Indiana baseball returns to Bart Kaufman Field this weekend for a three-game series against Abilene Christian University, looking to build on its recent offensive surge and continue momentum in non-conference play.
The Wildcats make the trip to Bloomington for the second leg of a home-and-home series after hosting the Hoosiers in a three-game set last season in Abilene, Texas. Indiana swept that series, winning 8-4, 14-5 and 7-6 at Crutcher Scott Field from May 2–4.
Offense defined that weekend for both teams.
In the three-game set, 44 total runs crossed the plate, with Indiana accounting for 29 of them. The Hoosiers relied on both power and timely hitting to complete the sweep, including a clutch moment in the series' finale.
Then-sophomore catcher T.J. Schuyler, known more for his defensive presence, delivered one of the biggest hits of the weekend, dropping an RBI single into right-center field in the ninth inning to give Indiana a 7-6 lead and secure the sweep.
That same offensive identity has begun to re-emerge for the Hoosiers as of late.
Indiana has scored 77 runs over its last nine games, averaging 8.6 runs per contest while posting a 6-3 record in that span. After early-season inconsistency, the Hoosiers’ lineup is beginning to find rhythm.
“We figured it would take some time for us to be able to produce offensively starting so many young and new guys,” head coach Jeff Mercer said after Wednesday’s win over Evansville University. “The last several weeks, we’ve had enough information, data and video on to be able to really hone in on what zones to cover.”
That growth has shown on the field.
Indiana (16-21) enters the weekend riding a two-game win streak, having defeated Indiana State University 17-12 in a midweek matchup April 14 before following it up with an 8-6 win over Evansville on April 15. Abilene Christian (18-18) comes into the series looking to build momentum of its own.
The Hoosiers’ offense powered both victories, continuing a trend of aggressive, high-scoring performances.
The recent surge has been driven by the top of Indiana’s lineup.
Sophomore outfielder Caleb Koskie has emerged as one of the team’s most dangerous hitters, riding an 18-game hitting streak while leading the Hoosiers with a .385 batting average and a 1.093 OPS.
Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley has also provided steady production. Hanley enters the weekend on an 11-game hitting streak of his own and leads the team with 51 hits and 11 home runs, while adding 10 doubles, 20 walks and 34 runs scored. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways has anchored the middle of the lineup.
The Wildcats’ lineup is led by a pair of middle-of-the-order hitters capable of producing both contact and power. Graduate infielder Zandt Payne is hitting .343 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs, while senior infielder Diego Cardenas adds even more power with 17 home runs and 50 RBIs.
Cardenas is part of a power-heavy core.
Senior infielder Grant Watkins leads the Western Athletic Conference with 18 home runs, giving Abilene Christian two of the conference’s top power hitters and making the middle of the lineup a constant threat.
Entering the weekend, Abilene Christian sits 115th in the NCAA’s latest RPI rankings, while Indiana holds a slight edge at 98th.
The series begins Friday at 6 p.m. at Bart Kaufman Field, followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday and a noon start Sunday in Bloomington.
Graduate student left-handed pitcher Tony Neubeck is set to get the ball to open the series for Indiana on Friday and sophomore left hander Brayton Thomas will start Saturday. Amidst a stretch where the Hoosiers play five games in six days, Indiana’s starter for Sunday is listed as TBD.
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.
