Indiana University Athletics
Friday, May 9
Bloomington, Ind.
6:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
Purdue
Baseball Central: Purdue
5/8/2025 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – One last home weekend awaits the Indiana Baseball team (27-21, 12-12 B1G) at Bart Kaufman Field this year. After playing eight-straight games away from Bloomington, the Hoosiers return home to face their longtime rivals, Purdue, on senior weekend.
IU will have a chance to not only clinch its 12th-straight Big Ten Tournament bid this weekend but also pick up the third-straight series win over the Boilermakers. Head coach Jeff Mercer is 11-4 against Purdue as head coach of IU and has won six of seven games in the last two seasons.
The Hoosiers went 4-0 last weekend, picking up important road victories to begin the month of May. Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his efforts, firmly stamping his case as the likely Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He leads all conference freshmen in most offensive categories.
Among the seniors be honored this weekend includes four-year staple players Ryan Kraft (LHP), Grant Holderfield (LHP) and Josh Pyne (3B). Although Pyne has missed nearly the entire season through injury, he leaves Bloomington as one of the most productive players in program history. Kraft is set to make his 80th career appearance this weekend.
There will be a chance for history against the Boilers as IU goes for win number 2,500 in program history. IU is two away from the mark entering the weekend and would secure it with a series victory in Bloomington. If IU were to sweep this series, it would get to 30 wins for the 12th time in the last 13 full seasons.
First pitch on Friday (May 9) evening is set for 6:00 p.m. ET. Senior celebrations will be before the game on Saturday (May 10) afternoon. The series finale will be carried on Big Ten Network and has a later start time of 4:00 p.m. ET at Bart Kaufman Field.
Gameday Info
vs. Purdue (Friday, May 9th – 6:00 PM ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/4jENO4d
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/4m44BPY
vs. Purdue (Saturday, May 10th – 2:00 PM ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/3Z4JPpr
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/4jSXckQ
vs. Purdue (Sunday, May 11th – 4:00 PM ET)
Live Video: t.ly/pGlkQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/fkOHN
Probable Starters
Purdue
• Friday: TBD
• Saturday: TBD
• Sunday: TBD
Leading Off
HANLEY TIME: Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley has been nothing but spectacular in his debut season in Bloomington. The Mason, Ohio native is batting cleanup for head coach Jeff Mercer's lineup. Hanley leads all Big Ten freshmen in hits (64), home runs (13), RBI's (46) and runs scored (46).
On Monday (May 5), Hanley was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this year. He's the only player in the league to win the award on multiple occasions this season. He has started all 48 games of the season and is potentially in line to become the fourth IU player to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
FRESHMAN PHENOMS: IU's true freshman class has had to play a massive role in the offense this season. And boy, have they delivered. Among freshmen only, the Hoosiers lead all Power 4 programs in hits (186), doubles (40), RBIs (123), runs scored (156), games started (163) and games played (216).
While Hanley takes a lot of the headlines, infielders Will Moore and Cooper Malamazian and outfielder Hogan Denny have all played crucial roles. Moore has settled into the leadoff role and is one of the best in the conference at getting on base (.513). Malamazian has played in 47 of 48 games and Denny has slugged six home runs.
HOME RUN PARTY: IU has nine guaranteed games remaining - given it qualifies to the Big Ten Tournament. The Hoosiers have 81 home runs on the season and are 15 away from breaking a team program record (95). That record was set by Mercer's first team at IU in 2019.
Three players (Hanley, Dickerson and Taylor) all have at least 13 home runs. In total, 15 different players have hit at least one home run this season for IU. Junior second baseman Tyler Cerny will be the fourth player to reach 10 home runs with his next long ball.
KD RAKES: Redshirt sophomore outfielder Korbyn Dickerson has done a great job at cleaning up the bases this season. He's the only Power 4 player this season with both 70 hits and 70 RBI's. He's just the sixth player in program history (last: Alex Dickerson, 2010) with at least 70 RBI's in a season.
What doesn't get talked about enough is Dickerson's elite defensive prowess. He's made just two errors in 48 starts and is fielding .982 at one of the toughest positions on the field. He and Hanley are the only two IU players to appear in every game this season.
KRAFT'S SENDOFF: Senior pitcher Ryan Kraft will play his final games at Bart Kaufman Field this weekend. His next appearance will be the 80th of his career as he wraps up an outstanding four-year tenure for the Hoosiers. He's got a 3.08 ERA in his last 13 outings.
The southpaw is sitting on 185 career strikeouts after matching a lifetime best with seven last Friday (May 2) at Abilene Christian. He's likely assured of at least three more starts. With 15 strikeouts in that span, Kraft would become the 11th member of the 200-strikeout club in program history.
NEAR 2,500: As a program, the Hoosiers are just two wins away from reaching 2,500 all-time victories. The program has risen to national relevance over the last decade plus but has produced high-level players and managers. IU can reach that mark this weekend with a series victory over Purdue.
If the two sides split the opening two contests this weekend, IU will have a chance to win it's 2,500th game in program history on Sunday (May 11) in what will be the 300th-ever game against the Boilermakers.
Scouting the Opponent
Purdue
• It has been an up-and-down conference slate for Purdue but it is attempting to get on track down the stretch with hopes to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament. The Boilers took the weekend series at home against Northwestern and have won the last two midweeks as well.
• Senior first baseman Logan Sutter has been one of the better players in the league this season. He leads Purdue – among qualified hitters – in batting average (.389), OPS (1.222), hits (68), home runs (13) and RBIs (59). Redshirt senior infielder Lukas Cook has worked back into action after missing a month for injury. He's hitting over .400 on the year.
• Senior pitcher Carter Doorn and sophomore arm Cole Van Assen have been the two bulldogs on the mound for the Boilers. Doorn is 4-4 with a 4.47 ERA while Van Assen follows along with a 4-3 record and a 4.29 ERA. Veteran reliever Avery Cook has continued to be a workhorse for Purdue – appearing in 25 games this season.
Inside the Series
Purdue
• As expected, these two have played each other on a frequent basis over the years. The first game played was a 6-4 win in 1895 and have played 297 times since. Sunday's game on the Big Ten Network - according to our records - will be the 300th meeting ever between the rivals.
• The Big Ten has turned the series into a protected weekend rivalry since 2021. IU has won three of the last four series and is 11-4 under head coach Jeff Mercer against the Boilermakers. IU swept Purdue in Bloomington in 2023 and took three of four games in 2024.
IU will have a chance to not only clinch its 12th-straight Big Ten Tournament bid this weekend but also pick up the third-straight series win over the Boilermakers. Head coach Jeff Mercer is 11-4 against Purdue as head coach of IU and has won six of seven games in the last two seasons.
The Hoosiers went 4-0 last weekend, picking up important road victories to begin the month of May. Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his efforts, firmly stamping his case as the likely Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He leads all conference freshmen in most offensive categories.
Among the seniors be honored this weekend includes four-year staple players Ryan Kraft (LHP), Grant Holderfield (LHP) and Josh Pyne (3B). Although Pyne has missed nearly the entire season through injury, he leaves Bloomington as one of the most productive players in program history. Kraft is set to make his 80th career appearance this weekend.
There will be a chance for history against the Boilers as IU goes for win number 2,500 in program history. IU is two away from the mark entering the weekend and would secure it with a series victory in Bloomington. If IU were to sweep this series, it would get to 30 wins for the 12th time in the last 13 full seasons.
First pitch on Friday (May 9) evening is set for 6:00 p.m. ET. Senior celebrations will be before the game on Saturday (May 10) afternoon. The series finale will be carried on Big Ten Network and has a later start time of 4:00 p.m. ET at Bart Kaufman Field.
Gameday Info
vs. Purdue (Friday, May 9th – 6:00 PM ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/4jENO4d
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/4m44BPY
vs. Purdue (Saturday, May 10th – 2:00 PM ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/3Z4JPpr
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/4jSXckQ
vs. Purdue (Sunday, May 11th – 4:00 PM ET)
Live Video: t.ly/pGlkQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/fkOHN
Probable Starters
Purdue
• Friday: TBD
• Saturday: TBD
• Sunday: TBD
Leading Off
HANLEY TIME: Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley has been nothing but spectacular in his debut season in Bloomington. The Mason, Ohio native is batting cleanup for head coach Jeff Mercer's lineup. Hanley leads all Big Ten freshmen in hits (64), home runs (13), RBI's (46) and runs scored (46).
On Monday (May 5), Hanley was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this year. He's the only player in the league to win the award on multiple occasions this season. He has started all 48 games of the season and is potentially in line to become the fourth IU player to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
FRESHMAN PHENOMS: IU's true freshman class has had to play a massive role in the offense this season. And boy, have they delivered. Among freshmen only, the Hoosiers lead all Power 4 programs in hits (186), doubles (40), RBIs (123), runs scored (156), games started (163) and games played (216).
While Hanley takes a lot of the headlines, infielders Will Moore and Cooper Malamazian and outfielder Hogan Denny have all played crucial roles. Moore has settled into the leadoff role and is one of the best in the conference at getting on base (.513). Malamazian has played in 47 of 48 games and Denny has slugged six home runs.
HOME RUN PARTY: IU has nine guaranteed games remaining - given it qualifies to the Big Ten Tournament. The Hoosiers have 81 home runs on the season and are 15 away from breaking a team program record (95). That record was set by Mercer's first team at IU in 2019.
Three players (Hanley, Dickerson and Taylor) all have at least 13 home runs. In total, 15 different players have hit at least one home run this season for IU. Junior second baseman Tyler Cerny will be the fourth player to reach 10 home runs with his next long ball.
KD RAKES: Redshirt sophomore outfielder Korbyn Dickerson has done a great job at cleaning up the bases this season. He's the only Power 4 player this season with both 70 hits and 70 RBI's. He's just the sixth player in program history (last: Alex Dickerson, 2010) with at least 70 RBI's in a season.
What doesn't get talked about enough is Dickerson's elite defensive prowess. He's made just two errors in 48 starts and is fielding .982 at one of the toughest positions on the field. He and Hanley are the only two IU players to appear in every game this season.
KRAFT'S SENDOFF: Senior pitcher Ryan Kraft will play his final games at Bart Kaufman Field this weekend. His next appearance will be the 80th of his career as he wraps up an outstanding four-year tenure for the Hoosiers. He's got a 3.08 ERA in his last 13 outings.
The southpaw is sitting on 185 career strikeouts after matching a lifetime best with seven last Friday (May 2) at Abilene Christian. He's likely assured of at least three more starts. With 15 strikeouts in that span, Kraft would become the 11th member of the 200-strikeout club in program history.
NEAR 2,500: As a program, the Hoosiers are just two wins away from reaching 2,500 all-time victories. The program has risen to national relevance over the last decade plus but has produced high-level players and managers. IU can reach that mark this weekend with a series victory over Purdue.
If the two sides split the opening two contests this weekend, IU will have a chance to win it's 2,500th game in program history on Sunday (May 11) in what will be the 300th-ever game against the Boilermakers.
Scouting the Opponent
Purdue
• It has been an up-and-down conference slate for Purdue but it is attempting to get on track down the stretch with hopes to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament. The Boilers took the weekend series at home against Northwestern and have won the last two midweeks as well.
• Senior first baseman Logan Sutter has been one of the better players in the league this season. He leads Purdue – among qualified hitters – in batting average (.389), OPS (1.222), hits (68), home runs (13) and RBIs (59). Redshirt senior infielder Lukas Cook has worked back into action after missing a month for injury. He's hitting over .400 on the year.
• Senior pitcher Carter Doorn and sophomore arm Cole Van Assen have been the two bulldogs on the mound for the Boilers. Doorn is 4-4 with a 4.47 ERA while Van Assen follows along with a 4-3 record and a 4.29 ERA. Veteran reliever Avery Cook has continued to be a workhorse for Purdue – appearing in 25 games this season.
Inside the Series
Purdue
• As expected, these two have played each other on a frequent basis over the years. The first game played was a 6-4 win in 1895 and have played 297 times since. Sunday's game on the Big Ten Network - according to our records - will be the 300th meeting ever between the rivals.
• The Big Ten has turned the series into a protected weekend rivalry since 2021. IU has won three of the last four series and is 11-4 under head coach Jeff Mercer against the Boilermakers. IU swept Purdue in Bloomington in 2023 and took three of four games in 2024.
Players Mentioned
INF
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C/OF
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OF
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INF
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LHP
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LHP
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INF
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INF
/ Baseball
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