UIndy Fall Report: Ready’s Hounds Reload for Fourth Straight Super Regional Run

The standard at the University of Indianapolis has been unequivocally raised. Under the guidance of Head Coach Al Ready, now entering his eighth season at the helm, the UIndy Greyhounds have transformed into a postseason fixture in the Midwest. The 2025 campaign saw the Hounds post a 34-24 overall record (20-11 in the GLVC), culminating in their third consecutive NCAA Midwest Super Regional appearance.

While the season ended just shy of a return to the College World Series, the path there was indicative of the program's resilience. UIndy battled through the regional bracket, securing victories over Ashland and a dominant 25-13 win over top-seeded Davenport, before ultimately falling to Northwood in the Super Regional series. Now, with a roster composition that Coach Ready describes as having a "very similar feel as last season," the Hounds are looking to blend a core of battle-tested returners with a fresh influx of talent to break through the Super Regional ceiling once again.

The Offense

The Hounds return 40.7% of their offensive production from a year ago, anchored by one of the region's premier bats. Leading the charge is Austin Bode, who put together a stellar 2025 campaign, earning a spot on ABCA's First Team All-Midwest Region. In 212 ABs, hit .392 with 24 doubles, 10 HR, and 48 RBI. Bode was a force at the plate, ranking fourth in the conference in batting average and establishing himself as the linchpin of the lineup.

He will be flanked by Chase Mason, a reliable presence who provides significant pop. In 162 ABs, hit .346 with 12 doubles, 8 HR, and 34 RBI. The infield will see the return of Luke Smock, who in 171 ABs hit .269 with 9 doubles, 5 HR, and 31 RBI, alongside Bret Perry, who contributed 7 RBI in limited action last spring.

A potential breakout candidate to watch is Brayton Bowen. Though his sample size was smaller, his production was efficient and explosive; in just 59 ABs, hit .305 with 6 doubles and 7 HR, driving in 28 runs while slugging a massive .763.

The lineup will be bolstered by a talented group of newcomers hitting the diamond. Garrett Rusch, a transfer from Division I Bellarmine, brings experience after driving in 11 runs in 62 at-bats last season. Austin Pokley joins from Lansing CC, where he was a hitting machine, hitting .400 with 43 RBI over 180 at-bats across two seasons. Additionally, Gavin Duran arrives from John Wood CC after a dynamic season where he slashed .328/.440/.561 with 16 doubles, 51 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.

The Pitching Staff

On the mound, UIndy returns 20.1% of its innings, meaning new faces will need to step up to replicate the staff's previous success. The undisputed anchor of the rotation is left-hander Bennett Rogers. Rogers was a workhorse down the stretch in 2025, posting a 7-4]record with a 5.04 ERA in 69.2 IP. His ability to miss bats was evident, as he racked up 90 strikeouts, ranking fourth in the conference in K%.

Supporting Rogers will be a group of returners looking to expand their roles. Drake Downing showed flashes of dominance in a brief stint, posting a 2.57 ERA in 7.0 IP, while holding opponents to a .209 batting average. Other returning arms include Ryan O'Born (1-0 record with a 6.75 ERA in 8.0 IP) and Grant Kelly (0-0 record with a 8.10 ERA in 6.2 IP).

The staff will receive a significant boost from the transfer portal. Gavin Smith, a transfer from Division I Tulane, is expected to slot immediately into the rotation after making 45 total appearances over two seasons for the Green Wave. He is joined by fellow Division I transfer Ayden Tran from Dayton, who struck out 43 batters in 30.1 innings over two seasons and is also projected to be a rotation piece. Freshman Mikey Wright, a top-50 player in Indiana, also looks to contribute innings early in his career.

Key Departures

The Hounds will need to replace significant production lost to graduation and the draft. The departure of Nick Lukac, a Second Team All-GLVC outfielder who hit .332 with 52 RBI last season, leaves a void in the middle of the order. The infield sees the exit of Easton Good (a 2025 D2 Baseball Preseason All-American) and Cole Hampton, the latter of whom hit 14 home runs in 2025.

On the mound, the loss of Diego Cardenas is notable; the Honorable Mention All-GLVC right-hander threw 91.2 innings last year with a 5.20 ERA. Cardenas moved on to D1 George Mason. The bullpen also loses Austin Bestul, a Second Team All-GLVC selection who posted 8 wins and a 7.31 ERA in 25 appearances.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 schedule presents immediate challenges that will test Ready's new-look squad. "We have a great opportunity to play quality non-conference opponents," Ready noted, highlighting the earliest opener of his tenure. The season begins on January 30 at Mississippi College, a formidable opponent that finished 35-23 in 2025 and made a South Regional appearance.

The non-conference slate remains relentless with a trip to Joplin, MO, to face Minnesota State, the 2025 NSIC Champions who went 51-8 and hosted the Central Regional. They also face Davenport in late February at a neutral site, renewing a rivalry with the team they defeated twice in the 2025 regionals.

GLVC play brings its own gauntlet, featuring matchups against Lewis (37-18, GLVC Champions) and Illinois Springfield (36-16). With a schedule packed with regional powers and postseason regulars, the Greyhounds are positioning themselves for another deep run in May.

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