It has been nearly a year since Indiana last played a baseball game — but the wait is almost over.
The Big Ten Conference has announced the long-awaited 2021 baseball schedule. The conference-only slate for the 2021 season was released by IU and the league on Wednesday afternoon. Indiana will play 44 Big Ten games, including 20 home contests at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington, Ind.
The Hoosiers last played on March, 11, 2020 before the season was abruptly canceled due to COVID-19. IU defeated Cincinnati 6-2 on that day and concluded a 9-6 season. The 2019 Big Ten champions will now finally get a chance to defend their league crown, and they will do so while facing every team in the league at least once.
Play starts indoors in Minneapolis on Friday, March 5, and the Hoosiers will play their home opener on March 12. Indiana was tabbed recently by Perfect Game to win the conference in 2021.
Outfielder Grant Richardson was recently named the Preseason Player of the Year and to the Preseason All-Big Ten team by Perfect Game. He was joined on the preseason All-Big Ten team by RHP Gabe Bierman and RHP Connor Manous.
Exact dates and times of each contest, including the pods, will be announced in the near future. To allow for maximum flexibility in the potential rescheduling of games, there will not be a Big Ten Baseball Tournament this season. Fans will not be permitted at Bart Kaufman Field indefinitely.
Here is the current Indiana schedule released by the Big Ten:
Weekend of March 5 (U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.)
Friday, March 5 vs. Rutgers – 4 PM ET
Friday, March 5 vs. Minnesota – 8 PM ET
Saturday, March 6 vs. Rutgers – 10 PM ET
Sunday, March 7 vs. Minnesota – 7 PM ET
Weekend of March 12 (Bloomington, Ind.)
Four games vs. Penn State
Weekend of March 19 (Bloomington, Ind.)
Three games vs. Purdue
Weekend of March 26 (East Lansing, Mich.)
Three games at Michigan State
Weekend of April 2 (Columbus, Ohio)
Four games at Ohio State
Weekend of April 9 (Bloomington, Ind.)
Three games vs. Illinois
Weekend of April 16 (Evanston, Ill.)
Three games at Northwestern
Weekend of April 23 (Bloomington, Ind.)
Three games vs. Minnesota
Weekend of April 30 (Bloomington, Ind.)
Three games vs. Iowa
Weekend of May 7 (Piscataway, N.J.)
Two games vs. Rutgers
Two games vs. Nebraska
Weekend of May 14 (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Three games at Michigan
Weekend of May 21 (Bloomington, Ind.)
Two games vs. Nebraska
Two games vs. Ohio State
Weekend of May 28 (College Park, Md.)
Three games at Maryland
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