3 Takeaways From IU Baseball's Conference Tourney Loss Vs. Nebraska

Hoosiers Currently At 32-24-1 And 15-9 In Big Ten

IU’s home field Bart Kaufman After Indiana’s 2019 Big Ten Championship

Hoosiers Dominated In All Facets To Likely End Their 2024 Season

While the Hoosiers nearly beat Nebraska this morning in a low-scoring pitchers duel, this time it was apparent the Cornhuskers were the better and deeper team from the get-go. They jumped on IU with three runs in the second and never looked back.

In the end, while the Huskers never had the big inning, they put up at least a single score in every frame but two. Also, they managed to slug several home runs on the day with Josh Caron accounting for three on his own.

Overall, the sudden power in Omaha all week that saw multiple bombs by many with the wind blowing in was a sight to behold. After years of struggles going yard in similar conditions, many players across all the squads (including IU star Devin Taylor) were surprisingly teeing off with moon shots deep into the bleachers.

When it was over, Nebraska left no doubt why they are the best squad in the conference and safely in the NCAA Tournament after their 10-4 win. They are the only side in the league with both elite hitting and top arms.

Indiana meanwhile ends their run in Omaha at 32-24-1 while going 15-9 in the Big Ten. Much like 2016, the conference results were good enough to play into June. However, despite an RPI that is about 10 spots lower than what is generally considered for a regional berth, the Hoosiers made the NCAA Tournament.

How Has IU Done In A Two-Games To Win One Scenario In The Past?

IU has had a mixed history when being in the catbird’s seat needing to win one of two games to advance when their opponent needed both. In the Big Ten tourney in 1996 and 2013 they lost the first game before coming back the second time to win it and make the postseason (although in the latter they saved a hosting position likely rather than a tourney spot which they had already locked up). In the 2009 and 2014 conference tourney as well as the 2013 NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers took care of business on the first attempt. Finally, in the regionals in 2014 and 2022, Indiana was in the driver’s seat and lost both games.

Saturday’s results continued a trend of being very much a mixed bag when in the position they were. With the losses on Saturday, this tendency of being less than perfect continued. While 2014’s NCAA Tournament bow out as the one seed hosting was inexplicable, the recent ones have a very defined reason that needs to be addressed (see more below).

Hoosiers Need To Add Pitching Depth Going Forward And Be Strong On The Mound From The Start

The issue of not immediately taking advantage while being in the driver’s seat the last couple of seasons comes down to one thing: pitching depth. Tournament games are often low-scoring and whether it be Kentucky last season or Nebraska in 2024, both of these squads had 5-6 guys they can count on for long innings and several more elite short relievers. Indiana meanwhile has 1-2 guys they can count on for length and effective innings and a few decent shorter options.

The Hoosiers had plenty of arms they could count on in 2009, 2013, and 2014 in these positions and as a result got the job done more often than not. The last couple of springs they have not had enough of them and it is why they have struggled from a position of strength against stronger squads.

Like the past couple of seasons, the pitching got going after a slow start. However, going forward they need that to be solid once the first ball is tossed next February rather than coming around sometime in April as it did in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The staff deserves full credit for figuring it out each time and getting Indiana to play their best baseball in the final few weeks.

Despite making the NCAA Tournament for a second straight seasons, it is imperative that more quality arms as a whole are found. They also need to make sure they are ready to go as a staff from the get-go.