Tennessee Shows Why They Are Best Team In College Baseball But IU's Season Is Still Barely Alive

Hoosiers Dominated By Vols And Will Face Southern Mississippi At Noon Today

IU Celebrates Postgame At Lindsey Nelson Stadium Following Their 10-4 Opening NCAA Win Over Southern Mississippi Who They Face Again On Sunday

Knoxville TN-It was evident very quickly who the best team on the field and in college baseball is. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, it was not them but top-ranked Tennessee who dazzled and lived up to their billing from the very beginning.

IU ace Conor Foley was nowhere near his best with massive control issues and the Vols took full advantage almost immediately. As a team that smashes the ball for dingers regularly, the Volunteers used their familiar surroundings to belt three of them in the second and third innings to jump to a 9-0 lead.

Indiana was partially responsible for their demise with a couple of handfuls of early walks and a hit-by-pitch. This allowed nearly every Tennessee batter to battle the count each time and it ended up more often than not with a ball being crushed or a free base for them.

It was not much better for IU on offense at first as the Vol’s top arm Drew Beam kept the team from doing anything for a couple of innings. This proved critical as Foley lost his command in the second and by then the deficit was too big for any realistic comeback. Devin Taylor did smash his team-leading 19th home run the second time through the order for three RBIs to get the bats going a bit.

In the end though, Tennessee cruised to a 12-6 victory while jacking four pitches out of the park. While one could easily say the Cream and Crimson were nowhere near their best despite a decent offensive showing, it hardly mattered against the far superior Volunteers. Furthermore, as one of the very last teams selected to participate in the field of 64, the Hoosiers should not have any complaints about being matched up with the very best in the game.

IU Coach Jeff Mercer praised the Volunteers play afterwards.

“They are number one for a reason,” Mercer said. “Give them credit. They forced the issue and forced our hand.”

The good news for Indiana is baseball’s postseason is double elimination and 2024 is not yet over for them despite hanging by a thread. The conclusion however could well come at some point on Sunday as the Hoosiers turn around and rematch with Southern Mississippi at noon. A loss would end their season there while a victory would require them to turn around and once again face the Vols at 6 pm with a staff running low on options to take the mound.

Mercer said the familiarity of facing the Golden Eagles again helps his squad but also the opposition as well.

“It can both ways,” he said. “They’ve seen your hitters so they have an ability to match up. It does help us to be able to known an opponent a little bit but they also know you. There is an equity in that.”

No matter what happens though, the Hoosiers saved a spring that was going nowhere. They made a late rally for their eighth NCAA Tournament in 11 seasons and the third in five seasons under Mercer. This was despite an RPI in the mid-50s that is generally outside the realm of postseason consideration.

Some slight tweaks to the pitching might be needed around the edges. However, the program is in good hands and more than anything, it has met the challenge of being in a northern climate better than almost anyone.