Peoria, Ill – Bradley continues its opening stretch of the 2026 season with a road matchup against Indiana as the Braves look to build momentum early in the Justin Dedman era. Indiana enters the series at 0-3 overall, having opened the year with three games away at University of North Carolina. Bradley sits at 1-2 overall through its first weekend of play.
Bradley Braves Overview
Through three games, Bradley is hitting .212 as a team with 21 hits and 14 runs scored. The Braves have shown patience at the plate with 18 walks and have been active on the bases, going 7-for-9 in stolen base attempts.
Ashton Horchem has led the offense early, hitting .429 with a .600 on-base percentage, while Peyton Nelson is batting .333 and has been steady defensively with a perfect fielding percentage Anthony Martinez has provided early power, launching a home run and posting a .583 slugging percentage, and Hayden Miller has added a home run and three stolen bases.
On the mound, Robert Sanford, Davis Webb, and Tristan Duke have each delivered scoreless outings to stabilize the bullpen early. The Braves have recorded 21 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .287 batting average.
Defensively, Bradley has turned nine double plays and holds a .955 fielding percentage, a key area of emphasis under Dedman's focus on fundamentals and situational execution.
Indiana Hoosiers Overview
Indiana has hit .154 as a team through its first three games, totaling 14 hits and nine runs. The Hoosiers have drawn 17 walks but have also struck out 32 times.
Will Moore and Jake Hanley have paced the lineup with three hits each, while Hogan Denny and Ayden Crouse are both batting .250 early in the season. Indiana has shown the ability to work counts, posting a .306 team on-base percentage.
On the mound, Indiana carries an 8.14 team ERA over 24.1 innings. Tony Neubeck and Gavin Seebold have each thrown scoreless outings, but the Hoosiers have allowed 25 runs overall and issued 19 walks. Defensively, Indiana has posted a .949 fielding percentage.
Matchup Outlook
Both programs enter searching for early-season consistency.
For Bradley, the formula remains straightforward. Continue attacking the strike zone, limit free passes, and leverage the experienced arms that form the core of the roster. Offensively, the Braves will look to build on their aggressiveness on the basepaths and timely extra-base power.
Indiana has shown flashes of plate discipline but has struggled to string together consistent offense. If Bradley's pitching staff can control counts and play clean defense behind them, the Braves will give themselves opportunities late.
As the new era under Justin Dedman continues to take shape, each early-season contest serves as a benchmark. The focus is not just on results, but on establishing toughness, cohesion, and a competitive identity that carries into conference play.
