Indiana baseball extended its win streak to four games in a row Wednesday night, taking down Purdue University Fort Wayne in a 12-2 blowout win. With the win, Indiana also continued its at-home win streak, winning the three games it has played at Bart Kaufman Field.
The Hoosier offense has shone in recent games, and they didn't hold back in Tuesday's matchup. They scored a total of 12 runs, marking the fourth time the team has scored 10 or more runs in the last six games.
Freshman third baseman Josh Pyne began the scoring by bringing in a runner with an RBI single in the second inning to put Indiana on the board early. Pyne continued to drive offensive production throughout the game, finishing with three RBIs.
Indiana scored at least one run in the last five innings to secure a win and end the game. Alongside the efforts of Pyne, junior catcher Matthew Ellis took several trips around the bases, batting in two home runs.
This was the second game this season where Ellis has homered twice in one game, with the first one dating back to the March 5 win against Missouri State University.
“He's got the ability to slow himself down and manage himself,” head coach Jeff Mercer said of Ellis. ”When he's locked in, and he's right, there's nobody more dangerous that I've ever coached. He's a good one, and I'm glad he's on our side. I'm glad he plays for us.”
Ellis' batting average now sits at .333 on the year, and he has seven home runs through 12 games to lead the team. Freshman Brock Tibbits leads the team with a .405 batting average. Ellis said he has taken the same approach at the plate all season, keeping the same mentality he entered the season with.
“It's just kind of sticking to the plan we've used the entire year,” Ellis said. “Doing the same drills and doing the same things with Mercer and (Coach) Weatherford, and keeping the same routine going every day.”
Indiana’s pitchers only gave up five hits on the night, solidly supporting Indiana’s active bats. Only three of the five pitchers who appeared for Indiana gave up a hit, as graduate student Joe Moran and junior Ty Bothwell didn’t let up a single hit while on the mound. Indiana also only allowed two extra base hits.
Indiana will next travel to Troy, Alabama, to face off against Troy University in a three-game series this weekend. Indiana will play the three-game series before starting an 11-game home stretch. The first pitch against Troy University is set for 7 p.m. Friday on ESPN+.
