Series Recap: Indiana secures series win at Michigan, claims No. 6 seed in Big Ten Tournament

In a weekend that had a little bit of everything — offensive fireworks, dominant pitching, and missed chances — Indiana baseball did what it needed to do, the Hoosiers won the series and punch their ticket to Omaha.

The Hoosiers (31-23 overall and 16-14 Big Ten play) took two of three from Michigan in Ann Arbor to close out the regular season, officially locking in the No. 6 seed for next week’s Big Ten Tournament.

With Thursday night’s gritty one-run victory, Indiana extended its streak to 12 consecutive Big Ten Tournament appearances — the longest active run in the conference.

A clinical Friday night win gave the Hoosiers their first road series win in league play this season, while Saturday’s finale served as a reminder of how costly missed opportunities can be.

Still, with 31 wins, a 16-win Big Ten slate, and postseason baseball ahead, Indiana enters the conference tournament tested and ready.

Indiana clinches Big Ten Tournament berth with gritty win over Michigan

Indiana punched its ticket to the postseason with a hard-fought 8-7 victory over Michigan on Thursday night, securing its spot in the Big Ten Tournament for a conference-best 12th consecutive season.

It was the kind of win that’s come to define the Jeff Mercer era — early offense, clutch hitting, and just enough pitching to get across the finish line.

The Hoosiers wasted no time jumping on the Wolverines, scoring seven runs in the first three innings.

Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley continued his stellar debut season, collecting two more hits — including a solo homer — and driving in a pair. Indiana built a 7-2 cushion before the bats cooled and the bullpen was asked to hold on.

After Michigan rallied to make it a game again, redshirt senior Jake Stadler provided the knockout punch. The veteran catcher launched a solo shot to lead off the sixth, giving the Hoosiers an 8-6 lead that proved to be just enough.

On the mound, sophomore Jackson Yarberry picked up the win in relief, while senior Gavin Seebold shut the door in the ninth to notch his third save of the season. The pitching staff as a whole kept free passes to a minimum, issuing just two walks on the night.

The win not only sealed a tournament berth but also marked Indiana’s third straight 30-win season under Mercer — and its third straight with at least 15 Big Ten victories.

Hoosiers lock down series win with dominant Friday night performance

Indiana didn’t just clinch the series on Friday night, the Hoosiers left no doubt about who was in control.

With a blend of efficient pitching and timely offense, the Hoosiers cruised past Michigan 8-1 to secure their first Big Ten road series win of the season.

Once again, Mercer’s staff leaned on a two-man rotation to get through nine clean innings, and the formula delivered in emphatic fashion.

Graduate right-hander Cole Gilley earned his ninth win of the year, becoming the first Hoosier since 2016 to reach that mark. Gilley worked out of a couple jams early before handing the ball to Ben Grable, who slammed the door with six strikeouts over three hitless innings to earn the save.

At the plate, it was junior second baseman Tyler Cerny who set the tone. Cerny’s go-ahead homer in the third inning sparked Indiana’s offense, part of a three-hit night that brought him within two knocks of becoming the 26th member of Indiana’s 200-hit club.

Indiana poured it on in the sixth, with run-scoring swings from Andrew Wiggins and freshman Will Moore padding the lead.

Indiana’s offense found production throughout the lineup despite a quiet night from the heart of the order.

The Hoosiers drew eight walks and struck out just four times while scoring in three different innings. Meanwhile, Michigan’s offense was held scoreless over the final six frames, managing just three hits all night.

The win was a milestone moment for Mercer as well — it marked his 100th regular season Big Ten victory, making him the fastest coach in program history to reach that number.

Indiana drops finale, locks in No. 6 seed for Big Ten Tournament

Indiana’s bid for its first Big Ten road sweep in two years came up short on Saturday afternoon, as missed opportunities plagued the Hoosiers in an 8-3 loss to Michigan in the regular season finale.

Despite winning the weekend series, Indiana couldn’t cash in during the finale, leaving the bases loaded in three straight innings and failing to erase an early deficit.

The Wolverines jumped out to a 5-0 lead through two innings, and although Indiana’s pitching staff steadied the game with four scoreless frames, the offense couldn’t capitalize.

Devin Taylor grounded into a double play with the bases full in the third but later delivered a RBI single and added his 52nd career home run — moving him into the top 15 in program history for career hits.

Andrew Wiggins continued his solid weekend with another multi-hit effort, while freshman Will Moore reached base three times. Still, the Hoosiers stranded nine runners on the day and never led at any point.

Freshman Brayton Thomas turned in a bright spot on the mound, striking out three over two clean innings. The Hoosiers opted to preserve their top bullpen arms with the postseason on the horizon.

A Rutgers loss ensured the Hoosiers would lock in the No. 6 seed in next week’s Big Ten Tournament, thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker over Michigan.

Indiana will now shift its focus to Omaha, where it opens tournament play on Tuesday, May 20 at 2:00 p.m. against the No. 10 seed.

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