While mother nature pushed back the entire weekend series between Indiana and Michigan State, Indiana pitchers were able stay locked in come gametime, commanding the series opener.
Redshirt senior Gavin Seebold started on the rubber for Indiana, making his fifth start of the season. Seebold tossed five strong innings of two run ball, letting up just three hits while walking one batter and striking out three.
The two earned runs that were targeted at Seebold were the least he had given up in a start since February 22, 2025, where Seebold gave up one earned run against Fordham.
Seebold’s efficient start dropped his earned run average by over half a run, now sitting at 6.99.
Indiana pitcher Ryan Kraft spoke highly of Seebold's performance, analyzing what specifically worked well against Michigan State’s strong offense.
“Gavin did awesome,” Kraft said on Seebold’s start. “He filled the zone up. He set the path for the rest of the bullpen. He was able to land multiple pitches for strikes, so he did really well.”
The bullpen behind Seebold continued the productive defensive work.
Kraft and Jacob Vogel combined to throw four innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and one walk, striking out two batters.
Kraft voiced how important it was for the pitching staff to be powerful in the series opener.
“It’s a huge boost for the bullpen and the rest of the pitching staff knowing that we got the first win,” Kraft said. “Kind of sets the tone for the rest of the week.”
While Kraft has seen the field for 11 outings this season, Vogel’s appearance was just his fourth of the season. The 6-foot-7 lefty pitcher only recently returned from an injury which sidelined him for over a month.
Despite the excess time off the field, Vogel looked strong in the closer situation, topping out at 91 miles per hour across his two innings of work.
A major factor in Indiana’s effective pitching efforts can be tied to the defense behind the pitching.
Kraft explained how he feels comfortable on the mound knowing that he can rely on his defense to make plays and get outs.
“When you throw your stuff in the zone and then they hit it, you know you have good defense behind you. You can trust them to make any play. It’s really nice knowing that they’re behind us.”
Seebold ultimately earned the victory, improving to 2-3 on the year, while Vogel earned the save, his first.
The win puts Indiana over .500 in Big Ten conference play, sitting at 7-6 on the season. Indiana will have a shot at taking the series on Monday, facing Michigan State twice to complete the delayed weekend series.
