottom sees Louisville surging back into the game as they hit two sacrifice flies and scored two runs. Zion Rose’s sacrifice scored Colin Mowry, and Tague Davis’s sacrifice scored Lucas Moore as Louisville made it 9-3, Indiana.

In the eighth, Hanley hit a solo homer to left, making it 10-3 Indiana. In the bottom, Indiana put Kellen English in the game for Vogel. He gave up a walk and a hit by pitch before being pulled for Reagan Rivera. Kade Elam doubled down the left field line and scored Nugent. Ben Slanker then grounded out and drove home Griffin Cain. Lucas Moore tripled, which scored Elam, making it 10-6, Indiana.

Indiana went scoreless in the top of the ninth. Indiana turned to Anthony Gubitosi to close the game out. He struck out Tague Davis looking. Bayram Hot reached on Malamazian’s throwing error to first. Nugent then singled, and there were runners on first and second. Crain flied out to center, which put Louisville down to its last out. Elam struck out swinging, and Gubitosi closed it out for the Hoosiers.

Indiana grabbed a needed bounce-back victory over the Cardinals, 10-6. Conner Linn was brilliant on the mound for five innings, which propelled the Hoosiers to a victory. Indiana’s bats were consistent throughout, especially with the 2-3-4 hitters. Hanley, Ten Oever, and Malamazian created an elite trio, who scored six of the Hoosiers 10 runs.

Indiana will face Northwestern on the road in a weekend Big Ten series. Indiana needs to perform, as they hope to make an appearance in the Big Ten Tournament.