Louisiana edge rusher A.J. Thomas commits to Indiana University Football for 2023
IU football picked up a commitment from class of 2023 edge rusher AJ Thomas on Monday afternoon. The 6-foot-3 and 220-pound Thomas announced his decision on his Twitter page. Thomas is a 3-star according to the 247Sports Composite, the No. 75 edge rusher in the class, and the No. 843 overall player in the senior class. He chose IU over Tulane and Louisiana Tech. Hailing from Ruston, La., Thomas played on both sides of the ball as a junior for Cedar Creek H.S. and also competed in track and field (shot put, discus).
Thomas recorded 53 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, five sacks, 12 quarterback hurries and two pass breakups as a junior. He was a first-team all-district and LSWA All-State player. He transferred to Zachary H.S. for his senior year. Indiana is recruiting him for the hybrid defensive end/linebacker bull position. Thomas had previously committed to Louisiana Tech in April. He took an official visit to IU in June and decommitted from Louisiana Tech in July. Thomas is the ninth overall verbal commit in Indiana’s 2023 class.
Indiana University Football at Cincinnati Slated for afternoon kickoff
The first road game of the season for Indiana University Football will kick off at 3:30pm or 4pm on either ESPN2 or ESPNU from Nippert Stadium against Cincinnati. Indiana (2-0, 1-0 B1G) and Cincinnati (1-1, 0-0 AAC) will meet for the 16th time in program history and just the second time since 2000. In all, IU hosts a 9-4-2 edge in the series, with UC winning the last meeting, 38-24, in Bloomington during the 2021 season. Indiana has started the season 2-0 for the fourth time under head coach Tom Allen and will be playing a third straight home game to open the season for the first time since 2015 and the 12th time in program history.
Indiana University Women’s Soccer plays to scoreless draw against Memphis
The Indiana University women’s soccer team (1-0-5) extended their defensive shutout streak against Memphis (4-3-1) in a 0-0 draw at Bill Armstrong Stadium Sunday evening. In the first half, junior forward Anna Bennett had a couple of chances outside the 18-yard box, in the 29th minute, but both were saved at bottom center of the goal line. Indiana’s best opportunities came late in the second half with a pair of back-to-back shots in the 81st minute. The first shot came from sophomore midfielder Sydney Masur as she bounced one off the near post just left of the net. Sophomore forward Jordyn Levy was there to clean it up with an open shot but couldn’t get it to go as the Tiger’s defense blocked it. Masur had a second opportunity in the 82nd minute, but once again the Memphis defense held a strong front against the Hoosiers.
The Hoosiers have extended their defensive scoreless streak to 540 minutes this season which now ranks as the second largest in program history. In the 1993 inaugural season, the Hoosiers shutout eight straight opponents, totaling 720 minutes without allowing a goal. This is the first season since 2015 where the Hoosiers have had six draws in a single season. Sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg saved five attempts by the Tigers, achieving her 15th career shutout. IU will return to Bill Armstrong Stadium tomorrow night for a matchup against Trine. The first kick is set for 5pm.
Indiana University Field Hockey comes from behind to beat Bellarmine
The Indiana University Field Hockey team suffered some early setbacks against Bellarmine on Sunday afternoon, but they didn’t prove to matter in the end. A weather delay after the first quarter. A 3-1 deficit early in the second period. The Hoosiers wouldn’t break. Indiana rallied from the difficult circumstances and put together a dominant second half to beat Bellarmine, 6-3. The win moves Indiana to 5-2 on the season while also marking their fifth victory in a row.
Indiana junior Jemima Cookson opened Indiana’s scoring with a goal with less than three minutes to go in the first period to make it a 1-1 game. Marit Van Der Bend scored for Bellarmine on a penalty stroke right before the end of the first quarter to give the Knights a 2-1 lead. Right after, a weather delay ensued. Bellarmine added on to the lead with a goal early in the second quarter to make it 3-1. The Hoosiers went on a 5-0 scoring run for the rest of the game from there. Indiana sophomore Maggie Carter scored late in the second period to make it 3-2 by halftime. Freshman Jule Hufer had the assist. In the second half, Cookson would go on to score two more goals. Redshirt-junior Sydney Keld and junior Meghan Dillon each scored a goal, too, Keld’s was in the third period and Dillon’s was in the fourth. Sophomore Yip van Wonderen was on the assist for Keld’s goal and one of Cookson’s, too.
Indiana’s five-game win streak matches their longest win streak since 2014. In their last three games, the Hoosiers have outscored their opponents 13-3. Indiana is now 3-0 all-time against Bellarmine. Senior Kennedy Reardon made her 42nd consecutive start for the team, dating back to her sophomore season. Cookson had a hat trick, the first of the season for any member of the team. She now leads the team with five goals on the season. Carter’s goal today was her second of the year. Keld’s goal was her first of the season. Dillon has notched two goals on the year after today’s performance. van Wonderen leads the team with four assists. Indiana will pick up play next week with a road game in their conference opener, at No. 6 Iowa on Friday at 5pm.
Indianapolis Indians Coverage
Indians Host Toledo in Six Game Series
The Indianapolis Indians, winners of each of their last four home series, return to Victory Field for the club’s final homestand of the season beginning Tonight and continuing through Sunday, Sept. 24. The Indians host the Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers) for the first six games, with homestand promotions including Friday Fireworks on Sept. 16, Jurassic (Ball)Park Night and an appearance by Hagerstown Little League – Indiana’s first Little League World Series qualifier since 2012 – on Sept. 17, and a characters appearance featuring princesses on Sept. 18.
Tonight– Tuesday Dollar Menu presented by Eisenberg
Ballpark snacks including hot dogs, peanuts, potato chips, Cracker Jack and popcorn are all available at concessions for just $1 each. Gates open at 5:30 PM with first pitch at 6:35pm.
Wednesday, Sept. 14 – Wednesday Day Game presented by Elements Financial. Take the afternoon off from work and enjoy a ballgame at Victory Field. Gates open at 12:30pm ahead of first pitch at 1:35pm.
Thursday, Sept. 15 – Baseball in Education presented by Citizens Energy Group and IUPUI
Victory Field welcomes Central Indiana students and teachers for the last of four Baseball in Education games for the season. School groups are provided a special ticket discount of 50% off when purchasing in advance, and students may bring their own sack lunch/cooler into the ballpark. Gates open at 10:30am with first pitch at 12:05pm.
Friday, Sept. 16 – Friday Fireworks presented by FOX59. Stick around after the final out for postgame fireworks. Gates open at 6 PM ahead of the 7:05pm first pitch.
Saturday, Sept. 17 – Jurassic (Ball) Park Night presented by Indiana WIC, Hagerstown Little League Pregame Ceremony
Enjoy Jurassic-themed entertainment and take photos with dozens of dinosaurs standing over 10 feet tall including a 40-foot inflatable Brontosaurus in the Center Field Plaza. Witness a dinosaur ceremonial first pitch and discover dinosaur fossils, too. Before the game, come out and support Hagerstown Little League following its run to the Little League World Series as Great Lakes Region Champions. Hagerstown players and coaches will be recognized on field, and players who pitched at the LLWS will throw out ceremonial first pitches. Gates open at 5:30pm, and the game gets underway at 6:35pm.
Sunday, Sept. 18 –Sunday Characters with Princesses presented by MHS, Kids Eat Free Sunday presented by Aquafina and Meijer
Stop by the Center Field Plaza before and during the game for a meet-and-greet with princesses from your favorite fairy tales including Arabian Princess, Beauty, Cinderella, Snow Princess, Snow Queen and Snow White. Characters will rotate throughout the game. Every Sunday, all children 14 and under receive a free hot dog, bag of chips and bottle of water with price of admission. Knot Hole members may also run the bases after the game. Gates open at 12:30pm before first pitch at 1:35pm.
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