Bill Mosiello leads the Buckeyes in their second-round game with Indiana Thursday, seeking a rematch with Nebraska on Friday. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
After a surprising thumping of #2 seed Nebraska in the opening round, the Buckeyes face a wary Indiana group that has some very familiar Ohio talent that chose not to be Buckeyes.
Omaha, NE – With Wednesday being an off day, we went sleuthing about Charles Schwab Stadium to get a feel for their next opponent in this 2024 Big Ten Tournament baseball challenge, the Indiana Hoosiers (3 pm, EST, on 1460 WBNS and the Big Ten Network).
VPP, in Versailles, Ohio, proudly sponsors Buckeye baseball on Press Pros Magazine.com.
Indiana and Ohio State did not play during the 2024 regular season…as the Hoosiers would go on to a record of 31-22, overall, and a conference mark of 15-9, good for third place behind Illinois and Nebraska.
Publisher/editor Sonny Fulks writes the Big Ten and Buckeyes baseball for Press Pros Magazine.com.
They’re coached by former Wright State Raider Jeff Mercer, who both played for and coached the Raiders for two years (2017-’18), averaging 38 wins a season before taking the Indiana job.
Mercer, by the way, is known for being a tenacious recruiter, and his Indiana roster reflects that with a strong Buckeye high school baseball flavor, including last year’s Big Ten Freshman of The Year from Cincinnati LaSalle, Devin Taylor (.359, 17 HRs, and 47 RBIs), and Brock Tibbits (.309, 3 HRs and 36 RBIs), who as a catcher led New Albany High School, in Columbus, to the 2021 Division I state title.
They’re hardly offensively challenged, with a team batting average of .297, with 77 home runs, collectively. Taylor, himself, has a slug % of .650, and an on base % of nearly .500.
They’re wary now…Nebraska fans could barely believe their eyes over Tuesday’s loss to the Buckeyes.
On the mound, the Hoosiers dropped from their usual lofty position in conference ERA this year, finishing eighth in the league with a 6.11 earned run average, just ahead of Ohio State, who finished ninth with a mark of 6.17. Both teams, as of yesterday, had yet to commit a starting pitcher for Thursday’s 2 p.m. game, though IU’s Connor Foley might be a likely choice, having led the Hoosiers with 12 starts this year, and a 4-1 record.
As for the Buckeyes’ Tuesday eye-opening win over Nebraska, the talk around Omaha Wednesday was positive about the future of the program and a core of young talent.
“The sky can just open up when you play them,” said another conference coach. “It’s a pesky bunch at the plate, and their overall speed and athleticism is something you have to respect.”
“A pesky bunch….” Trey Lipsey led the Buckeyes with three his in Tuesday’s 15-2 win over Nebraska.
No one seemed to mention pitching, however, and that’s the question about how much damage the Buckeyes can do Thursday, and how far they can advance beyond Indiana…and the rematch with Nebraska should they beat Indiana.
Nebraska was taking no chances in Wednesday’s elimination game with Purdue, sending conference pitcher of the year, Brett Sears, to the mound, just in case. Sears was dominant in putting the Boilermakers packing, pitching 6 innings, giving up two runs while striking out ten.
And just in case…if there is a rematch the Huskers are highly wary. You take nothing for granted when every game now is your season on the line.
“Give Ohio State credit,” said coach Will Bolt after Tuesday’s loss. “They came out swinging the bats, they outplayed us, and we weren’t ready to play.”
And that wariness was shared by others around the ballpark Wednesday – by Michigan, Iowa, Penn State, and Illinois.
But not to get ahead of one’s self, Indiana first, a team that the Buckeyes under Bill Mosiello have yet to beat, having met last year in a three-game Hoosier sweep at Indiana. Matt Andrews and Bob Spears will have the local broadcast on WBNS AM,1460.
What better time for your first, eh?
Orthopedic Associates of Southwest Ohio proudly sponsors the Ohio State Buckeyes on Press Pros.