Indiana University Athletics
‘Complementary Baseball’ Key to Indiana Success
3/12/2026 6:30:00 PM | Baseball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Jeff Mercer hits fly balls to Bart Kaufman Field's left field, an Indiana outfielder drill in full progress under a gun-metal gray overcast sky.
Four days of constant rain have subsided enough for outdoor work, and the Hoosiers take full advantage. Eight outfielders track balls -- line drives, high flies, grounders. It's part of the process of getting this young and promising group Big Ten contending ready.
"Push! Push! Push!" Mercer shouts as an outfielder runs after a ball in the gap. The catch is made. "Good job!"
Another Mercer flyball gets over an outfielder's head and bounces over the left-field wall. Mercer believes it could have been caught.
"Turn and go, baby!" he shouts. "You've got to go."
Mercer hits another long drive and this one is caught.
"Good. Much better!"
The drills reflect how big a role outfield defense will have this season. In fact, it already has.
"Our outfield play has been outstanding," Mercer says. "It's far better than I anticipated."
Outfielders Ayden Crouse, Cal Gates, Caleb Koskie, Hogan Denny and Cole Decker have combined for one error in 16 games, seven of them victories.
"With new guys out there, and not being outside much," Mercer says, "we've tracked the ball well. Our cuts and relays have been really good. We've really executed low and in the middle of the field. We've redirected very well."
IU played 12 non-conference games before beginning Big Ten action by winning one of three against Washington over the weekend at Bart Kaufman Field. The Hoosiers are 7-9 overall after a win over Wright State.
"We've played a lot of good baseball," Mercer says. "I'm pleased with 80 to 90 percent of the way we've played."
Despite the 1-2 conference start, IU seeks to win its first Big Ten title since 2019, Mercer's first season as head coach. A promising lineup includes sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley, sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian, redshirt freshman designated hitter Brayden Ricketts and graduate student pitchers Tony Neubeck and Gavin Seebold.
"We have the ability, the talent," Mercer says. "We have the people doing the right jobs. We have to be complementary and do all of those phases (offense, defense, pitching) at the same time. I'm confident we can.
"We have to clean up the freebies, be better in scoring runs with runners in scoring position, better with two strikes, have more trustworthy at bats where everybody knows what we'll get from everybody."
If the Hoosiers consistently do that, look out.
*****
IU's 6-7 non-conference record – reflecting grueling competition highlighted by three defeats against No. 11 North Carolina and one against No. 2 LSU -- included a pair of one-run, extra-inning losses, and defeats by two and three runs.
The Hoosiers allowed four or fewer runs in five of their last seven games entering conference action. Sophomore pitcher Brayton Thomas had two one-run performances in that stretch.
"We play a hard schedule on the road to prepare us for the Big Ten," Mercer says. "Hopefully, we're hardened for that environment."
The four-game Western Kentucky series highlighted IU's up-and-down season start. It got a split, losing the opener 4-1 and the second game of a doubleheader 14-12, won the first game of the doubleheader 3-1 and then the series finale 7-3.
Two days earlier, the Hoosiers won at Xavier 10-4.
"We should have been better (in the 4-1 loss)," Mercer says. "We pitched great. You have to produce offensively. We had opportunities. We didn't get it done. That put a stretch on the bullpen early on, which came back to bite us in that (14-12 loss)."
Still, those five games showcased Hoosier potential. Ricketts earned Big Ten freshman of the week honors after going 10-for-20 with seven runs batted in, including the first two home runs of his career. He's hitting near .300 for the season.
Hanley, last season's Big Ten freshman of the year, went 11-for-20 in those five games with a home run and six runs batted in. He added three hits and his third homer of the season in Sunday's series finale against Washington. He's hitting .344 on the year.
*****
Mercer likes the performances he's gotten from pitchers such as Neubeck (1-1, 1.96 earned run average, 17 strikeouts), Thomas (1-1, 3.12 ERA), Seebold (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 15 strikeouts) and Ivan Mastalski (1-0, 3.12 ERA). The Hoosiers have a team ERA of 6.47 with 123 strikeouts.
"Our starting pitching has been a real bright spot," he says. "We've had some good starting pitching, and several relievers who have been really good.
"What we haven't done a great job of is in some of those middle innings with free bases. We'll start with an error or a walk. When we've limited free bases, when we've started innings clean, games have gotten short for us.
"It's the emotion of the moment. There's an error and I lose focus on the mound, or I give up hard contact and lose the strike zone. It's controlling your emotions.
"The big part is, are we emotionally under control? Can we stay focused and disciplined on executing a plan when the environment changes? When we do that, we've been really good on the mound."
Mercer says IU is on pace to double the number of double plays it made last season. That was a big offseason focus. It starts, he adds, by the pitchers throwing more fastballs "on both sides of the plate to create more weak contact."
"We have a good defensive infield. They've done a good job of wanting to turn a lot of double plays."
*****
Offensively, Mercer says IU has "been an on-base team."
"We have another gear to us with runners in scoring position and with two strikes," he says. "We've taken more strikes threes than our opponents by a considerable amount.
"Some of that has to do with (opposing pitchers) executing high-level pitches, some has to do with us being too patient and passive. We're getting ourselves in too many two-strike counts, and we have too many foul balls early."
During Sunday's 13-4 loss to Washington, IU was just 2-for-20 with runners on base.
"I like the fact we're trying to be selective and getting on base," Mercer says, "but we have to be better with two strikes. And then we have to have an overall more trustworthy at-bat."
IU is hitting .279 as a team. It's scored 100 runs, driving in 92 of them. Five different players have a batting average north of .300.
"We have done a relatively good job with a young offense of making good swing decisions, being competitive against high-level arms and executing what we want to do," Mercer says. "It would be great if we could score 15 runs a game, but we can't have the wide chasms -- the games we score two runs and then 18.
"We need to score six to eight runs every game and give our pitching and defense a chance to produce or carry that. We've done a better job of that."
Nine of the next 10 weekends will feature action against Big Ten teams. This weekend, that means a trip to Oregon (12-3, 2-1) for a three-game series. The only remaining non-conference weekend series is at home against Abilene Christian in mid-April.
"We have to stay away from weak contact and weak contact with guys on base," Mercer says. "If we can stay out of those two things and string good swing decisions together, we should be able to mount a competitive offense and give our pitching and defense a decent chance."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Jeff Mercer hits fly balls to Bart Kaufman Field's left field, an Indiana outfielder drill in full progress under a gun-metal gray overcast sky.
Four days of constant rain have subsided enough for outdoor work, and the Hoosiers take full advantage. Eight outfielders track balls -- line drives, high flies, grounders. It's part of the process of getting this young and promising group Big Ten contending ready.
"Push! Push! Push!" Mercer shouts as an outfielder runs after a ball in the gap. The catch is made. "Good job!"
Another Mercer flyball gets over an outfielder's head and bounces over the left-field wall. Mercer believes it could have been caught.
"Turn and go, baby!" he shouts. "You've got to go."
Mercer hits another long drive and this one is caught.
"Good. Much better!"
The drills reflect how big a role outfield defense will have this season. In fact, it already has.
"Our outfield play has been outstanding," Mercer says. "It's far better than I anticipated."
Outfielders Ayden Crouse, Cal Gates, Caleb Koskie, Hogan Denny and Cole Decker have combined for one error in 16 games, seven of them victories.
"With new guys out there, and not being outside much," Mercer says, "we've tracked the ball well. Our cuts and relays have been really good. We've really executed low and in the middle of the field. We've redirected very well."
IU played 12 non-conference games before beginning Big Ten action by winning one of three against Washington over the weekend at Bart Kaufman Field. The Hoosiers are 7-9 overall after a win over Wright State.
"We've played a lot of good baseball," Mercer says. "I'm pleased with 80 to 90 percent of the way we've played."
Despite the 1-2 conference start, IU seeks to win its first Big Ten title since 2019, Mercer's first season as head coach. A promising lineup includes sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley, sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian, redshirt freshman designated hitter Brayden Ricketts and graduate student pitchers Tony Neubeck and Gavin Seebold.
"We have the ability, the talent," Mercer says. "We have the people doing the right jobs. We have to be complementary and do all of those phases (offense, defense, pitching) at the same time. I'm confident we can.
"We have to clean up the freebies, be better in scoring runs with runners in scoring position, better with two strikes, have more trustworthy at bats where everybody knows what we'll get from everybody."
If the Hoosiers consistently do that, look out.
*****
IU's 6-7 non-conference record – reflecting grueling competition highlighted by three defeats against No. 11 North Carolina and one against No. 2 LSU -- included a pair of one-run, extra-inning losses, and defeats by two and three runs.
The Hoosiers allowed four or fewer runs in five of their last seven games entering conference action. Sophomore pitcher Brayton Thomas had two one-run performances in that stretch.
"We play a hard schedule on the road to prepare us for the Big Ten," Mercer says. "Hopefully, we're hardened for that environment."
The four-game Western Kentucky series highlighted IU's up-and-down season start. It got a split, losing the opener 4-1 and the second game of a doubleheader 14-12, won the first game of the doubleheader 3-1 and then the series finale 7-3.
Two days earlier, the Hoosiers won at Xavier 10-4.
"We should have been better (in the 4-1 loss)," Mercer says. "We pitched great. You have to produce offensively. We had opportunities. We didn't get it done. That put a stretch on the bullpen early on, which came back to bite us in that (14-12 loss)."
Still, those five games showcased Hoosier potential. Ricketts earned Big Ten freshman of the week honors after going 10-for-20 with seven runs batted in, including the first two home runs of his career. He's hitting near .300 for the season.
Hanley, last season's Big Ten freshman of the year, went 11-for-20 in those five games with a home run and six runs batted in. He added three hits and his third homer of the season in Sunday's series finale against Washington. He's hitting .344 on the year.
*****
Mercer likes the performances he's gotten from pitchers such as Neubeck (1-1, 1.96 earned run average, 17 strikeouts), Thomas (1-1, 3.12 ERA), Seebold (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 15 strikeouts) and Ivan Mastalski (1-0, 3.12 ERA). The Hoosiers have a team ERA of 6.47 with 123 strikeouts.
"Our starting pitching has been a real bright spot," he says. "We've had some good starting pitching, and several relievers who have been really good.
"What we haven't done a great job of is in some of those middle innings with free bases. We'll start with an error or a walk. When we've limited free bases, when we've started innings clean, games have gotten short for us.
"It's the emotion of the moment. There's an error and I lose focus on the mound, or I give up hard contact and lose the strike zone. It's controlling your emotions.
"The big part is, are we emotionally under control? Can we stay focused and disciplined on executing a plan when the environment changes? When we do that, we've been really good on the mound."
Mercer says IU is on pace to double the number of double plays it made last season. That was a big offseason focus. It starts, he adds, by the pitchers throwing more fastballs "on both sides of the plate to create more weak contact."
"We have a good defensive infield. They've done a good job of wanting to turn a lot of double plays."
*****
Offensively, Mercer says IU has "been an on-base team."
"We have another gear to us with runners in scoring position and with two strikes," he says. "We've taken more strikes threes than our opponents by a considerable amount.
"Some of that has to do with (opposing pitchers) executing high-level pitches, some has to do with us being too patient and passive. We're getting ourselves in too many two-strike counts, and we have too many foul balls early."
During Sunday's 13-4 loss to Washington, IU was just 2-for-20 with runners on base.
"I like the fact we're trying to be selective and getting on base," Mercer says, "but we have to be better with two strikes. And then we have to have an overall more trustworthy at-bat."
IU is hitting .279 as a team. It's scored 100 runs, driving in 92 of them. Five different players have a batting average north of .300.
"We have done a relatively good job with a young offense of making good swing decisions, being competitive against high-level arms and executing what we want to do," Mercer says. "It would be great if we could score 15 runs a game, but we can't have the wide chasms -- the games we score two runs and then 18.
"We need to score six to eight runs every game and give our pitching and defense a chance to produce or carry that. We've done a better job of that."
Nine of the next 10 weekends will feature action against Big Ten teams. This weekend, that means a trip to Oregon (12-3, 2-1) for a three-game series. The only remaining non-conference weekend series is at home against Abilene Christian in mid-April.
"We have to stay away from weak contact and weak contact with guys on base," Mercer says. "If we can stay out of those two things and string good swing decisions together, we should be able to mount a competitive offense and give our pitching and defense a decent chance."
Players Mentioned
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