Indiana University Athletics
Friday, March 5
Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Bank Stadium)
4:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
Rutgers
NOTES: Indiana Baseball Opens 2021 Season this Weekend
3/4/2021 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
SETTING THE SCENE
• The Indiana Hoosiers open the 2021 season with four games at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. IU will face both Rutgers and Minnesota twice over the weekend, beginning with a contest with the Scarlet Knights on Friday, Mar. 5.
• The Hoosiers finished the shortened 2020 season with an overall record of 9-6. Indiana recorded three road victories over ranked teams, beating No. 11 LSU, No. 30 South Alabama and No. 17 East Carolina. IU also defeated in-state rival Purdue, 17-2, in seven innings.
• Jeff Mercer enters his third season at the helm of the Indiana baseball program. He led the Hoosiers to a Big Ten regular season title in 2019, earning him Big Ten Coach of the Year honors.
INSIDE #IUBASE
• Indiana OF Grant Richardson was named a First-Team Preseason All-American by both Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball. He was also named Third-Team Preseason All-American by D1Baseball.
• Before the season, Indiana was tabbed to win the Big Ten in 2021 by Perfect Game. OF Grant Richardson was named the Player of the Year and to the Preseason All-Big Ten team. He was joined on the preseason All-Big Ten team by RHP Gabe Bierman and RHP Connor Manous.
• RHP Gabe Bierman, OF Grant Richardson and LHP Tommy Sommer were all named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch List. IU was picked to finish second in the Big Ten behind Michigan in a preseason poll conducted of the league's coaches.
• The Hoosiers are ranked No. 14 in the nation by Perfect Game. IU is also receiving votes in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll.
• Since the start of the 2008 season, Indiana leads the Big Ten in wins (430) and conference wins (178). The Hoosiers have made seven NCAA Regionals over that span, the most out of any current Big Ten team.
• OF Elijah Dunham signed a rookie free agent deal with the New York Yankees in June. Dunham started all 15 games for the Hoosiers in 2020, batting .390 on the season with a team-best seven doubles, one home run, 11 RBI and 12 runs scored. He led the team with an on-base percentage of .493 and also posted a .559 slugging percentage – second-best on the team.
• After leading the Hoosiers to the 2019 Big Ten regular season championship, Jeff Mercer was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. Mercer became the first Big Ten head coach since 1982 (John Anderson, Minnesota) to win a regular season conference title in his first season as the skipper. He was just the second coach in IU history – in any sport, men's or women's – to win an outright Big Ten championship in his (or her) first year.
@INDIANABASE
For all the latest on Indiana University baseball, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaBase on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
• The Indiana Hoosiers open the 2021 season with four games at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. IU will face both Rutgers and Minnesota twice over the weekend, beginning with a contest with the Scarlet Knights on Friday, Mar. 5.
• The Hoosiers finished the shortened 2020 season with an overall record of 9-6. Indiana recorded three road victories over ranked teams, beating No. 11 LSU, No. 30 South Alabama and No. 17 East Carolina. IU also defeated in-state rival Purdue, 17-2, in seven innings.
• Jeff Mercer enters his third season at the helm of the Indiana baseball program. He led the Hoosiers to a Big Ten regular season title in 2019, earning him Big Ten Coach of the Year honors.
INSIDE #IUBASE
• Indiana OF Grant Richardson was named a First-Team Preseason All-American by both Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball. He was also named Third-Team Preseason All-American by D1Baseball.
• Before the season, Indiana was tabbed to win the Big Ten in 2021 by Perfect Game. OF Grant Richardson was named the Player of the Year and to the Preseason All-Big Ten team. He was joined on the preseason All-Big Ten team by RHP Gabe Bierman and RHP Connor Manous.
• RHP Gabe Bierman, OF Grant Richardson and LHP Tommy Sommer were all named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch List. IU was picked to finish second in the Big Ten behind Michigan in a preseason poll conducted of the league's coaches.
• The Hoosiers are ranked No. 14 in the nation by Perfect Game. IU is also receiving votes in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll.
• Since the start of the 2008 season, Indiana leads the Big Ten in wins (430) and conference wins (178). The Hoosiers have made seven NCAA Regionals over that span, the most out of any current Big Ten team.
• OF Elijah Dunham signed a rookie free agent deal with the New York Yankees in June. Dunham started all 15 games for the Hoosiers in 2020, batting .390 on the season with a team-best seven doubles, one home run, 11 RBI and 12 runs scored. He led the team with an on-base percentage of .493 and also posted a .559 slugging percentage – second-best on the team.
• After leading the Hoosiers to the 2019 Big Ten regular season championship, Jeff Mercer was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. Mercer became the first Big Ten head coach since 1982 (John Anderson, Minnesota) to win a regular season conference title in his first season as the skipper. He was just the second coach in IU history – in any sport, men's or women's – to win an outright Big Ten championship in his (or her) first year.
@INDIANABASE
For all the latest on Indiana University baseball, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaBase on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
Players Mentioned
RHP
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OF
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RHP
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OF
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LHP
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