Indiana University Athletics
Friday, April 3
Bloomington, Ind.
6 p.m.
Indiana University
vs
Rutgers
Baseball Central: Rutgers
4/2/2026 5:00:00 PM | Baseball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A new month of action gets underway as the Indiana Baseball team (10-18, 3-9 B1G) tries to erase some bad March memories. Rutgers (15-13, 4-5 B1G) visits town with a big chance to climb the conference standings. The Hoosiers will play three of four weekends at home in April after a long run of travel to begin the 2026 campaign.
IU's talented duo of sophomore outfielder Hogan Denny and sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley continue to lead the charge on offense this season. The two players have combined for 72 hits, 18 doubles, 11 home runs and 48 RBIs. With them batting in consecutive spots in the order, IU has a formidable punch in the middle of head coach Jeff Mercer's lineup.
Fellow sophomore outfielder Cole Decker has been a pleasant surprise this season. Since the end of the Oregon series, the Indiana native has come into his own offensively. He's hitting .355 over the last 10 games (11-31) and is riding a team-best 13-game on-base streak. He's reached base at a .512 clip in the last 10 games with eight walks, 11 hits and two hit-by-pitches.
If IU is going to get back into the swing of things, it will begin with its starting pitching. Graduate student Tony Neubeck has been tremendous at Bart Kaufman Field and will hope to continue that this weekend. In two home starts this season, he's worked 12.0 innings and allowed just four runs. He has 17 strikeouts to two walks on the mound in Bloomington.
As it stands, this weekend's series is set to begin Friday (April 3) at 6 p.m. With weather expected all weekend, all three start times are subject to change. Stay tuned to IU's social media channels with any updates to the series schedule.
Gameday Info
vs. Rutgers (Friday, April 3rd – 6 p.m. ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/4cimCXT
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/46VZA6j
vs. Rutgers (Saturday, April 4th – 2 p.m. ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/41FmjQO
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/46VZA6j
vs. Rutgers (Sunday, April 5th – 1 p.m. ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/4bPh5Ih
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/46VZA6j
Probable Starters
Indiana vs. Rutgers
• Friday: LHP Tony Neubeck, Gr. (2-3, 4.50 ERA)
• Saturday: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Sunday: LHP Brayton Thomas, So. (1-2, 5.13 ERA)
(subject to change with any weather changes)
Leading Off
FRY GUY: Freshman second baseman Landen Fry is hitting .324 in his last 10 games. In the month of March alone, Fry had five multi-hit efforts. That includes a three-hit day against Nebraska last Sunday. He hit his first career home run in that same contest against the Huskers.
ON BASE MACHINE: Sophomore outfielder Cole Decker is riding a team-best 13-game reached-base streak into the weekend. He has moved all over the lineup has provided a spark for the Hoosiers. In that 13-game stretch, he has hits in 10 of those ballgames.
BIG TIME VOGEL: Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Jacob Vogel has enjoyed a nice stretch of run over the past few weeks. He's worked six consecutive scoreless outings. In that frame, he's tossed 11.0 innings and collected eight strikeouts.
DENNY DOUBLES: Sophomore outfielder Hogan Denny picked up his 11th double of the season on Tuesday at Evansville. He is tied for second in the Big Ten this season in doubles (11) and leads the team by a big margin. He's got 16 extra-base hits this year for the Hoosiers.
TO TAKEOVER: Freshman catcher Owen ten Oever had a week to remember despite not making a start. He has four pinch-hit base knocks in his last five appearances. That includes a memorable three-run home run on Saturday against Nebraska. He's hitting .400 this year with four base hits in eight appearances.
BATTLING BACK: Rutgers knocked Indiana out of the Big Ten Tournament in both 2022 and 2025. On the flip side, IU has swept Rutgers in each of the two home series (2019, 2024) in the Jeff Mercer era. The Hoosiers will go for another weekend win over the Scarlet Knights as April begins in 2026.
BIG MASTALSKI: Freshman right-handed pitcher Ivan Mastalski has been brilliant for IU this season. He's got a 2.75 ERA over 11 appearances. On the year, he's allowed just six earned runs over 19.2 innings of action. He allowed just four earned runs in the month of March.
COOP HOLDS IT DOWN: Sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian has been a mainstay in IU's lineup the last two years. He's played in 83 of 84 possible games during his time on campus. He's got 84 base knocks in his career and is closing in on reaching 100 hits.
Scouting the Opponent
Rutgers
• Rutgers is off to a 15-13 start this season and a 4-5 ledger in Big Ten play. A series win over Michigan State got the program off to a good start but the Scarlet Knights come to Bloomington with consecutive series losses to Illinois and Michigan. A midweek slipup to Hofstra has them on a three-game losing streak.
• Steve Owens always has potent bats at the top of his lineup and that is no different this year. Junior outfielder Peyton Bonds is hitting .376 with 44 base knocks on the season. He's got eight doubles, six home runs and has struck out just 17 times. He leads his team with a .452 on-base percentage and 12 stolen bases.
• Although its struggled more in conference play, Rutgers' pitching staff has held up nicely this year. A collective 4.82 ERA is boosted by a strong collection of middle and long relievers out of the bullpen. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Rondini has a 1.37 ERA over 19.2 innings of work. Four different pitchers have a sub 3.50 ERA in 13.2 innings or more.
Inside the Series
Rutgers
• The Hoosiers have enjoyed great success over Rutgers, especially since they joined the conference for the 2015 baseball season. Head coach Jeff Mercer is 9-6 against Rutgers as the skipper and has swept them both times they've played a series in Bloomington (2019, 2024).
• Rutgers has good success against Indiana away from Bart Kaufman Field. The Scarlet Knights won all four matchups in 2022 and effectively eliminated IU from the Big Ten Tournament in 2022 and 2025.
IU's talented duo of sophomore outfielder Hogan Denny and sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley continue to lead the charge on offense this season. The two players have combined for 72 hits, 18 doubles, 11 home runs and 48 RBIs. With them batting in consecutive spots in the order, IU has a formidable punch in the middle of head coach Jeff Mercer's lineup.
Fellow sophomore outfielder Cole Decker has been a pleasant surprise this season. Since the end of the Oregon series, the Indiana native has come into his own offensively. He's hitting .355 over the last 10 games (11-31) and is riding a team-best 13-game on-base streak. He's reached base at a .512 clip in the last 10 games with eight walks, 11 hits and two hit-by-pitches.
If IU is going to get back into the swing of things, it will begin with its starting pitching. Graduate student Tony Neubeck has been tremendous at Bart Kaufman Field and will hope to continue that this weekend. In two home starts this season, he's worked 12.0 innings and allowed just four runs. He has 17 strikeouts to two walks on the mound in Bloomington.
As it stands, this weekend's series is set to begin Friday (April 3) at 6 p.m. With weather expected all weekend, all three start times are subject to change. Stay tuned to IU's social media channels with any updates to the series schedule.
Gameday Info
vs. Rutgers (Friday, April 3rd – 6 p.m. ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/4cimCXT
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/46VZA6j
vs. Rutgers (Saturday, April 4th – 2 p.m. ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/41FmjQO
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/46VZA6j
vs. Rutgers (Sunday, April 5th – 1 p.m. ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/4bPh5Ih
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/46VZA6j
Probable Starters
Indiana vs. Rutgers
• Friday: LHP Tony Neubeck, Gr. (2-3, 4.50 ERA)
• Saturday: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Sunday: LHP Brayton Thomas, So. (1-2, 5.13 ERA)
(subject to change with any weather changes)
Leading Off
FRY GUY: Freshman second baseman Landen Fry is hitting .324 in his last 10 games. In the month of March alone, Fry had five multi-hit efforts. That includes a three-hit day against Nebraska last Sunday. He hit his first career home run in that same contest against the Huskers.
ON BASE MACHINE: Sophomore outfielder Cole Decker is riding a team-best 13-game reached-base streak into the weekend. He has moved all over the lineup has provided a spark for the Hoosiers. In that 13-game stretch, he has hits in 10 of those ballgames.
BIG TIME VOGEL: Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Jacob Vogel has enjoyed a nice stretch of run over the past few weeks. He's worked six consecutive scoreless outings. In that frame, he's tossed 11.0 innings and collected eight strikeouts.
DENNY DOUBLES: Sophomore outfielder Hogan Denny picked up his 11th double of the season on Tuesday at Evansville. He is tied for second in the Big Ten this season in doubles (11) and leads the team by a big margin. He's got 16 extra-base hits this year for the Hoosiers.
TO TAKEOVER: Freshman catcher Owen ten Oever had a week to remember despite not making a start. He has four pinch-hit base knocks in his last five appearances. That includes a memorable three-run home run on Saturday against Nebraska. He's hitting .400 this year with four base hits in eight appearances.
BATTLING BACK: Rutgers knocked Indiana out of the Big Ten Tournament in both 2022 and 2025. On the flip side, IU has swept Rutgers in each of the two home series (2019, 2024) in the Jeff Mercer era. The Hoosiers will go for another weekend win over the Scarlet Knights as April begins in 2026.
BIG MASTALSKI: Freshman right-handed pitcher Ivan Mastalski has been brilliant for IU this season. He's got a 2.75 ERA over 11 appearances. On the year, he's allowed just six earned runs over 19.2 innings of action. He allowed just four earned runs in the month of March.
COOP HOLDS IT DOWN: Sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian has been a mainstay in IU's lineup the last two years. He's played in 83 of 84 possible games during his time on campus. He's got 84 base knocks in his career and is closing in on reaching 100 hits.
Scouting the Opponent
Rutgers
• Rutgers is off to a 15-13 start this season and a 4-5 ledger in Big Ten play. A series win over Michigan State got the program off to a good start but the Scarlet Knights come to Bloomington with consecutive series losses to Illinois and Michigan. A midweek slipup to Hofstra has them on a three-game losing streak.
• Steve Owens always has potent bats at the top of his lineup and that is no different this year. Junior outfielder Peyton Bonds is hitting .376 with 44 base knocks on the season. He's got eight doubles, six home runs and has struck out just 17 times. He leads his team with a .452 on-base percentage and 12 stolen bases.
• Although its struggled more in conference play, Rutgers' pitching staff has held up nicely this year. A collective 4.82 ERA is boosted by a strong collection of middle and long relievers out of the bullpen. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Rondini has a 1.37 ERA over 19.2 innings of work. Four different pitchers have a sub 3.50 ERA in 13.2 innings or more.
Inside the Series
Rutgers
• The Hoosiers have enjoyed great success over Rutgers, especially since they joined the conference for the 2015 baseball season. Head coach Jeff Mercer is 9-6 against Rutgers as the skipper and has swept them both times they've played a series in Bloomington (2019, 2024).
• Rutgers has good success against Indiana away from Bart Kaufman Field. The Scarlet Knights won all four matchups in 2022 and effectively eliminated IU from the Big Ten Tournament in 2022 and 2025.
Players Mentioned
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