Baseball Central: Western Kentucky

Friday, February 27

Bowling Green, Ky.

4 p.m.

Indiana University

Western Kentucky

2/26/2026 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

Game Notes Media Center

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The month of February will come to a close this weekend as the Indiana Baseball team (3-5, 0-0 B1G) heads to Bowling Green for a four-game road series with Western Kentucky (5-4, 0-0 CUSA). The Hilltoppers are coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025 and have the makings of a team that can compete for another CUSA crown this year.

IU got a much-needed bounce back win on Wednesday (Feb. 25) afternoon at Xavier. The offense scored 10 runs on 15 hits while the pitching staff allowed just four runs. Seven different arms worked into the game, led by a pair of innings each from graduate students Conner Linn and Gavin Seebold. Freshman pitcher Xavier Carrera picked up his first collegiate win.

After facing stiff competition on the mound to begin the year, IU's bats are starting to heat up at just the right time. The Hoosiers are hitting .324 over the last five games including batting averages of .400 or better in that stretch from sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian (.474), sophomore utilityman Hogan Denny (.409), freshman second baseman Landen Fry (.400) and redshirt junior outfielder Ayden Crouse (.400).

This will be IU's first true four-game road series in non-conference play since heading to San Diego (3-1 series win) in the final year of Chris Lemonis' time in Bloomington (2018). Beginning in 2025, conference play expanded to 10 weekend series. This will be the final tuneup before IU starts Big Ten action next weekend (March 6-8) against Washington in Bloomington. IU will briefly step out of conference play in April against Abilene Christian.

Barring any changes in the weather, IU is scheduled to play one game Friday (Feb. 27), two on Saturday (Feb. 28) and a Sunday (March 1) contest to wrap up the weekend. Graduate student Tony Neubeck will get the ball on Friday afternoon to begin the series for the Hoosiers.

Gameday Info
at Western Kentucky (Friday, February 27th – 4 p.m. ET)
Live Video: No Stream
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/4s23RwS

at Western Kentucky (Saturday, February 28th – 2 p.m. ET + 5 p.m. ET)
Live Video: No Stream
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/4s23RwS

at Western Kentucky (Sunday, February 29th – 2 p.m. ET)
Live Video: No Stream
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/4s23RwS

Probable Starters
Indiana vs. Western Kentucky
• Friday: LHP Tony Neubeck, Gr. (0-0, 1.29 ERA)
• Saturday – 1: LHP Brayton Thomas, So. (1-0, 2.25 ERA)
• Saturday – 2: TBD
• Sunday: TBD

Leading Off
BALANCED OFFENSE: IU has gotten contributions from all over its lineup in the early part of the season. 12 different players have recorded a hit this season. The latest addition to that list is freshman third baseman Mateo Noto who had an RBI single on Sunday against Notre Dame.

RIVERA ROCKET: Graduate student right-handed pitcher Reagan Rivera went to work in a big win over UCF last Saturday. He recorded the final 12 outs in a scoreless save in Jacksonville. He's as versatile as it comes on IU's staff this year and can both start games or close when needed.

THE REAL HD: Sophomore outfielder Hogan Denny is on a tear to begin the season. He's hitting .367 with an on-base percentage of .513. On top of his hits, he's reached base safely with seven walks and two hit-by-pitches. His current seven-game hitting streak is the longest of his career.

BEHIND THE DISH: Junior catcher T.J. Schuyler is one of the best defensive catchers in the entire country. On the season, he's already thrown out four runners who are trying to steal. One of those was a "strike 'em out, throw 'em out" double play in the ninth inning against Notre Dame.

FAMILIAR FACES: IU's pitching coach Matt Myers will return back to Bowling Green where he was the head coach at Western Kentucky (2012-15) for four years. IU head coach Jeff Mercer spent time on his staff before going back to coach at Wright State.

HEATING UP: Sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian has torn the cover off the ball in the last five games. He's hitting .474 in that stretch with nine base knocks, eight RBIs and six runs scored. He's hit fifth in the lineup, offering protection to the top of IU's order.

TOP OF THE ORDER: IU may have found a potent 1-2 duo at the top of its order. Redshirt junior outfielder Ayden Crouse is hitting .348 this year and has provided long at-bats at the top of the order. Sophomore third baseman Will Moore supplements him with a .400 on-base percentage.

QUALITY ARMS: The Hoosiers have settled in on a starting rotation to begin the season. Graduate student Tony Neubeck has led the way on Friday with his 1.29 ERA. He will need to work longer into games but has the makings of a poised veteran on the mound.

KEEP FIRING: Graduate student pitcher Gavin Seebold has worked 8.1 scoreless innings to begin the season. That stretches across three outings including two shutout frames to end a win over Xavier on Tuesday. He's IU's top relief option this year.

OL' RELIABLE: Redshirt junior pitcher Jacob Vogel has been the main option to help IU get out of long innings. In his career, 27 of his 35 appearances have been scoreless outings. He went 3.2 innings without allowing a run last week against Notre Dame.

Scouting the Opponent
Western Kentucky
• The Hilltoppers are coming off perhaps their best season in program history and are off to another strong 5-4 start this year. They split a four-game series with BYU, took three out of four from SEMO and dropped a tight midweek affair at Kentucky. This weekend will already be their third, four-game series of the year.

• Infielder Lane Arroyos has done the bulk of the job offensively for Western Kentucky. He leads the team in hits (13), home runs (2) and RBIs (13). He's got an OPS of 1.174 through nine starts and has scored eight times. Junior outfielder Hayden Nazarenus has done a fantastic job with a .417 batting average. Five players bat above .300 for Marc Rardin's squad.

• After pitching the ball at a high level last year, Western Kentucky reshaped its pitching staff this year. NAIA transfer Aaron Robertson, who will get a start this weekend, has been lights out through the first two weeks. He's 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He's struck out 14 batters and hasn't walked anyone this season. The rotation runs deep for the Hilltoppers. Southpaw Zach Lyles is the top bullpen piece. He's already pitched in four games.

Inside the Series
Western Kentucky
• These two teams have played just three times in program history. This year's series will feature four games, the first weekend series ever. Friday's game will be the first meeting since a 2014 extra-innings victory for the Hoosiers.

IU has long ties to the program down in Bowling Green. Pitching coach Matt Myers was the head coach at Western Kentucky for four years (2012-15). During that time, he hired current IU head coach Jeff Mercer as a volunteer assistant. Former IU assistant coach (2025) Blake Allen was also an assistant coach during his tenure.