Indiana baseball entered the weekend on the wrong side of the Big Ten standings and looking to make up ground. But after taking the opener against a Northwestern team also searching for consistency, the Hoosiers dropped the final two games of the series and fell further back in the standings this weekend in Illinois.
Still, Friday night at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs for over a century, provided a moment that stood apart.
Sophomore outfielder Hogan Denny started the scoring in Indiana’s 9-2 win Friday, going 3 for 5 and scoring all three times he reached base. In a setting unlike any other on the schedule, Denny delivered early and often, helping the Hoosiers take control of the series opener.
Denny wasted no time, he opened the game with a double to left-center field and came around to score moments later on a sacrifice fly, giving Indiana an early lead. From there, he remained a constant presence on the bases, forcing pressure on Northwestern’s pitching staff and contributing to multiple scoring opportunities.
His production extended beyond the batter's box.
Defensively, Denny handled the expansive outfield at Wrigley Field, covering significant ground in right field and adjusting to the ballpark’s unique dimensions. The setting presented a different challenge than a typical Big Ten venue, but Denny adapted quickly.
“Win or loss, it was an amazing experience here, but coming out with a win just makes it even more special,” Denny said postgame Friday.
That performance carried into the rest of the weekend.
With sophomore outfielder Caleb Koskie sidelined, Indiana relied heavily on Denny to anchor the lineup. He responded by producing consistently across all three games, finishing the series hitting .643 and scoring seven runs.
On Saturday, he reached base in all five of his plate appearances, recording four hits — all singles — and scoring twice. Even as Indiana fell 7-4, Denny remained one of the few consistent offensive pieces in the lineup.
He continued that production Sunday going 2 for 5 with a home run in the series finale, once again providing early offense and maintaining his role at the top of the order opening the game with a leadoff home run.
The approach behind that success has been deliberate.
“Since the game at the University of Louisville, we’ve been focusing on the last 10 games and taking it one game at a time,” Denny said postgame Friday. “Whatever game we are playing is the most important one because that’s the only thing we can control.”
That mindset has helped him stay consistent even as results have varied for the Hoosiers.
“Just trying to take it one opportunity at a time, one step at a time, and go 1-0 every single day,” Denny said.
Despite Denny’s performance throughout the weekend, Indiana was unable to build on its series-opening win.
The Hoosiers dropped the final two games, falling to 21-27 overall and 7-17 in Big Ten play. With just seven games remaining, Indiana is positioned three games behind Washington who sits in 12th in the Big Ten, the cutoff line for the Big Ten tournament. Indiana is at 14th place.
The margin for error has narrowed.
And while the results of the weekend added pressure, Denny’s performance highlighted what Indiana’s offense is capable of when it finds rhythm.
Denny finished the series raising his season average to .363 with a team leading 1.122 OPS, while adding his 13th home run of the year. His ability to consistently reach base and generate offense has made him one of Indiana’s most reliable hitters down the stretch.
For Indiana, the standings reflect the challenge ahead.
But at Wrigley Field and throughout the weekend, Denny provided a steady presence and a glimpse of what the Hoosiers need over the final stretch of the season.
Indiana will look to regroup against in-state rival Purdue at 6 p.m. May 8 at Alexander Field in West Lafayette. Purdue enters the series at 32-15 overall and 15-9 in Big Ten play, sitting comfortably in sixth place in the conference standings.
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.
