Hoosiers Split Twinbill, Clinch Big Ten Tournament Bid

Thursday, May 16

Bloomington, Ind.

1:00 PM

Indiana University

28-22-1, 0

Michigan

30-24, 0

Michigan

Indiana

Hoosiers Split Twinbill, Clinch Big Ten Tournament Bid

5/16/2024 9:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (PDF) - Game 1 Box Score (PDF) - Game 2

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The pitching has been a revelation for the Indiana Baseball team (29-22-1, 14-9 B1G) over the past month as it inches closer to the beginning of postseason play in late-May. That trend continued today as the Hoosiers held Michigan to just five runs across 18 innings of baseball, settling for a doubleheader split on Thursday (May 16) afternoon at Bart Kaufman Field.

IU had the game in reach in Thursday's opener. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Cerny and junior outfielder Carter Mathison each hit balls to the warning track with two runners on but settled for no runs. Cerny smoked a ball in the eighth inning, that would've given IU the lead, but it tailed foul. Michigan went on to win the first game 3-2.

The Hoosiers wasted no time in the second game, jumping all over the Michigan starting pitcher, Chase Allen, for eight runs. Sophomore outfielder Devin Taylor hit his fourth home run in the last five games and finished a triple short of the cycle. Junior right-hander Julian Tonghini (W, 2-1) was fantastic across four innings in relief. IU coasted to a 11-2 win, punching a ticket to the Big Ten Tournament.

Saturday's rubber match will be IU's senior day, honoring six seniors, but will also serve as a massive seeding day across the Big Ten landscape. The Hoosiers are in the conference tournament but could position themselves to make a deep run in next week's event in Omaha. First pitch is set for 2:00 PM ET.

Game 1: Michigan 3, Indiana 2
Recap – Game 1

For a seventh-consecutive game, the bats just couldn't get it going. The Hoosiers scored just two runs on eight hits and left seven runners on base. Sophomore outfielder Devin Taylor hit a leadoff home run in his first at-bat but IU got just one run the rest of the way, an RBI-single from Taylor in the fifth inning.

The Hoosier pitching staff supplied nine outstanding innings, allowing just three runs and five hits but it was spoiled by a poor offensive performance at the plate. In his final appearance at Bart Kaufman Field, sixth-year senior pitcher Ty Bothwell threw six innings with seven strikeouts. He allowed just two runs on a double in the fourth inning.

IU got the game-tying run to second base in the bottom of the ninth inning after two Michigan defenders collided into each other allowing redshirt freshman designated hitter Joey Brenczewski to reach on a double. The ensuing batters struck out and grounded out. Redshirt junior catcher Jake Stadler was hit by a pitch but freshman second baseman Jasen Oliver lined out to end the game.

Game 2: Indiana 11, Michigan 2
Recap – Game 2

IU quickly broke out of an offensive slump in the second game, tacking on four runs in the first inning enroute to a 11-2 victory. The Hoosiers scored 10 in the first three innings and rode an outstanding day on the mound from junior reliever Julian Tonghini to the victory.

Sophomore outfielder Devin Taylor stayed hot at the plate as he continues to embrace the leadoff spot. He scored four runs in his first four at-bats and finished a triple short of the cycle. Junior infielders Josh Pyne and Brock Tibbitts and sophomore second baseman Jasen Oliver all had two-hit efforts.

Seven of IU's nine starters recorded hits and six different Hoosiers came around to score. It was the 21st game this season that IU has scored 10+ runs in a contest.

Notes to Know – Both Games
• Julian Tonghini recorded a career-high eight strikeouts across four innings of relief in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader. He was awarded the win for his efforts.

• In his last 10 games, Devin Taylor is hitting .432 (19-44). He has homered in four of his last five games and currently sits atop the Big Ten leaderboard with 16 long balls. The last Hoosiers to lead the conference in home runs were Matt Lloyd and Cole Barr in 2019 with 17 each.

• Brock Tibbitts had a pair of base knocks in the second game of today's doubleheader. He's got 190 for his career with three guaranteed games. The Hoosiers will likely need to go deep into next week if he's to reach the 200-hit threshold at IU.

• Tyler Cerny (72) and Devin Taylor (75) are the only pair of Big Ten teammates each with 70+ hits this season. Taylor is top-five in hits in the conference this season.

• IU has now gone 12-straight games with allowing seven-or-fewer runs on the mound. The Hoosiers have held opponents to five-or-fewer in seven-straight contests. IU's earned run average in the past 10 games is just 3.74.

Up Next
These two teams will meet in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon. Both teams are currently projected to make the Big Ten Tournament next weekend. The game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus or can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.