Indiana hitters continue to struggle for answers at the plate
By Carl James @jovian34 February 16th, 2025
After a couple of head scratching games where the Hoosier offense was struggling with getting on fastball timing against mid-major opponents, they step up to face a nationally ranked team that took that to the next level. Oregon State pitching recorded 22 outs before freshman first baseman Jake Hanley ripped the only hit of the day for the Hoosiers to center field.
Indiana Hoosiers 0, no. 7 Oregon State Beavers 6
Inning by inning details in the Live Game Blog | Box Score
Oregon State starter, sophomore lefty Ethan Kleinschmidt, was exceptional in 6.0 inning, no-hit quality start. He mixed his pitches well, including a firm mid-90’s fastball that Hoosier hitters were either behind on or failed to swing at altogether. Kleinschmidt largely worked in the zone with favorable counts. His velocity tailed into the upper 80’s by the end of his outing, but Hoosier hitters were still off-balance enough by his mix to be able to really square much up.
Coach Mercer often discusses fastball timing as table stakes for his hitting program. This was something his hitters struggled with in external fall scrimmages and seemingly continue to struggle with on opening weekend. Opponents have often thrown hittable fastballs early in counts for strikes, and once they get ahead, nibble around the edge of the strikezone to enduce weak contact or occassionally get batters to chase out of the zone.
Now 0-3 on the season, the Hoosiers have one more chance in Surprise, AZ, to capture a win. They face UNLV for a Monday rematch. Hoosier pitchers Brayton Thomas, Jacob Vogel, Clayton Weisheit, Henry Brummel, and Will Eldridge have yet to see action this week. With cold and snow in the Wednesday forecast, the odds of the midweek game in Bloomington with Purdue Fort Wayne still being played is almost not worth even mentioning. In addition to the names mentioned, Ryan Kraft, Seth Benes, Matthew Bohnert, and Ryan Rushing have all only pitched an inning this week and might be available for limited work. Indiana should have ample pitching, if they can figure out something at the plate, to end this trip on a positive note.