Indiana baseball returns to Bloomington this weekend looking to reset after a challenging road trip in Lincoln, Nebraska, followed by a loss in Evansville. The Hoosiers host Rutgers in a three-game series at Bart Kaufman Field.
Indiana (10-18, 3-9 Big Ten) enters the weekend after being swept by No. 24 Nebraska, March 27-29. Late-inning execution proved costly in all three games.
Inconsistency has defined Indiana’s start. The Hoosiers are hitting .285 in nonconference play but just .225 in Big Ten games, a drop that has been evident with their 3-9 conference record. Indiana is 0-7 in one-run games this season, underscoring its struggles to finish close contests.
That combination has left Indiana searching for sustained offensive production. The Hoosiers have found that at home, led by a sophomore core that has driven the offense at Bart Kaufman Field.
First baseman Jake Hanley is hitting .417 at home, while outfielder Caleb Koskie (.414), third baseman Will Moore (.364), outfielder Hogan Denny (.343) and shortstop Cooper Malamazian (.324), all sophomores, have all produced at a high level.
However, translating those performances into complete games remains a point of emphasis.
Indiana will look to change that this weekend against a Rutgers team entering with its own momentum to regain.
The Scarlet Knights (15-13, 4-5 Big Ten) enter the weekend on a three-game losing streak, dropping the final two games of a series against Michigan before falling 3-2 in a midweek matchup against Hofstra University. Rutgers has been solid at home with a 9-6 record but has been more inconsistent on the road, posting a 5-6 mark away from Piscataway, New Jersey.
Indiana has historically had the edge in the matchup, holding a 14-8 all-time record against Rutgers, including a perfect 9-0 mark at Bart Kaufman Field.
Rutgers will rely on its offense to apply pressure, led by one of the conference’s top hitters in Peyton Bonds. The junior outfielder is hitting .376 with a 1.050 OPS, adding six home runs and 28 RBIs this season. His production has helped Rutgers remain competitive in conference play. The Scarlet Knights currently sit ninth in the Big Ten standings, while Indiana sits 15th.
Redshirt sophomore right-hander Zack Konstantinovsky has been one of Rutgers’ key arms this season, but his performance has dipped in Big Ten play. After a dominant start to the year, allowing just four runs over 21.1 innings for a 1.69 ERA in his first four outings, he has struggled in conference games, allowing 12 runs over his last 10 innings for a 10.80 ERA.
On the mound, Indiana will look for consistency from its own staff.
Left-handed pitchers graduate Tony Neubeck and sophomore Brayton Thomas have been a steady presence in Big Ten play, while the Hoosiers continue to manage innings across the rotation. After losing right-handed starting pitcher senior Jackson Bergman to a season-ending elbow injury, Indiana’s bullpen has shown flashes of strong outings but will need to deliver sustained performances to close out games.
The series also represents an opportunity for Indiana to find its footing at home.
The Hoosiers are 5-4 at Bart Kaufman Field this season and will look to use that familiarity to reset against a conference opponent.
The three-game set begins at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by games at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
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.
