Ashley Dickerson
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State baseball team (23-13, 4-2 MVC) notched their second straight series win as they defeated Illinois State (9-25, 1-4 MVC) by the final score of 3-2 this afternoon. Freshman Tyler Ward picked up his fifth win of the season, sophomore Jeremy McKinney notched his fifth save of the year, and senior Andy DeJesus posted a flawless 4-for-4 performance at the plate.
Illinois State drew first blood for the third time this weekend when they scored one in the top of the third inning, but the Sycamores responded with DeJesus singling to left field and senior Andy Young homering for the fifth time this season to push ahead 2-1.
The Sycamores held the one-run lead until the top of the seventh inning when Illinois State's Jean Ramirez hit a solo home run to knot the score at twos.
Indiana State then took advantage of a bases loaded, one out situation in the bottom of the eighth inning. DeJesus led off the half inning with his fourth triple of the season, just before Young and junior Hunter Owen were both intentionally walked to load the bases. Senior Kaden Moore took over at the plate and proved himself clutch, singling up the middle to plate DeJesus and tally the go-ahead run.
The Sycamores held onto the lead in the top of the ninth as McKinney retired all three batters in order to secure the series win in game three, 3-2.
Ward was one inning shy of a complete game, but nonetheless had a stellar day on the mound, giving up only three hits, striking out five Redbirds, and walking none to improve to 5-3 on the hill.
DeJesus led the Sycamores' offensive strike, going 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, a triple, and two runs scored. Young smashed his fifth home run of the season, while tallying another walk, knocking in two runs, and scoring Indiana State's other run. Kaden Moore finished 2-for-4 at the plate, plating the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Indiana State will travel to Purdue on Wednesday for a midweek match-up at Alexander Field beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET, before returning home next weekend for another Missouri Valley Conference series with Dallas Baptist.
