IU Baseball vs So. Cal. - March 28-30, 2025

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,597]

Hoosiers (14-11) (5-4) host USC (14-10) (4-5) for a 3-game weekend series.  Friday weather looks favorable but Mama Nature may have other ideas for Saturday and Sunday.  USC team batting average .274 and they've only hit 23 HR and average just over 5 runs/game.  We're batting .308 with 42 HR and average 9 runs/game.  USC team ERA is 4.30; IU 5.48 (ouch)

Radio

Live Stats

Friday @ 6:00 on B1G+

Saturday @ 2:00 on B1G+

Sunday @ Noon on BTN

[Aaron 4,457]

  On 3/27/2025 at 12:37 PM, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Hoosiers (14-11) (5-4) host USC (14-10) (4-5) for a 3-game weekend series.  Friday weather looks favorable but Mama Nature may have other ideas for Saturday and Sunday.  USC team batting average .274 and they've only hit 23 HR and average just over 5 runs/game.  We're batting .308 with 42 HR and average 9 runs/game.  USC team ERA is 4.30; IU 5.48 (ouch)

Radio

Live Stats

Friday @ 6:00 on B1G+

Saturday @ 2:00 on B1G+

Sunday @ Noon on BTN

Based on forecast I am guessing we see a doubleheader Friday or Saturday as both look like days games can be squeezed in. Sunday a complete washout.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,597]

Weekend Update.

We will play a doubleheader tomorrow (3/28) starting at 2:00 p.m. ET. The second game is set to begin around 6:00 p.m. ET.

The final game of the series will be Saturday at (3/29) at 12:00 p.m. ET.

[mamasa 15,895]

2-0 IU B1

[mamasa 15,895]

3-0 B2

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,597]

OOF.  USC got 3 solo HRs in the top of the 4th off Kraft to tie it at 3-3.  We're batting in the bottom of the 6th still tied at 3-3.

[Aaron 4,457]

This game is a case of USC being patient and killing the best pitches given to them, while IU is mindlessly hacking at everything and missing, mostly due to difference in arms discussed below.

Like UCLA, USC is showing IU how to play high level baseball and how far behind Big Ten is. Like Moren talking about needing to adjust to modern game with west coast teams, other Big Ten teams in baseball are going to need to make same evaluation.

Hoosiers are hacking pitches just short of over wall while USC is getting them out of park. Also, Trojan pitchers pitches break just a bit better.

These west coast teams are showing Big Ten what it lacks in discipline, talent, and athleticism in all areas. A few guys like Taylor and maybe Wiggins would start anywhere. However, more higher level players throughout roster are the difference in margins much like Moren talked about size and athleticism needed for rest of Big Ten to adjust for her sport.

All the old conference squads need to adjust to these subtle differences to really compete and that goes for all the current coaching staffs who will either adjust or be replaced with ones who can. Not a shot at Mercer and a he may already realize it and adjust, but will be needed across board in league. Glant is the one who may have hardest time adjusting given pitching struggles last few seasons but we will see.          

This happened with coaches when Big Ten adjusted from essentially a one-bid low-major like the MAC in mid-late 2000's to a high end mid-major like the Mountain West that gets 2-4 bids most years. Some coaches like Rich Maloney and Doug Schriber couldn't keep up with increased competition and were canned.

Now with the west coast schools, Big Ten will likely adjust again to essentially being a high major like it is in other power four leagues and a few coaches who won't be able to compete at this higher level will be canned. Whether one of those is Mercer (or he adjusts like John Anderson did at Minnesota to stay very good for many years with better competition) remains to be seen. However, some coaches will find their current job is too big for them with west coast schools now here and it remains to be seen who. To early to say.     

USC takes game one 10-5 simply by being a bit more talented and discipline in the small margins of the game. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,597]

We took a 13-6 win in Friday's second game banging out 15 hits.  Cerny with 4; Malamazian and Hanley each with 3.  Hanley had 4 RBI and Cerny 3.   We gave up 13 hits and 4 BB but forced USC to leave 13 men on base.  Gilley started and went 5 innings allowing 5 runs on 9 hits and got credit for the win.  Holderfield and Haas also saw mound duty.

Today's game scheduled for a noon start.

[12345Brad 511]

Blew today’s game bad. Grrr

[WayneFleekHoosier 50,861]

12-3 lead and lost 13-12.  That’s rough. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,597]

  On 3/29/2025 at 8:47 PM, WayneFleekHoosier said:

12-3 lead and lost 13-12.  That’s rough. 

6 IU pitchers gave up a total of 11 hits and 8 BB.  6 of the 11 hits were extra base variety and included 4 HR.  USC scored in 7 of the 9 innings.  We had 11 hits of our own led by Dickerson with 3 who also had 5 RBI.  USC takes the weekend series 2-1.  

Tuesday evening at 6:00 we host Louisville.  Next weekend Michigan State is in Bloomington.

[Aaron 4,457]

Dustin Glant cannot continued to be employed by IU after this year. Period.

Its very likely Indiana will figure out this pitching debacle down the stretch and go on a huge winning streak as they do every year since Glant has been here. However, enough is enough. With this much talent you shouldn't be needing to rally late each year.

I don't blame Mercer for most of it and think he is a better coach than given credit for. However, regardless of what happens down the stretch, pitching coach has to be changed. If Mercer continues to stick with him and these problems continue he will need to go to which is to bad since I think he is a solid coach.

However, if he keeps being to loyal to Glant who is not good at his job, then anything that IU does to Mercer including firing him will be deserved. Change Glant out and I think almost all of the problems go away.

Mercer's only issue is continuing to employ Glant. Hopefully its not what spells doom for him but absolutely could if he stubbornly sticks by him.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,597]

Includes commentary on changes in the format of the B1G tournament.

https://www.assemblycall.com/p/3-takeaways-from-iu-baseballs-13