After getting swept by then-No. 11 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in its season-opening series, Indiana baseball will return home to Bloomington for a matchup against Bradley University.
Tuesday’s home opener offers Indiana a quick reset after opening weekend exposed bullpen depth concerns and defensive lapses.
The Hoosiers gave up 25 runs in the three-game series, 21 of which were allowed by relievers.
Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer said after the series he still felt like the Hoosiers were competitive in every game until the middle innings.
“[In] all three games, we were in a one or two run in game in the fifth and sixth inning, trying to figure out roles and spots for everybody on the mound...” Mercer said Feb. 14. “Obviously we kind of gave up runs there in the middle of the first two games.”
The Hoosiers also committed five total errors in the series, three of which were by sophomore infielder Cooper Malamazian. The most notable misplay was by University of Delaware transfer senior infielder Aiden Stewart’s errant throw from second base in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs that would have sealed the final game for Indiana.
Although the result was harsh for the Hoosiers, Mercer said he was proud of his team for competing in a tough environment to kick off the year after the series.
“So, we’re talented enough, we’re capable,” Mercer said. “We did a really good job of getting that game to the finish line there. Didn’t finish it, but that’s life; that’s where it goes, and you just pick up and move on.”
Despite the miscues all around for Indiana, sophomore infielder Will Moore extended his on-base streak to 21 straight games dating back to last year. He had three base-hits and a walk in the past series. Sophomore outfielder/catcher Hogan Denny sports a .538 on-base percentage so far this year, being the only Indiana player to not strike out over the past weekend.
With a group that features underclass players, particularly hitters, Tuesday’s game can serve as an early opportunity to build momentum before a difficult nonconference schedule for Indiana.
The Cream and Crimson travel to Jacksonville, Florida, after Tuesday's game where they will participate in the Live Like Lou Jacksonville Baseball Classic this Friday through Sunday. The Hoosiers play No. 2 Louisiana State University, the University of Central Florida and University of Notre Dame in a three-game round robin.
But before that trip, Indiana must handle Bradley on Tuesday.
First-year Bradley head coach Justin Dedman revamped most of the roster in the off-season, returning only six players from last season — five pitchers and one position player, senior outfielder Ashton Horchem. The 5-foot-10 Bartonville, Illinois, native had a .320 batting average in 103 at-bats last year in 33 games.
Bradley played Bethune-Cookman University in its first series of the year in Daytona Beach, Florida. It lost the first two games, 2-1 on Feb. 13 and 17-6 on Feb. 14, before winning the third game 7-6 on Sunday to avoid a sweep.
Horchem leads the team with a .429 batting average through the first three games; he also has walked three times. Charleston Southern University transfer graduate student infielder Peyton Nelson is hitting .333 after a two-hit effort Feb. 15 for the Braves. Nelson also played at Three Rivers College, before transferring to Charleston Southern, where he became the program’s all-time hits leader with 147.
The starting pitchers for both teams are to be determined. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday. Coverage of the game will be available on Big Ten+.
Follow reporters Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) and Will Kwiatkowski (@WKwiatkowski_15 and wdkwiatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana baseball season.
