Friday, March 15
Bloomington, Ind.
5:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
Belmont
Baseball Central: Belmont
3/14/2024 2:30:00 PM | Baseball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana Baseball team (9-8) will look to snap a three-game losing streak as it welcomes Belmont to Bart Kaufman Field this weekend to close out a run of eight games in nine days.
Faced with a depleted bullpen and a strong weekend opponent, IU struggled on the mound in a pair of midweek defeats to No. 9 Vanderbilt and Illinois State.
IU's pitching staff will be more aligned this weekend as weather should allow for games to be played as scheduled for the first time in weeks. Senior pitcher Jack Moffitt will make his first-career start for IU on Friday evening with a number of arms, including junior left-hander Ryan Kraft, expected to be available. Sophomore Connor Foley will continue his role as the Saturday starter.
The bats have started to pick up steam since an 8-1 loss last Saturday to Troy. Junior infielder Brock Tibbitts is riding a six-game hitting streak and has 12 hits in his past six contests. Sophomores Devin Taylor (27) and Tyler Cerny (26) are both top-five in the conference in hits.
All three games will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network Plus with scheduled first pitch times of 5:00 PM (Friday), 2:00 PM (Saturday) and 1:00 PM (Sunday) in Bloomington.
Gameday Info
Belmont (Friday, March 15th)
Live Video: t.ly/_fMBQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/DSDfX
Belmont (Saturday, March 16th)
Live Video: t.ly/_fMBQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/DSDfX
Belmont (Sunday, March 17th)
Live Video: t.ly/_fMBQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/DSDfX
Probable Starters
Indiana vs. Belmont
• Friday – Jack Moffitt (IU) (1-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Will Pryor (BU) (1-1, 4.09 ERA)
• Saturday – Connor Foley (IU) (1-1, 2.95 ERA) vs. Dominic Baratta (BU) (1-1, 3.52 ERA)
• Sunday – TBD (IU) vs. Joe Ruzicka (BU) (2-1, 3.43 ERA)
Player and Stat Trends
Closing in on 200
• Josh Pyne (172) and Brock Tibbitts (168) are neck-in-neck as they try to become the next members of the 200-hit club at IU. They would be the first pair of teammates from the same recruiting class to reach the plateau since Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis (2012-14).
200 of His Own
• Ty Bothwell is also searching for 200 … strikeouts. He is 36 away from becoming the 10th member of the 200-strikeout club at IU.
Ironman Brock
• Brock Tibbitts is on a run of 136-straight starts without missing a contest. He is searching to become the third player since 2008 to have a stretch of at least 150-consecutive starts.
Racking Up Hits
• Devin Taylor (27) and Tyler Cerny (26) are both top-five in the league in hits and are two of just six players with at least 25 hits at this juncture.
Notable
Tough Schedule to Open
• IU's schedule through the first month of the season has been nothing short of difficult. Its Tuesday matchup with No. 9 Vanderbilt was the fifth contest against a ranked opponent this season. It was also the seventh game against power five competition and the second game against an SEC foe.
• According to Warren Nolan.com, a baseball metrics website, IU has the No. 41 non-conference strength of schedule and the No. 51 overall strength of schedule. The most recent RPI update from Warren Nolan has IU at No. 71 after dropping three-straight games.
Mercer Challenging the Bats
• After a disappointing loss to Troy on Saturday (March 10), in which the IU offense mustered just one run, head coach Jeff Mercer challenged the bats to bring the intensity in the Sunday doubleheader. A veteran Hoosier lineup did just that, combining to score 21 runs on 24 hits in two games on Sunday.
• Josh Pyne recorded a four-hit game in the first game Sunday while Nick Mitchell contributed a double and triple in the second game out of the leadoff hole. Carter Mathison hit a pair of home runs while Tyler Cerny added four hits across the two games. The Hoosiers then combined for 18 hits in losses to Vanderbilt and Illinois State.
Recent Spring Break Success
• It was this time last year that IU kicked its season into top gear. After a midweek loss at Kentucky on March 14th, the Hoosiers went on to win 13 of their next 16 games, sweeping Morehead State and Ohio State in weekend series along the way.
• IU's schedule sets up similarly this year as it welcomes Belmont (three-game series) with hopes to rattle off a number of wins heading into conference play. The Hoosiers begin Big Ten play against Illinois, sandwhiched between series against Belmont and Butler (four games).
Tibbitts on a Roll
• Tasked with a heavy defensive load for the Hoosiers, junior Brock Tibbitts got off to a shaky offensive start. However, over the past 10 games, he's begun to pick up steam.
• The New Albany, Ohio native is riding a six-game hit streak into the weekend and is 12-26 over his past six contests. In the last 10 games, he is 16-39 (.410) with eight runs, four doubles and nine RBIs.
Staff Getting Settled
• IU's relatively new pitching staff has taken some lumps after being thrown into the fire in the first weeks of the season, facing some of the top talent in the nation. The Hoosiers are without veterans Luke Sinnard, Ben Grable, Matthew Bohnert, forcing younger players to step up. Sixth-year senior transfer Ty Rybarczyk only just got back and has thrown just one inning.
• Transfers Jack Moffitt (1-0, 5 app., 1.93 ERA) and Julian Tonghini (1-0, 4 app., 2 SV, 3.48 ERA) have joined important IU pieces in Connor Foley (1-1, 2.95 ERA), Ty Bothwell (2-0, 4.32 ERA) and Ryan Kraft (1-0, 4.91 ERA) in being really good on the mound. Young arms Jacob Vogel, Ryan Rushing and Aydan Decker-Petty continue to get looks on the mound as well.
Scouting the Opponent
Belmont (10-7, 0-0)
• The Bruins make the trip to Bloomington as the two programs meet for the first time ever. Sam Slaughter (.349) leads the way offensively. Three different players have started all 17 games including Brodey Heaton and Mason Landers.
• The pitching has been strong all season for Belmont. It brings a 5.28 earned run average into the weekend led by starter Joe Ruzicka (2-1, 3.43 ERA) and reliever Bill Duby (6 app., 1.80 ERA).
• Belmont is 5-5 over its past 10 games but beat No. 21 South Carolina on the road in the Saturday contest of a three-game set in February.
Inside the Series
Indiana vs. Belmont
• These two teams have never played. This will be one of four Missouri Valley opponents that the Hoosiers play this season (Illinois State, Evansville and Indiana State).
Faced with a depleted bullpen and a strong weekend opponent, IU struggled on the mound in a pair of midweek defeats to No. 9 Vanderbilt and Illinois State.
IU's pitching staff will be more aligned this weekend as weather should allow for games to be played as scheduled for the first time in weeks. Senior pitcher Jack Moffitt will make his first-career start for IU on Friday evening with a number of arms, including junior left-hander Ryan Kraft, expected to be available. Sophomore Connor Foley will continue his role as the Saturday starter.
The bats have started to pick up steam since an 8-1 loss last Saturday to Troy. Junior infielder Brock Tibbitts is riding a six-game hitting streak and has 12 hits in his past six contests. Sophomores Devin Taylor (27) and Tyler Cerny (26) are both top-five in the conference in hits.
All three games will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network Plus with scheduled first pitch times of 5:00 PM (Friday), 2:00 PM (Saturday) and 1:00 PM (Sunday) in Bloomington.
Gameday Info
Belmont (Friday, March 15th)
Live Video: t.ly/_fMBQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/DSDfX
Belmont (Saturday, March 16th)
Live Video: t.ly/_fMBQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/DSDfX
Belmont (Sunday, March 17th)
Live Video: t.ly/_fMBQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/DSDfX
Probable Starters
Indiana vs. Belmont
• Friday – Jack Moffitt (IU) (1-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Will Pryor (BU) (1-1, 4.09 ERA)
• Saturday – Connor Foley (IU) (1-1, 2.95 ERA) vs. Dominic Baratta (BU) (1-1, 3.52 ERA)
• Sunday – TBD (IU) vs. Joe Ruzicka (BU) (2-1, 3.43 ERA)
Player and Stat Trends
Closing in on 200
• Josh Pyne (172) and Brock Tibbitts (168) are neck-in-neck as they try to become the next members of the 200-hit club at IU. They would be the first pair of teammates from the same recruiting class to reach the plateau since Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis (2012-14).
200 of His Own
• Ty Bothwell is also searching for 200 … strikeouts. He is 36 away from becoming the 10th member of the 200-strikeout club at IU.
Ironman Brock
• Brock Tibbitts is on a run of 136-straight starts without missing a contest. He is searching to become the third player since 2008 to have a stretch of at least 150-consecutive starts.
Racking Up Hits
• Devin Taylor (27) and Tyler Cerny (26) are both top-five in the league in hits and are two of just six players with at least 25 hits at this juncture.
Notable
Tough Schedule to Open
• IU's schedule through the first month of the season has been nothing short of difficult. Its Tuesday matchup with No. 9 Vanderbilt was the fifth contest against a ranked opponent this season. It was also the seventh game against power five competition and the second game against an SEC foe.
• According to Warren Nolan.com, a baseball metrics website, IU has the No. 41 non-conference strength of schedule and the No. 51 overall strength of schedule. The most recent RPI update from Warren Nolan has IU at No. 71 after dropping three-straight games.
Mercer Challenging the Bats
• After a disappointing loss to Troy on Saturday (March 10), in which the IU offense mustered just one run, head coach Jeff Mercer challenged the bats to bring the intensity in the Sunday doubleheader. A veteran Hoosier lineup did just that, combining to score 21 runs on 24 hits in two games on Sunday.
• Josh Pyne recorded a four-hit game in the first game Sunday while Nick Mitchell contributed a double and triple in the second game out of the leadoff hole. Carter Mathison hit a pair of home runs while Tyler Cerny added four hits across the two games. The Hoosiers then combined for 18 hits in losses to Vanderbilt and Illinois State.
Recent Spring Break Success
• It was this time last year that IU kicked its season into top gear. After a midweek loss at Kentucky on March 14th, the Hoosiers went on to win 13 of their next 16 games, sweeping Morehead State and Ohio State in weekend series along the way.
• IU's schedule sets up similarly this year as it welcomes Belmont (three-game series) with hopes to rattle off a number of wins heading into conference play. The Hoosiers begin Big Ten play against Illinois, sandwhiched between series against Belmont and Butler (four games).
Tibbitts on a Roll
• Tasked with a heavy defensive load for the Hoosiers, junior Brock Tibbitts got off to a shaky offensive start. However, over the past 10 games, he's begun to pick up steam.
• The New Albany, Ohio native is riding a six-game hit streak into the weekend and is 12-26 over his past six contests. In the last 10 games, he is 16-39 (.410) with eight runs, four doubles and nine RBIs.
Staff Getting Settled
• IU's relatively new pitching staff has taken some lumps after being thrown into the fire in the first weeks of the season, facing some of the top talent in the nation. The Hoosiers are without veterans Luke Sinnard, Ben Grable, Matthew Bohnert, forcing younger players to step up. Sixth-year senior transfer Ty Rybarczyk only just got back and has thrown just one inning.
• Transfers Jack Moffitt (1-0, 5 app., 1.93 ERA) and Julian Tonghini (1-0, 4 app., 2 SV, 3.48 ERA) have joined important IU pieces in Connor Foley (1-1, 2.95 ERA), Ty Bothwell (2-0, 4.32 ERA) and Ryan Kraft (1-0, 4.91 ERA) in being really good on the mound. Young arms Jacob Vogel, Ryan Rushing and Aydan Decker-Petty continue to get looks on the mound as well.
Scouting the Opponent
Belmont (10-7, 0-0)
• The Bruins make the trip to Bloomington as the two programs meet for the first time ever. Sam Slaughter (.349) leads the way offensively. Three different players have started all 17 games including Brodey Heaton and Mason Landers.
• The pitching has been strong all season for Belmont. It brings a 5.28 earned run average into the weekend led by starter Joe Ruzicka (2-1, 3.43 ERA) and reliever Bill Duby (6 app., 1.80 ERA).
• Belmont is 5-5 over its past 10 games but beat No. 21 South Carolina on the road in the Saturday contest of a three-game set in February.
Inside the Series
Indiana vs. Belmont
• These two teams have never played. This will be one of four Missouri Valley opponents that the Hoosiers play this season (Illinois State, Evansville and Indiana State).
Players Mentioned
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