Saturday, March 30
Bloomington, Ind.
2:00 PM
Indiana University
15-13
22
vs
3
Butler
11-14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Butler
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
3
3
1
Indiana
6
4
4
0
5
3
X
22
20
1
Hoosiers, Bulldogs Settle for Series Split
3/30/2024 10:00:00 PM | Baseball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It was a mixed bag of results on Saturday (March 30) afternoon at Bart Kaufman Field as the Indiana Baseball team (15-14, 1-2 B1G) split a pair of games with Butler close out the weekend series. IU mashed its way to 22 runs in the opener but struggled late in the second game, an 8-5 loss.
A scheduled four-game series on IU's bye weekend during conference play, the two teams each won a pair of contests. Butler won the opening and closing games of the series with IU taking the middle two affairs. The Hoosiers' 22-3 victory was the second-largest margin of victory in the Jeff Mercer era (+19). IU held the lead in the final game of the doubleheader but relinquished it in the top of the ninth.
The bright spot of the Saturday doubleheader came in the form of IU's young stars as sophomores Tyler Cerny and Connor Foley and freshmen Jasen Oliver and Andrew Wiggins continued to play well. Cerny, Oliver and Wiggins all hit home runs in the first game while Foley (W, 3-1) was awarded the win to begin the day.
Oliver was outstanding in all five games this week as he continues to prove he's one of the biggest pieces of IU's future. He hit .550 (11-20) on the week with three home runs, seven RBIs and seven runs. He's riding an 11-game hitting streak, the longest active streak on the team.
The month of March comes to a close for IU as the calendar flips to April for Tuesday's contest and rematch against Indiana State. The Hoosiers resume Big Ten play next weekend in College Park against the two-time defending Big Ten Champions Maryland.
Game 1: Indiana 22, Butler 3
Recap – Game 1
The Hoosiers showed no mercy offensively in the opening game, ripping 22 runs on 20 hits in a seven-inning shortened mercy rule contest. Seven different starters had multi-hit days, led by freshman designated hitter Andrew Wiggins' 4-4 day. Including Wiggins, five different players hit home runs. Junior outfielder Nick Mitchell hit a grand slam to break the game open in the second inning.
IU scored 20 runs for the seventh time in the Mercer era and the first since plating 26 in a beatdown of rival Purdue last May. The margin of victory (+19) was second largest in the Mercer era and greatest since beating Minnesota by 22 in April of 2021.
Sophomore right-hander Connor Foley was phenomenal on the mound. Despite struggling with command issues at times, he allowed just three hits in 5.2 innings while striking out nine batters in the win. Redshirt sophomore Grant Holderfield came on for the final 1.1 innings and held Butler hitless.
15 different position players saw action in the first game including four true freshmen. Mitchell, led by his grand slam, had a career high six RBIs.
Game 2: Butler 8, Indiana 5
Recap – Game 2
Despite controlling the game through six innings, IU let the lead slip away late over the final three frames. Butler struck for five runs from the seventh inning on, highlighted by a three-run home run in the top of the ninth from Kade Lewis.
The Hoosiers grabbed four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead but left 12 runners on base in the contest. IU's three, four and five-hole hitters were held hitless and combined to leave eight runners on the bases. Freshman second baseman Jasen Oliver added three hits but IU's five runs were not enough to win.
A pair of defensive lapses, paired with a lack of production from the offense and pitching, allowed Butler back into the game. The Bulldogs went to left-handers Andrew Crumbley and Cole Graverson, both who pitched in Thursday's win, to see out the victory.
Notes to Know – Both Games
• Brock Tibbitts has now started 148-consecutive games for the Hoosiers. He's two games away from becoming the third player in the last 16 years (since 2008) to start at least 150-straight contests without missing a game.
• Jasen Oliver is riding an 11-game hitting streak following the weekend's action. It's the longest hitting streak by an IU freshman since Tyler Cerny's 11-conseuctive games in 2023 (May 7-25). Oliver finished the week hitting .550 (11-20) in five games with three home runs.
• Freshmen Andrew Wiggins (4-4 vs. Butler) and Oliver (4-5 vs. Middle Tennessee) both had four-hit contests this week for the Hoosiers. Each hit at least home run in those respective games.
• Connor Foley won a second-straight outing with the victory on Saturday afternoon. In his past two appearances, he's thrown 12.2 innings, allowing just five hits and three runs while striking out 19 batters.
• Nick Mitchell's 12-game hitting streak came to an end in the second game of the doubleheader against Butler. It is the longest hitting streak by any IU player this year and was highlighted by a second-inning grand slam in the opening game against Butler on Saturday.
Up Next
A rematch with Indiana State awaits IU on Tuesday evening (6:00 PM), pending weather. Big Ten play resumes next weekend at Maryland. All games can be streamed via Big Ten plus or can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.
A scheduled four-game series on IU's bye weekend during conference play, the two teams each won a pair of contests. Butler won the opening and closing games of the series with IU taking the middle two affairs. The Hoosiers' 22-3 victory was the second-largest margin of victory in the Jeff Mercer era (+19). IU held the lead in the final game of the doubleheader but relinquished it in the top of the ninth.
The bright spot of the Saturday doubleheader came in the form of IU's young stars as sophomores Tyler Cerny and Connor Foley and freshmen Jasen Oliver and Andrew Wiggins continued to play well. Cerny, Oliver and Wiggins all hit home runs in the first game while Foley (W, 3-1) was awarded the win to begin the day.
Oliver was outstanding in all five games this week as he continues to prove he's one of the biggest pieces of IU's future. He hit .550 (11-20) on the week with three home runs, seven RBIs and seven runs. He's riding an 11-game hitting streak, the longest active streak on the team.
The month of March comes to a close for IU as the calendar flips to April for Tuesday's contest and rematch against Indiana State. The Hoosiers resume Big Ten play next weekend in College Park against the two-time defending Big Ten Champions Maryland.
Game 1: Indiana 22, Butler 3
Recap – Game 1
The Hoosiers showed no mercy offensively in the opening game, ripping 22 runs on 20 hits in a seven-inning shortened mercy rule contest. Seven different starters had multi-hit days, led by freshman designated hitter Andrew Wiggins' 4-4 day. Including Wiggins, five different players hit home runs. Junior outfielder Nick Mitchell hit a grand slam to break the game open in the second inning.
IU scored 20 runs for the seventh time in the Mercer era and the first since plating 26 in a beatdown of rival Purdue last May. The margin of victory (+19) was second largest in the Mercer era and greatest since beating Minnesota by 22 in April of 2021.
Sophomore right-hander Connor Foley was phenomenal on the mound. Despite struggling with command issues at times, he allowed just three hits in 5.2 innings while striking out nine batters in the win. Redshirt sophomore Grant Holderfield came on for the final 1.1 innings and held Butler hitless.
15 different position players saw action in the first game including four true freshmen. Mitchell, led by his grand slam, had a career high six RBIs.
Game 2: Butler 8, Indiana 5
Recap – Game 2
Despite controlling the game through six innings, IU let the lead slip away late over the final three frames. Butler struck for five runs from the seventh inning on, highlighted by a three-run home run in the top of the ninth from Kade Lewis.
The Hoosiers grabbed four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead but left 12 runners on base in the contest. IU's three, four and five-hole hitters were held hitless and combined to leave eight runners on the bases. Freshman second baseman Jasen Oliver added three hits but IU's five runs were not enough to win.
A pair of defensive lapses, paired with a lack of production from the offense and pitching, allowed Butler back into the game. The Bulldogs went to left-handers Andrew Crumbley and Cole Graverson, both who pitched in Thursday's win, to see out the victory.
Notes to Know – Both Games
• Brock Tibbitts has now started 148-consecutive games for the Hoosiers. He's two games away from becoming the third player in the last 16 years (since 2008) to start at least 150-straight contests without missing a game.
• Jasen Oliver is riding an 11-game hitting streak following the weekend's action. It's the longest hitting streak by an IU freshman since Tyler Cerny's 11-conseuctive games in 2023 (May 7-25). Oliver finished the week hitting .550 (11-20) in five games with three home runs.
• Freshmen Andrew Wiggins (4-4 vs. Butler) and Oliver (4-5 vs. Middle Tennessee) both had four-hit contests this week for the Hoosiers. Each hit at least home run in those respective games.
• Connor Foley won a second-straight outing with the victory on Saturday afternoon. In his past two appearances, he's thrown 12.2 innings, allowing just five hits and three runs while striking out 19 batters.
• Nick Mitchell's 12-game hitting streak came to an end in the second game of the doubleheader against Butler. It is the longest hitting streak by any IU player this year and was highlighted by a second-inning grand slam in the opening game against Butler on Saturday.
Up Next
A rematch with Indiana State awaits IU on Tuesday evening (6:00 PM), pending weather. Big Ten play resumes next weekend at Maryland. All games can be streamed via Big Ten plus or can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Foley, Connor (3-1)
L: BROOKS, Grant (1-2)
Batting:
HR: LEWIS, Kade 1
RBI: LEWIS, Kade 2
Base Running:
RUNS: WURCH, Billy 1 ; LEWIS, Kade 1 ; SOLOMON, AJ 1
CS: WURCH, Billy 1
Batting:
2B: Mathison, Carter 1 ; Tibbitts, Brock 1
3B: Oliver, Jasen 1
HR: Cerny, Tyler 1 ; Taylor, Devin 1 ; Mitchell, Nick 1 ; Wiggins, Andrew 1 ; Oliver, Jasen 1
RBI: Colopy, Morgan 1 ; Cerny, Tyler 3 ; Taylor, Devin 1 ; Tibbitts, Brock 1 ; Mitchell, Nick 6 ; Pyne, Josh 2 ; Wiggins, Andrew 3 ; Oliver, Jasen 4
SF: Mitchell, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mathison, Carter 2 ; Cerny, Tyler 3 ; Taylor, Devin 2 ; Murrison, Sam 1 ; Tibbitts, Brock 2 ; Schuyler, T.J. 1 ; Mitchell, Nick 3 ; Brenczewski, Joey 1 ; Pyne, Josh 1 ; Burckel, Brandon 1 ; Wiggins, Andrew 3 ; Oliver, Jasen 2
SB: Mitchell, Nick 1
HBP: Cerny, Tyler 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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4
R
3
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RBI
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AB
4
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2
H
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RBI
0
AB
4
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2
H
3
RBI
1
rf/cf
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
6
Players Mentioned
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LHP
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