Indiana
Indiana Strikes Early, Routs Southern Miss 10-4 in First Game of NCAA Baseball Tournament
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It’s always a good thing to score early in postseason baseball games. Indiana did just that on Friday in itrs NCAA baseball tournament opener against Southern Miss.
Know what’s even better? Scoring often, and Indiana did that, too. They put up crooked numbers in three of its first four innings and cruised to a 10-4- victory over the Golden Eagles.
It was a well-scripted start to the double-elimination Knoxville Regional, which also features Tennessee, the No. 1 overall seed, and Northern Kentucky.
“I thought we were excellent at the plate in following the game plan,” Indiana coach Jeff Mercer said of the 10-run, 17-hit explosion. “We didn’t chase bad pitches, and we hit the ball hard. And when you start a game like that, it does give you a little room to breath. It’s a great way to get the ball rolling,”
As big a story as the hot bats were, Indiana starting pitcher Ty Bothwell might have been even more important. The veteran left-hander, who is in his sixth year with the Hoosiers, was spectacular. He pitched five scoreless innings before getting touched for three runs — two earned — in the sixth. He’s now 7-3 on the season after throwing 103 pitches
The seven wins are a team-high. He also had nine strikeouts, matching that number from a week ago against Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament. He had a season-high 13 against Minnesota on April 20. It was a great outing for Bothwell, a Hebron, Ind., native who is running on fumes at the end of the season. His velocity is down, but he fights on anyway. He gave the Hoosiers a huge lift, and his teammates appreciated it.
“When we see Ty on the mound, we feel pretty comfortable, and that’s even with everything he’s been going through physically,” said Indiana outfielder Morgan Colopy, who’s been a teammate with Bothwell for nearly five years now. “He just goes out and battles, even when he’s only probably about 80 percent.”
First baseman Brock Tibbitts said Bothwell gives his all ”even though he’s hobbling off one leg and has half an arm,” Tibbitts said. “He just competes for that name across the front of his chest, and that’s all you can ever ask for (as a teammate).
Tibbitts got Indiana on the board in the first inning, hitting a towering home run to left field after Nick Mitchell scratched out a two-out infield hit. It was his fourth homer of the year.
The Hoosiers added three more in the second against Southern Miss starter Bill Oldham, who fell to 7-3 on the season. Morgan Colopy drove in a run with a double and then Josh Pyne followed with a two-run single.
In the fourth, Tibbitts was in the thick of things again. After a single by Devin Taylor and a walk to Mitchell, Tibbitts ripped a shot down the left-field line for a two-run double, making it 7-0. Taylor added an RBI single in the fifth to give Indiana an 8-0 lead.
The only threat Southern Miss could muster came in the sixth, and Indiana gave them a few gifts. Bothwell walked lead-off hitter Slade Wilks and then Nick Monistere hit a wind-aided homer to right to make it 8-2. Bothwell was taken out after allowing a single and hitting a batter, and the Hoosiers should have been out of the inning, but second baseman Jasen Oliver booted an easy grounder. A run scored to make it 8-3.
For good measure, Colopy added a two-run homer in the ninth. He hasn’t been playing much lately, but he was ready to go, something that Mercer also appreciates. Colopy was ready to deliver — and he did,.
“The confidence to put Morgan in the lineup was easy,” Mercer said. “Even though he hasn’t been playing much, he’s still always the first one in the cage, the first one doing his drill work. You know he’s going to be ready.
“He works his tail off, and I told the coaches before the game that I thought Morgan would have a big day. He had a lot of good at-bats.”
The Hoosiers (33-24-1) advanced to Saturday night’s winner’s bracket final against either Tennessee or Northern Kentucky, who were playing late Friday. The game is at 6 p.m. ET.
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announced an extension of the state’s gas tax holiday through July 7.
The move extends the suspension of Indiana’s 7% Gasoline Usage Tax and the state’s Gasoline Excise Tax for a second time. The current suspension had been scheduled to expire June 7.
Braun said the extension is part of an effort to keep costs down for Indiana families.
“Indiana has the cheapest gas in the country because we are using every tool in the toolbox to save Hoosier families money,” Braun said in a statement. “Affordability is my number one priority.”
By the numbers:
According to AAA, Indiana currently has the nation’s lowest average gas price, with regular gasoline averaging $3.585 per gallon.
State officials said drivers will save more than 62 cents per gallon while both taxes remain suspended. For June, the Gasoline Usage Tax would otherwise total 26.5 cents per gallon, while the Gasoline Excise Tax stands at 36 cents per gallon.
Dig deeper:
The extension is being carried out under Indiana’s energy emergency statute. State officials said an energy emergency declared in April remains in effect and allows the governor to continue related relief measures for up to 120 days.
Indiana lawmakers limited a governor’s emergency powers tied to statewide disaster declarations to 60 days following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, state officials noted that energy emergencies operate under separate legal authority and retain a 120-day maximum duration.
Braun first suspended the Gasoline Usage Tax on April 8. He expanded the relief on May 6 by also suspending the Gasoline Excise Tax, more than doubling the savings available to motorists.
The latest extension means Indiana drivers will continue receiving the tax relief through at least early July.
The Source: The information in this report came from the Indiana Governor’s Office.
Indiana football’s Curt Cignetti raises concerns over costs
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is speaking out on rising roster costs. Cignetti says players should get paid, but universities can’t handle it.
Josh Hoover is replacing a guy who won the Heisman Trophy while leading Indiana football to a national championship. No pressure there, right?
Being the guy who replaces the guy brings Hoover the distinction as the top college football transfer entering the 2026 season, according to Billy Tucker of ESPN.
The Hoosiers have four players on this 100-player list, three of them in the top 20.
According to the story: “Each player is ranked based on a team’s need and what physical skill set they bring to their new team.”
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Need: “With Fernando Mendoza off to the NFL and backup Alberto Mendoza having transferred to Georgia Tech, the Hoosiers needed another experienced passer capable of sustaining College Football Playoff expectations in Bloomington. Indiana has become one of the portal’s premier destinations for quarterbacks, and Hoover, who transferred from TCU, is next in line after Kurtis Rourke and national champion and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.”
Value: “Hoover gives (coach) Curt Cignetti extensive experience, skill and production after throwing for 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns at TCU. He is a confident gunslinger who thrives pushing the ball vertically and operating within RPO concepts. His swagger and aggressiveness should unlock explosive plays through the air, albeit with some volatility. Hoover has 42 career turnovers and only one season without double-digit interceptions.”
No. 11: Nick Marsh, Indiana wide receiver
Need: “Marsh is a proven No. 1 receiver as the Hoosiers transition to a new era at the position after Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt moved on to the NFL. They couldn’t afford to wait on a younger, more projectable receiver. Marsh instead is a ready-made top target and established focal point. He should be the clear primary receiving option.”
Value: “A former ESPN 300 recruit, Marsh led Michigan State in receiving in back-to-back seasons, totaling 100 catches for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns. At 6-3, 203 pounds, he brings Big Ten-ready size paired with vertical speed, allowing him to win downfield and on contested 50-50 opportunities. He is effective as a deep threat and as a physical receiver who can work through contact. Cignetti saw Marsh’s ability up close. He had 12 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns across two games against Indiana, reinforcing his ability to elevate the passing attack immediately.”
No. 18: Tobi Osunsanmi, Indiana edge rusher
Need: “Adding Osunsanmi, a Kansas State transfer, will help Indiana reload for its national title defense. The Hoosiers lost Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt, creating a clear need along the defensive front. Osunsanmi is an ideal plug-and-play addition. The versatile pass rusher should translate fluidly to defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ scheme.”
Value: “Osunsanmi suffered a season-ending injury that forced him to miss the second half of last season, but he flashed during the spring, creating havoc up front. He brings a strong combination of speed and power to pressure offensive tackles. His power allows him to play stout at the point of attack, set the edge or walk blockers back into the backfield to collapse the pocket. He also has the quickness and agility to win on loops and stunts, along with a motor that shows up in pursuit outside the box.”
Need: “The Hoosiers lost their two leading rushers from last season’s championship team with running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, who combined for 2,160 yards, off to the NFL. Though they return two other productive backs in Khobie Martin and Lee Beebe Jr., they also added production in the transfer portal with Richard, a Boston College back with a scheme-fitting skill set. The 5-8 rusher didn’t have many Power 4 offers out of high school, but one of the first programs to offer him was James Madison when Cignetti was at the helm.”
Value: “Richard had a very productive season in 2025 with 749 yards on the ground. He has a compact build that helps him play with a low center of gravity and the ability to break tackles. His running style is patient as he has a good feel to cut off the backside of blocks. He runs behind his pads and finishes runs with good demeanor. As a receiver out of the backfield, he also provides a reliable checkdown option. Cignetti noted that he liked what Richard did this spring as he will have the opportunity to be impactful and a reliable option at running back for an Indiana team that is looking to repeat.”
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Two future Boilermakers are taking the floor and will go head-to-head during Indiana All-Star Week. 2026 signee Luke Ertel and 2027 commit Isaiah Hill are battling it out on Wednesday, June 3, as the Indiana All-Stars will play the Indiana Junior All-Stars.
Wednesday will be the third time Ertel and Hill have played against each other this season. During the IHSAA basketball season, Ertel’s Mt. Vernon team took on Hill’s Pike squad twice.
Hill led the Red Devils to an 84-81 overtime victory during the regular season. In the Regional of the Class 4A IHSAA Basketball Tournament, Ertel guided Mt. Vernon to a 57-54 overtime victory. The Marauders went on to win the state championship.
Who will win the third and decisive battle between the future Boilermakers on Wednesday? Here’s the information necessary to watch the game.
How to watch the Indiana All-Star Game
- What — Indiana Junior All-Stars vs. Indiana All-Stars
- When — Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Where — Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.
- Tipoff time — 8 p.m. ET (approx.)
- Ticket price — $15
- Stream — ISC Indiana Sports Network YouTube Channel
Hill participated in Indiana-Kentucky Jr. All-Star Game
Wednesday night’s Junior-Senior All-Star Game will be the second time Hill has competed during Indiana All-Star Week. The Pike star and five-star center also played in Sunday’s Indiana-Kentucky Junior All-Star Game.
Hill put together a solid performance, scoring 15 points, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and recording three blocks. His efforts helped lead Indiana to a 109-99 victory over Kentucky.
Ertel and the Indiana All-Stars have not yet played during Indiana All-Star Week, with their first game scheduled for Wednesday against the Junior All-Stars. Then, to close out the week, Ertel will participate in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Series, with games being played in Lexington and Indianapolis.
Ertel, Hill highly rated recruits in respective classes
There’s already plenty of hype surrounding Ertel and Hill, both players who are highly-ranked recruits in their respective classes.
Ertel is the top-ranked player from Indiana in the 2026 recruiting class and is considered a top-50 prospect by 247Sports. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in his senior season at Mt. Vernon.
Hill is a year younger, but became the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to play at Purdue. The 2027 product was a star at Pike High School during his junior season, averaging 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. He is a five-star prospect and ranked as the No. 10 player in the class, per ESPN.
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