Iowa Baseball Series Preview: Indiana Hoosiers

WEEKEND SERIES: VS INDIANA HOOSIERS (23-18, 12-9)

The Iowa Baseball team enters week seven of the conference schedule with a 2.5-game lead over UCLA atop the Big Ten standings with their 17-4 record. This past weekend, the Hawkeyes earned an impressive three-game sweep of Michigan in Ann Arbor, for their seventh consecutive conference series win. They did suffer a disappointing 7-3 loss to Western Illinois on Tuesday, but bounced back with a 15-5 run-rule win over St Thomas on Wednesday.

This weekend, the Hawkeyes are set to host the Indiana Hoosiers for a three-game series at Duane Banks Field. Iowa leads the all-time series 88-80, including a sweep last time Indiana came to Iowa City back in 2022. Their last meeting was a 9-4 win for the Hawkeyes at the 2023 Big Ten Tournament.

Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Jeff Mercer, the Hoosiers are 198-143, with three NCAA Regional appearances, including in each of the past two seasons. Indiana enters this weekend with a 23-18 overall record and a 12-9 mark in Big Ten play, which puts them in a tie for sixth place. Indiana has dominated lower-tier Big Ten teams with an 8-1 record against RPI 100+ teams, but when facing RPI Top 100 competition in conference play, they’ve managed just a 4-8 record. The Hoosiers defeated Ball State 14-4 in rule-rule fashion on Wednesday evening in Indianapolis.

Weekend Schedule

Friday- 6:02pm CT – BTN+

Saturday- 2:02pm CT – BTN+

Sunday- 1:02pm CT – BTN+

As a team, Indiana is right alongside Iowa as one of, if not the top offensive team in the Big Ten. They lead the conference in runs per game (8.87), extra base hits (167) and slugging percentage (.534), while they also rank second in on-base percentage (.424) and batting average (.312). Devin Taylor, Korbyn Dickerson and Jake Hanley are all top 15 in the conference in batting average.

The Hoosiers pitching staff, the numbers aren’t quite as eye-popping as they were on the offensive side. They rank 4th in strikeouts per nine innings (8.8), 7th in hits allowed (358), 10th in WHIP (1.58), 12th in walks per nine innings (4.9) and 13th in ERA (6.01).

Indiana Last 10 Games (6-4)

April 7 vs Michigan State: W 18-2 April 8 vs Ball State: W 7-5 April 11-13 at Illinois: L 4-2, W 12-3, L 15-1 April 15 vs Indiana State: L 7-5 April 18-20 vs Maryland: W 7-6, L 17-4, W 15-5 April 23 vs Ball State: W 14-4

IOWA HAWKEYES PROBABLE STARTING ROTATION

LHP Cade Obermueller (Friday) – Through ten starts this season, Cade Obermueller ranks second in the Big Ten with a 2.50 ERA, tallying 79 strikeouts to 30 free bases over 57.2 innings. He has completed 5.0 innings in nine of his ten starts, failing to do it for the first time all season his last time out. On Friday, at Michigan, Obermueller was around the zone, but not in it often, throwing a season-low 54.3% of his 92 pitches for strikes. He allowed five runs, three earned on four hits over 4.0 innings, giving up five free bases to just three strikeouts.

RHP Aaron Savary (Saturday) – Through nine starts this season, Aaron Savary has a 3.67 ERA over 54.0 innings, including 58 strikeouts to 33 free bases given up. After a rough outing against Nebraska, Savary bounced back in a big way, allowing just one run on five hits over 7.0 innings, including seven strikeouts to two walks. He threw a season-high 68.4% of his 95 pitches for strikes. Savary still leads the starting rotation in fewest hits given up per inning (0.69).

RHP Reece Beuter (Sunday) – Through nine starts his season, Reece Beuter has a 3.99 ERA over 47.1 innings, including 51 strikeouts to 23 free bases given up. For the most part, Beuter has been everything you could hope for from a Sunday starter and he’s been particularly impressive as of late. Over his last two starts, Reece has allowed just four runs on six hits over 11.0 innings, including 15 strikeouts to just two walks and a 63.0% strike rate.

INDIANA HOOSIERS PROBABLE STARTING ROTATION

*Indiana refuses to have a normal starting rotation, so this is a mess*

RHP Cole Gilley – A transfer from Indiana State, right-hander Cole Gilley has been the closest thing to an ace for the Hoosiers this season, but that doesn’t mean he will make the Friday night start. Gilley has appeared in 12 games, with eight starts, posting a 3.92 ERA over 43.2 innings, including 57 strikeouts to just 13 free bases given up. Opponents are averaging 0.83 hits per inning, but get no extra help from Gilley, averaging just 0.30 walks+hbp per inning. Last time out, Gilley got hit around against Maryland, allowing six runs, five earned on seven hits over 2.0 innings.

RHP Ben Grable – A former Northwestern transfer, right-hander Ben Grable missed all of last season with an injury but has been a key part of the Indiana staff this season. He has appeared in 12 games, with eight starts, posting a 3.96 ERA over 36.1 innings, including 37 strikeouts to 15 free bases given up. Another arm that doesn’t give up many free ones, opponents are averaging just 0.41 walks+hbp per inning. Last time out against Maryland, Grable allowed one run on three hits over 4.0 innings, with four strikeouts to no walks.

RHP Pete Haas – A transfer from Stonehill, right-hander Pete Haas has been a starter and a reliever this season, appearing 15 games, with six starts. Haas has a 4.39 ERA over 26.2 innings, including 30 strikeouts to 14 free bases given up. A pitch to contact pitcher, nearly 65% of at-bats against him end with a ball in play. Whether he gets a start or comes out of the ‘pen, it won’t be for a lengthy outing, as he averages just 1.2 innings per appearance.

RHP Gavin Seebold – A transfer from Southern Indiana, right-hander Gavin Seebold was a Second Team All-OVC selection for the Screaming Eagles. However, he has struggled with the Hoosiers as a part-time starter, appearing in 12 games, with six starts. Seebold has an 8.71 ERA over 41.1 innings, including just 29 strikeouts to 26 free bases given up. Opponents are averaging 1.26 hits per inning against Seebold, while 0.63 free bases per inning gives him a less than ideal 1.89 WHIP. Last time out against Maryland, Seebold allowed three runs on five hits over 2.2 innings.

RHP Jackson Yarberry – A transfer from St Louis, right-hander Jackson Yarberry appeared in 19 games as a true freshman for the Billikens last season. This season, Yarberry has appeared in seven games, with five starts, posting a 9.49 ERA over just 12.1 innings of work. He has a 2.03 WHIP, helped by ten free bases given up, while opponents are hitting .300 against him. Last time out, Yarberry was the Friday opener against Maryland, allowing four runs on two hits over 2.0 innings, with three walks helping the Terps cause.

HOOSIERS PLAYERS TO WATCH

1. OF Korbyn Dickerson – A transfer from Louisville, outfielder Korbyn Dickerson has made an impact much larger than anything the Hoosiers could have hoped for after he garnered just 17 at-bats for the ‘Cards last season. In 41 starts, Dickerson is slashing .363/.415/.736, leading the Big Ten in both hits (66) and RBI’s (65), while tallying 11 doubles, three triples and 17 home runs. He has totaled 20 multi-hit games, including 11 games with 3+ hits. Dickerson is not a huge threat to walk, with an 8.5% walk+hbp rate, but does have a respectable 16.6% strikeout rate given the power he possesses.

2. OF Devin Taylor – The preseason pick to win Big Ten Player of the Year, outfielder Devin Taylor may have to battle with his teammate for some votes. In 41 starts, Taylor is slashing .378/.493/.701, with 62 hits, ten doubles, 13 home runs, nine stolen bases and 49 RBI’s. He is one of the top candidates to get on base in the conference, ranking fourth in the Big Ten with 37 walks and an 18.8% walk+hbp rate. Taylor has totaled 20 multi-hit games and comes into this weekend with nine hits, including six extra base hits over his last five games.

3. 1B Jake Hanley – The 2024 OHSBCA Ohio State Player of the Year, true freshman first baseman Jake Hanley has made a huge impact in his first year with the Hoosiers. In 41 starts, Hanley is slashing .348/.445/.578, with 56 hits, seven doubles, ten home runs and 37 RBI’s. He has 17 multi-hit games, but has been quiet as of late, batting just .162 (6/37) over his last ten games, including 12 strikeouts.

4. 2B Tyler Cerny –

5. 3B Will Moore – A native of Paris, Ontario, Canadian true freshman third baseman Will Moore has been a part-time starter for the Hoosiers, but when he’s been in the lineup he’s gotten on base at a high level. Appearing in 31 games, with 27 starts, Moore is slashing .341/.534/.415, with 28 hits, three doubles and 13 RBI’s. The stat that catches your eye is his .534 on-base percentage, which is a product of his 29.3% walk+hbp rate. He has totaled 34 walks+hit by pitches in 116 plate appearances.

6. LHP Ryan Kraft – A veteran on the Indiana pitching staff, senior left-hander Ryan Kraft has appeared in 77 games during his career. In a team-high 15 appearances this season, Kraft has a 4.08 ERA over 35.1 innings, including 35 strikeouts to 13 walks. Opponents have hit him pretty well, averaging 1.05 hits per inning and 3.8 extra base hits per nine innings.

FINAL THOUGHT

Set the over/under for the weekend at 1.5 wins. We have reached the home stretch of the regular season, and the Hawkeyes are starting to set their sights on the program’s first Big Ten regular season title since 1990, holding a 2.5-game lead atop the standings. That being said, each of their three remaining series will be incredibly important, starting with this one against the Hoosiers.

Under the right conditions, this series could provide a ton of runs, as this weekend pits two of the top three offensive teams in the Big Ten against each other. Indiana has the edge in power numbers, but the wind is expected to be blowing in on Friday and Saturday, which could help to neutralize that threat. If the wind does play a major factor; it could come down to what team can produce the most inside the park hits, or which pitching staff can execute better. You never know with Indiana’s offense, but the Hawkeyes pitching staff has a distinct advantage over the Hoosiers. I like Iowa to take two of three and move one step closer to the Big Ten crown.