After coming away with a positive record in their season-opening weekend, Indiana baseball is now ranked No. 24, according to D1 Baseball.
Indiana had its first slate of games over the weekend in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and earned two impressive wins in the Battle of the Beach hosted by Coastal Carolina.
The Hoosiers opened their season with a 6-3 loss against No. 12 ranked Duke on Friday morning. However, they followed that up with an upset against then 18th-ranked Coastal Carolina. Indiana continued to build off momentum, cruising to a victory against George Mason to round out the weekend.
A lot of questions surrounded Indiana’s roster this season, with the main focus on rotation duties and bullpen depth. Indiana’s offseason took a big blow when it was announced 2023 strikeout leader Luke Sinnard would miss the 2024 season due to injury.
As a result, Sophomore Brayden Risedorph was given the nod for the opening day starter against Duke. The former swingman turned permanent starter did not disappoint, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing just two hits and one run.
Bullpen issues did surface in the later innings, however, as Ryan Kraft gave up four runs in just over an inning pitched. Kraft is thought to be one of the brighter spots in the bullpen heading into this season after posting a team-low 2.48 ERA last year. Sophomores Ayden Decker-Petty and Evan Whiteaker also appeared in the later innings, with each giving up one run.
The Hoosier offense got all of their run production against Duke from home runs. Tyler Cerny drove a solo shot into the bullpen in left field that produced two runs in the bottom of the sixth. An inning later, Carter Mathison hit his first homer of the year with a monster shot to right center.
In the end, Indiana’s offense left nine runners on base throughout the game. Risedorph was credited with the loss.
Indiana bounced back the following day, earning a 7-2 upset against Coastal Carolina on their home field.
Another sophomore, Connor Foley started on the bump for the Hoosiers and went an impressive four innings with seven strikeouts and only two hits allowed. Ty Bothwell finished out the day with four hits allowed across five innings. Coastal Carolina’s two runs both came off errors.
Indiana got on the board first in the 5th off the bat of Devin Taylor. Brock Tibbitts followed suit with a sacrifice fly to help Indiana take a 2-0 lead. Coastal Carolina’s followed suit, with two runs coming off errors.
The bats started to show out more in the latter half of the game, with two new faces earning their first homeruns as Hoosiers. Houston transfer Brandon Burckel’s first hit for Indiana carried over the left field wall for a solo shot in the eighth, and redshirt-freshman AJ Shepard smacked a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to add insurance.
Both Brock Tibbitts and Tyler Cerny had productive days at the dish, with each going 2-4. Cerny also had two RBI’s in the top if the ninth to extend Indiana’s lead. Devin Taylor also went 2-5 for an RBI for the game. Bothwell also notched his first win of the season.
The Hoosiers rounded out the Battle of the Beach with a 9-3 win over the Patriots of George Mason on Sunday.
Indiana started the game off hot with Devin Taylor driving in a run in the top of the first, and a Morgan Colopy walk let another run cross.
Indiana went for the reliever-game strategy in the last game of the tournament. Ethan Phillips was credited with the start and struck out five batters across 3.2 innings. Seti Manase and freshman Julian Tonghini also saw action, with Manase earning the win and Tonghini the save.
Both Colopy and AJ Shepard homered in the third to give Indiana a five-run lead, but that was short lived as George Mason cut within two of the lead by the end of the sixth inning. However, Carter Mathison fired back with another towering three-run shot in the top of the 8th, and Indiana came back with one more run on a throwing error in the ninth.
Devin Taylor finished with a productive weekend, going 2-4 from the box. Colopy also went 2-4 with two RBIs. Indianapolis-native and No. 37 overall prospect Andrew Wiggins notched his first hit of his career, with a pinch-hit double in the 8th.
Indiana was named the No. 24th-ranked team by D1 baseball on Monday, with other outlets having them as high as No. 21. This marks the first time since May of 2021 that the Hoosiers have been in the national rankings. Connor Foley was also named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
The Hoosiers are back in action for their first home game on Tuesday, 4:00 pm eastern to face Miami (OH).
