The Indiana Baseball team is set to begin Big Ten conference play with a three-game series against the Washington Huskies this weekend. The Hoosiers are 5-7 on the season, and while the early returns haven't been in their favor early on, this is still a talented team that is capable of making plenty of noise in the conference slate.
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This weekend's series against the Huskies presents a great opportunity for the Hoosiers to make a statement. Washington is just 3-9 on the season, and starting conference play with a road series win or even a sweep could be just what the doctor ordered for Jeff Mercer's squad.
B1G play begins this weekend.
— Indiana Baseball (@IndianaBase) March 5, 2026
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Indiana looking to continue Big Ten success under Jeff Mercer
Indiana has seen Big Ten success under head coach Jeff Mercer, owning a conference record of 100-70 (.588) with Mercer at the helm of the program. Furthermore, the Hoosiers and have posted a Big Ten record of 47-31 (.603) over the past three seasons. They went 16-14 in conference play last year, finishing 6th in the league. Mercer has led IU to the NCAA Tournament three times, and after missing out last year, the Hoosiers are hungry to get back to an NCAA Regional.
Redshirt freshman Brayden Ricketts is off to a sensational start at the plate in 2026. The Hoosier DH enters Big Ten play riding an eight-game hit streak, and leads the team in batting average (.381) and OPS (1.085). He was tabbed as Big Ten Freshman of the Week last week.
The pitching staff has been in fine form lately as well, as they've allowed four or fewer runs in five of IU's last seven games. Left-hander Tony Neubeck is slated to get the starting nod on Friday, with fellow lefty Brayton Thomas going on Saturday and right-hander Jackson Bergman taking the hill on Sunday for the series finale.
Washington finished just above Indiana in the Big Ten standings last season, as he Huskies went 17-13 in conference play. The two teams did not meet last season, so this weekend's series in Bloomington will be the first Big Ten meeting between the Hoosiers and Huskies.
The series gets underway on Friday, March 6 with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.