"Today was extremely frustrating with how it went, but I'm proud of our guys for continuing to compete through the entire game and battling in the ninth," MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. said on Sunday. "We just didn't play well enough to win today. We made far too many mental mistakes to win, and it's difficult to beat anybody when you have that many mental mistakes, much less a good team like Indiana."

Now 4-8 in the Big Ten and 17-13 overall, MSU has dropped five of its last six games and sits in 12th place in the conference. Even with expansion, the Big Ten Tournament will feature only 12 teams. The Spartans are currently tied with Nebraska for the final spot, with just over a month remaining in the regular season.

Monday’s doubleheader was filled with one bad inning after another for MSU. Indiana scored multiple runs in eight of the 14 innings played, making a comeback increasingly difficult as the day wore on.

MSU’s biggest issues this season have come on the mound and in the field. The Spartans average 6.1 runs per game — enough to win consistently — but unforced errors and poor command from the pitching staff have cost them games they should win.

Indiana has been one of the Big Ten’s best offensive teams this season. Junior outfielder Korbyn Dickerson leads the conference with 13 home runs, while sophomore center fielder Devin Taylor is chasing IU’s all-time home run record of 47. Taylor, who has 10 this season, is one homer shy of tying the mark.

The Hoosiers rank second in the Big Ten in both batting average (.311) and OPS (.952).

Game One: MSU 2, Indiana 14

Junior right-handed pitcher Nolan Higgins started game one but never found his rhythm. He allowed six runs in the first inning alone, giving up three hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch before recording an out. While often relied upon as a day-two starter, Higgins ranks in the bottom five of the Big Ten in strikeouts, walks and WHIP.

Power wasn’t the issue for MSU, but a steady stream of singles, three walks and three hit batters extended nearly every inning.

MSU’s lone bright spot came in the third inning when sophomore second baseman Ryan McKay ripped his first triple of the season with two outs. Sophomore catcher Caleb Berry followed with a single up the middle to drive in McKay for the Spartans’ first run.

In the sixth, Berry singled again, advanced to second on a flyout and moved to third on a wild pitch. Senior outfielder Nick Williams then doubled to bring Berry home, cutting the deficit to 14-2.

Game Two: MSU 2, Indiana 18

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Gannon Grundman made his second Big Ten start of the season but struggled out of the gate. The Howell, Michigan native hit two batters, walked one and gave up a single before recording an out. With the bases loaded, Indiana’s Caleb Koskie launched a grand slam to right field, giving the Hoosiers a 5-0 lead in the first.

MSU used seven pitchers in game two, but only one — junior Dominic Pianto — threw more than an inning. Pianto allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out one in his appearance.

Indiana scored in all seven innings, including five-run frames in both the first and fifth. MSU committed three errors as the Hoosiers totaled 14 hits and four home runs.

The Spartans will look to bounce back Wednesday, April 9, against Central Michigan at 3 p.m. at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium. The non-conference matchup is expected to feature several bullpen arms as MSU prepares for a weekend series against Northwestern. Wednesday’s game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.