Coming Clean – IU Seeks Long NCAA Baseball Tourney Run
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It’s gotta be clean. Jeff Mercer understands that, preaches that, coaches to that.
His Indiana Hoosiers have a chance at a strong NCAA postseason run, starting with this weekend’s Lexington Regional, and Priority No. 1 is not beating themselves.
“You have to play fundamentally sound,” he says. “You can’t give away base runners. You can’t walk guys. You can’t make errors. You have to take care of the ball and play the way we’ve played the majority of the year.”
Third-seeded IU (41-18) will play second-seeded West Virginia (39-18) at 7 p.m. on Friday in the double-elimination event. Top-seed Kentucky (36-18) will face fourth-seeded Ball State (36-21) at noon.
Cream ‘n Crimson success depends on putting maximum pressure on the Mountaineers, especially their pitchers.
“From the offensive side, we have to extend bats, extend innings and force them into their bullpen,” Mercer says. “You have to be willing to work, and understand the payoff is later in the tournament when you get to that third and fourth game, when you can capitalize on big moments.
“Tournaments aren’t won on the first game, but if you want to make a good run, you have to lean on opposing arms, and you have to play clean. When you play clean. it allows you to extend your pitching.”
West Virginia has lost five straight games, in part because it was outscored 22-2 in the first two innings of those five losses. It’s led by All-America second baseman JJ Wetherholt, who is hitting .443 with 15 home runs, 56 runs batted in and 66 runs scored. He’s also stolen 35 bases.
The Mountaineers rank No. 12 nationally with 121 stolen bases. Their pitching staff ranks No. 24 nationally with a 4.35 earned run average.
Indiana counters with an offense that finished second in the Big Ten in batting average (.299) and third in runs scored (461).
IU thrives with youth. Outfielder Devin Taylor earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors -- the third Hoosier to do so -- after smacking 16 home runs while hitting .317 with 57 runs batted in. He’s also the third Hoosier freshman to make All-Big Ten first team.
Sophomore first baseman Brock Tibbitts leads the team in average (.372), runs batted in (66), extra base hits (29) and total bases (135). He was second-team All-Big Ten. Sophomore third baseman Josh Pyne hit .300 with 54 RBI and 47 runs scored to also earn all-conference accolades.
The Hoosiers also thrive with veterans such as All-Big Ten pitchers Ryan Kraft and Luke Sinnard. As a reliever, Kraft compiled a 6-1 record, 4-0 against the Big Ten teams, with a conference-leading 2.51 earned run average. He has five saves.
Kraft struggled in the Big Ten tourney due to a minor forearm issue. Mercer hopes he’ll be back in top form for regional action.
“He threw the last couple of days,” Mercer says. ““If he comes back, it would be a big shot to our bullpen.”
Sinnard went 6-3 with a school-single-season record 109 strikeouts.
Shortstop Phillip Glasser (.351, 65 runs scored, 14 steals) and second baseman Tyler Cerney (.280, 10 homers, 43 RBI) also earned all-conference recognition.
The Hoosiers are back in regional play for the first time since winning the Big Ten title in 2019.
“I’m excited for the guys.” Mercer says. “For most of them, this is their first time going, so you’re trying to explain what it’s like. Last year, we started with a new group and we’re growing them up.
“It was a lot of fun to watch their excitement (when they received the at-large bid). Now they get to do it themselves.”
IU beat Ball State twice during the regular season, 16-3 and 9-8. It lost to Kentucky, 12-2. It didn’t play West Virginia, which jokingly added they should get information from ex-Hoosier Tyler Doanes, a former Mountaineer.
“Familiarity is good,” Mercer says.
Lexington, Glasser adds, is an ideal location.
“It’s sweet. My family will be there. A lot of the team’s families will be there. A lot of Hoosier fans will be in attendance.
“With all four of the teams close, it should be a super atmosphere every game.”
Beyond that, ending up in Lexington minimizes the travel burden. Mercer remembers when he coached at Wright State having to fly to Stanford for regional action.
“We had to pack all those guys and go across the country,” Mercer says. “That’s hard after a 60-game season.
“This travel component is nice. We could practice here in the morning, hop on a bus and be there in the afternoon.”