Heading into Sunday on a season-high three-game winning streak, Indiana baseball (10-13, 3-6 Big Ten) aimed to achieve its first series sweep of 2026, as IU played Minnesota (16-8, 2-4 Big Ten) in the finale of a three-game set.
On a clear, 80-degree day at Bart Kaufman Field, the Hoosiers were met with a ferocious Golden Gopher effort, as the visitors sent Indiana to the showers early with a 14-2 defeat in eight innings.
This game was over very quickly. Minnesota scored in each of the first four innings, with six runs in the first two innings alone. Indiana starter Brayton Thomas (1-2, 5.09 ERA) recorded just five outs, as Minnesota tagged him for six hits and six earned runs. Weber Neels and Ty Allen both took the southpaw deep in his brief outing on Sunday.
After incredible performances the last three games, the bullpen had a rough outing in the series finale, as seven pitchers combined to give up eight runs over 6.1 innings of work.
Eight of nine Minnesota batters reached base at least once. Their offense was so dominant that despite the 14 runs scored, they still left 10 runners on-base for the game.
Meanwhile, the Indiana bats were held quiet by the Minnesota pitching trio of Marcus Kruzan, Will Whelan and Ben Gregory. They combined to pitch eight innings of two-run ball, only surrendering six hits.
Despite only striking out six times for the game, Indiana could not generate good contact when they did put the bat on the ball. Only one of their six hits went for extra bases, a double from sophomore Caleb Koskie.
“They have good arms,” head coach Jeff Mercer said after the game. “There’s a reason they came in with the record they did and the RPI they have. I thought their arms all weekend were good.”
Indiana will have a quick turnaround as they will stay at Bart Kaufman Field to face in-state foe Indiana State on Tuesday. Midweeks have been a major point of success for Indiana in 2026, as they are 4-0 in that category so far.
“We have more pitching depth. We’ve tried to lengthen some of those guys out on Tuesday,” Mercer said on Indiana’s midweek success. “I think our position group is more mature…I like this group, they show up to play every day and I’m proud of that. And so, I think that shows up in the midweeks.”
First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern. Indiana will start left-handed pitcher Conner Linn for the midweek.
