Michigan Knocks Out Indiana, Now Hoosiers Await NCAA Tournament Fate

Indiana's baseball team lost for the second straight day in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday, getting knocked out by Michigan 13-6. Now the Hoosiers have to wait until Monday to see where they go for next weekend's NCAA Tournament.

OMAHA, Neb. — For the second straight day, Indiana got roughed up in the Big Ten baseball tournament and the Hoosiers are headed back home after losing to Michigan 13-6 on Friday.

Next up? They find out the when and where on Monday when the NCAA Tournament pairings are announced. It's very likely they are in the tournament field — they've done enough all season to be in — but you just never know until you see your name called. The selection show is televised live on ESPN2 starting at Noon ET on Monday. This will be Indiana's first NCAA Tournament since 2019. 

Indiana (41-18) has played well for much of the season and has several good wins on their resume, but the Hoosiers did not play well the last two days in Omaha. They allowed 13 runs — three unearned — to a Michigan team that is just 28-27 on the year and got beat by a pitcher making his first start of the season. 

MIchigan scored three times in both the third and fourth innings, getting to Indiana starter Ty Bothwell (4-2) but also benefiting from an Indiana error in each inning. The Hoosiers never closer than four runs.

Indiana pitcher Ty Bothwell took the loss Friday, but the Hoosiers' shoddy defense also didn't help, allowing unearned runs in both the third and fourth innings. (Photos courtesy of Big Ten)

Indiana senior Phillip Glasser had his 29th multi-hit game of the season with a 3-for-5 day at the plate, one RBI and one run scored. Redshirt junior Bobby Whalen hit his third home run of the season and accounted for two RBIs, while sophomore Josh Pyle also drove in a pair of runs in the game. Senior Jessee Hunter also chipped in a pair of hits.

Bothwell threw 3 1/3 innings and allowed five runs – three earned – on seven hits in the loss. He struck out five and walked just one in the game. Three other IU relievers allowed eight runs on 11 hits over the final 4 2/3 innings.

Indiana coach Jeff Mercer chats with Michigan coach Tracy Smith and umpires prior to Friday's game. Smith is a former Indiana coach who went to the College World Series with the Hoosiers in 2013. (Photo courtesy of Big Ten.)

For Michigan, Mitch Voit (4-1) started on the mound and threw 5 2/3 innings with three runs – two earned – allowed on six hits with five strikeouts. Voit, Michigan's starting third baseman who also pitched 24 innings in relief this year with three wins and five saves, also posted a four-hit day. Dylan Stanton, who started at third base for Voit, also had a four-hit game, one RBI and one run scored. Cody Jeffris chipped in three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored on the day.

Michigan takes on Iowa on Saturday, and will need to beat the Hawkeyes twice to advance to Sunday's title game. Nebraska, which eliminated Michigan State 4-0 on Friday night, is in the same boat with Maryland. (Full schedule below.)

Whalen hits a Hoosier home run‼️@bobbywhalen2 | #IUBase pic.twitter.com/3kX05V6SUo

— Indiana Baseball (@IndianaBase) May 26, 2023

Indiana had a chance to win the Big Ten regular season title last weekend, but lost two of three games at Michigan State. Now they are out of the conference tournament, too, but that might be a blessing in disguise. Now they have a week off before the NCAA Tournament starts, and they can get refreshed and rejuvenated back home in Bloomington.

“I could not be more proud to wear Indiana across my chest with these guys,'' Indiana coach Jeff Mercer said. "They’re an awesome group, and they’ve given everything they got. You have to respect how hard they’ve worked to achieve what we have so far.

“Sometimes you get baseballed and it doesn’t go your way. Being on the road for 12 or 13 days, it’s difficult. We had some things break our way earlier in the year, and in life it balances out. It doesn’t concern me. Right now we need a break, and we’ll get this. We’ve played playoff baseball for six straight weeks, even our mid-week games. We need to go back and sleep in our own beds and practice and get ready to go for next week.’’

Big Ten Baseball Tournament Schedule

All games are at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. All games are televised on the Big Ten Network.

Tuesday, May 23 results

• Game 1: No. 3 Iowa 13, No. 6 Michigan 3
• Game 2: No. 2 Indiana 4, No. 7 Illinois 3
• Game 3: No. 1 Maryland 3, No. 8 Michigan State 2

Wednesday, May 24 results

• Game 4: No. 4 Nebraska 9, No. 5 Rutgers 7
• Game 5: Michigan 6, Illinois 3 (Illinois eliminated)

Thursday, May 25 games

• Game 6: Michigan State 6, Rutgers 4 (Rutgers eliminated)
• Game 7: Iowa 9, Indiana 4
• Game 8: Maryland 2, Nebraska 1 (10 innings)

Friday, May 26 games

• Game 9: Michigan 13, Indiana 6 (Indiana eliminated)
• Game 10: Nebraska 4, Michigan State 0 (Michigan State eliminated)

Saturday, May 27 games

• Game 11: Iowa vs Michigan, 10 a.m. ET.
• Game 12: Maryland vs Nebraska 10, 2 p.m. ET.
• Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs Loser Game 11, 6 p.m. ET, if necessary
• Game 14: Winner Game 12 vs Loser Game 12, 10 p.m. ET, if necessary

Sunday, May 28 game

• Game 11: Championship game, 3 p.m. ET

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