Ryan Kraft delivers farewell gem for Indiana in win over Purdue

On the same mound where he grew up as a pitcher, Ryan Kraft gave Indiana one final masterpiece Friday night — seven scoreless innings against Purdue in a farewell performance that capped a legacy years in the making.

In what was likely his final appearance on the mound in Bloomington, the Indiana senior left-hander delivered a performance worthy of a curtain call. He threw seven shutout innings on 85 pitches in an 8-0 victory over in-state rival Purdue.

“Absolutely,” Kraft said postgame when asked if the night meant a little more to him. “It’s been a great four years here.”

Kraft, a command-first southpaw with a sharp breaking ball and a heavy sinker, didn’t just pitch Indiana to a win — he handed down a blueprint.

He induced 12 groundouts, struck out four and walked none. It was the longest outing by a Hoosier pitcher this season — also one of the most composed.

“He’s really become the consummate pitcher,” head coach Jeff Mercer said. “Even throughout the course of the year, he’s gotten better and better.”

Krafted different. pic.twitter.com/S4yqgKkvJY

— Indiana Baseball (@IndianaBase) May 10, 2025

The moment wasn’t just about dominance. It was about resilience.

Purdue’s leadoff hitter reached base in the first inning on a softly hit comebacker that Kraft fielded cleanly but threw too slowly to first. Kraft responded with two strikeouts and a routine groundout to end the inning.

In the third, after a leadoff double and a runner advanced to third with one out, Kraft buckled down again — no damage, no panic.

“It’s a long game. Little things are going to happen,” Kraft said. “You just have to go one pitch at a time.”

Pitch by pitch, Kraft etched his name deeper into Hoosier lore under the lights on Friday night. With the outing, Kraft passed major leaguer Andrew Saalfrank on the program’s all-time strikeout list, moving into 16th with 189 career strikeouts — 104 more than his career walk total.

“He was phenomenal,” shortstop Cooper Malamazian said. “First-pitch strikes, got ahead in counts, got a lot of ground balls for us in the infield. Just a great start overall.”

The win carried weight beyond rivalry bragging rights. Kraft will be honored Saturday as part of Indiana’s Senior Weekend, but the bigger picture is clear. Indiana’s path to the NCAA Tournament likely depends on winning the Big Ten Tournament.

In a short-format setting, a dominant start like Kraft’s could prove key in Omaha.

“It’s huge,” Mercer said. “It’s a big deal for the tournament.”

Mercer also saw something more — something beyond metrics and mound presence on Friday night. He saw legacy.

“You walk up and down the dugout talking to the young pitchers about, ‘This is what it looks like to manage the game,’” Mercer said. “‘Don’t let it get out of control. Just keep executing pitches.’ It’s a big deal for the young guys to watch and see what it looks like.”

Kraft didn’t just show stuff — he showed poise. He didn’t dominate with velocity or overwhelming spin. He carved. He mixed. He adjusted.

His breaking ball, he said, was sharp all night — early for strikes and later as a put-away pitch.

“Mixing and matching really helped out,” Kraft said.

That’s always been the story with Kraft. As a freshman, he led the team in appearances (25). As a sophomore, he was named Big Ten Reliever of the Year. Last season was a step back. But this spring? Vintage. Poised. Masterful.

“He’s been everything that you could ever ask of a kid in the program — of a Hoosier,” Mercer said. “Just a hell of a way to have your last outing at Indiana on this field.”

As the final out of the seventh inning was secured, Kraft walked off to a loud ovation — not just from fans, but from teammates, coaches and the game itself.

He tipped his cap — not in triumph, but in gratitude for the four years, the highs and lows, and the journey that began in a bullpen and ended with a masterpiece under the lights.

“It’s one of those things that you don’t fully appreciate until after the game,” Mercer said.

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