Offense Goes Quiet in Saturday Defeat

Saturday, March 9

Bloomington, Ind.

2:00 PM

Indiana University

8-5

Troy

11-4

TROY

Indiana

3/9/2024 6:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After a lead-off home run from junior outfielder Nick Mitchell in the bottom of the first inning, the Indiana Baseball team (8-5) was held scoreless the rest of the way, falling to Troy 8-1 on Saturday afternoon at Bart Kaufman Field.

IU threatened in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases before junior third baseman Josh Pyne grounded into a fielder's choice (5-4) to end the frame. Will Butcher hit a three-run home run in the top of the ninth, his third long ball of the day, to put the game on ice in the weekend opener.

Sophomore Connor Foley (L, 1-1) and sixth-year senior Ty Bothwell managed the Troy lineup through eight innings, allowing just three runs before the Trojans struck for five in the ninth. Four runs in the ninth were charged to Bothwell with the other one charged to sophomore reliever Evan Whiteaker.

The two teams finish out their weekend series tomorrow with a scheduled doubleheader. First pitch in the opening game is set for 11:00 AM. The second game will start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.

Scoring Recap
Bottom First
Nick Mitchell opened the score early in the ballgame. After the working the count full, Mitchell drove an inside fastball over the wall in right field for his first home run as a Hoosier.
Indiana 1, Troy 0

Top Third
Troy first baseman Will Butcher got hold of a monster two-run home run, sending a fastball from IU starting pitcher Connor Foley over the bullpen in left field.
Troy 2, Indiana 1

Top Fifth
In his next time around the order, Butcher got the best of IU reliever Ty Bothwell. He hit a ball to left-center field for a solo home run.
Troy 3, Indiana 1

Top Ninth
For the third time in four at-bats, Butcher used a short approach to get a hold of a breaking ball from Ty Bothwell, crushing a three-run long ball into the bullpen in left field. Not to be outdone, Tremayne Cobb Jr., the first batter to face Evan Whiteaker, sent a ball into the wind stream that carried for a two-run home run to right field.
Indiana 8, Troy 1

Notes to Know
• Junior infielder Brock Tibbitts recorded the 161st and 162nd hits of his collegiate career on Saturday. He also extended his streak of consecutive starts, without missing a game, to 132 games.

• Sophomore pitcher Connor Foley struck out six batters. He's fanned at least six batters in all four starts this year and has 27 strikeouts on the season.

• Nick Mitchell's leadoff home run was the first, in either the top or bottom of the first, since Phillip Glasser did so on May 12th, 2023 against Purdue.

Top Hoosier Performers
#9 Tibbitts, Brock
2-4

#20 Mitchell, Nick
1-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R

Up Next
IU and Troy will reconvene for a Sunday doubleheader at Bart Kaufman Field, the first two-game day for the Hoosiers this season. Both games will be available via BTN+ or can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.