The Terps will fight for their first weekend series win of the season.
Playing its best since entering conference play in March, Maryland baseball (17-21, 4-11 Big Ten) will travel to Bloomington, Indiana, to face the Indiana Hoosiers in a weekend series.
“Look how we looked last Wednesday, and then the first two games of that Oregon series,” head coach Matt Swope said after Tuesday’s win over Mount St. Mary’s. “If we can play some semblance of that type of baseball, we’ll be tough, and we’ll make it hard on the rest of the Big Ten the rest of the year.”
Friday’s game will begin at 6 p.m., Saturday’s game will start at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s matchup is slightly earlier at 1 p.m. All three games will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Indiana Hoosiers (20-17, 10-8 Big Ten)
2024 record: 33-26-1, 15-9 Big Ten
Head coach Jeff Mercer is in his seventh season running the show at Indiana. The Hoosiers have appeared in four Big Ten Tournaments, three NCAA Tournament regionals and won the Big Ten regular season title in 2019 under him.
During Mercer’s tenure, Indiana has led the Big Ten with 26 players drafted.
Hitters to watch
Devin Taylor, junior outfielder, No. 5 — Taylor has been incredible throughout his career at Indiana. He became the first player in program history to earn All-Big Ten first-team honors in his first two seasons, and has batted over .300 in all three seasons, improving his average each year. He leads the team with a .365 batting average, while also showcasing power with 11 home runs.
Jake Hanley, freshman first baseman, No. 34 — Hanley has started all 37 games as a freshman. He leads all Big Ten freshmen and is second on the team with a .352 batting average.
Korbyn Dickerson, redshirt sophomore outfielder, No. 20 — Dickerson made just one start last season, but has become an everyday player for the Hoosiers. He is batting .350 and is tied for seventh in the nation with 15 home runs.
Pitchers to watch
Ryan Kraft, senior left-hander, No. 29 — Kraft has been a regular part of the Hoosiers’ Friday rotation, either starting or coming in from the bullpen. In 30.0 innings pitched, he has a much improved 4.2 ERA, compared to 7.27 last year.
Ben Grable, graduate right-hander, No. 17 — Grable spent his first three seasons at Northwestern, then missed last year due to injury. He has made seven starts in 10 appearances, posting a 4.31 ERA in 31.1 innings.
Cole Gilley, redshirt senior right-hander, No. 32 — Gilley has been the Hoosiers’ most consistent arm this season. He has a team-best 7-1 record, with a 3.02 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched. He has also posted an impressive 55 strikeouts with just nine walks.
Strength
Freshman class. Indiana has the top three freshman in the Big Ten in batting average this season: Hanley, Cooper Malamazian at .330 and Hogan Denny at .293, complementing the experienced players.
Weakness
Pitching depth. The Hoosiers have one consistent starter with an ERA below four and many relievers with ERAs above seven.
Three things to watch
1. Last year’s matchup. The Hoosiers defeated the Terps by double digits twice last season in a three-game series, and the Terps only won game three by a run. Indiana has had Maryland’s number, and hold home field advantage this season.
2. Maryland’s new belief. Since putting the “believe” sign in the clubhouse, Maryland has gone 3-2, while almost taking two games from No. 16 Oregon.
3. Expect the long ball. Indiana is second in the Big Ten this season with 61 home runs, while Maryland is fourth with 53. There should be a plethora of homers this weekend.