WATERLOO, Iowa ? Things looked bleak early on for the Indiana State Sycamore baseball team as they trailed 5-1 heading into the top of the sixth inning at Northern Iowa on Saturday afternoon (April 28), but the Sycamore bats got going and ISU plated a total of nine runs between the sixth and seven innings en route to a 13-9 road conference win over the Panthers at Waterloo's Riverfront Park.
ISU improves to 20-20, 3-11 MVC on the season while UNI fell to 18-20, 4-10 MVC.
UNI got the first two runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Eric Hoffman for the quick 1-0 advantage. With the bases loaded, ISU starting pitcher Matt Shelton walked Boone Bugger to plate the second run and give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.
ISU cut the UNI in half in the top of the fourth when Ryan Strausborger reached on a fielder's choice. Panther starter Nick Kirk's throw down to second base to retire the runner was errant, allowing Nick Ciolli to come around and score from second to make the score 2-1.
The Panthers added another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead against Shelton.
The Sycamores enjoyed their best inning of the weekend in the top of the sixth when Brett Siegmund and Ciolli led off the frame with base hits. Casey Martin was hit by a pitch to load the bases and ISU made it 5-2 on a RBI single to left field by Strausborger. The Sycamores were able to inch within a run, 5-4 on a fielder's choice by catcher John Feltner in which UNI first baseman Brett Featherson threw the ball into left field to score both Ciolli and Martin.
That play was one of five Panther errors in the game.
That play chased Kirk from the game and saw Adam McDermott take the mound in relief. He walked Ryan Bond to keep the rally going and load the bases with no one out in the inning. UNI skipper Rick Heller then sent Chad Epperson out the mound to try and protect his slim one-run advantage.
Josh Abercrombie brought the Sycamores all the way back to even, 5-5 with their fourth run of the frame as he lined out to the center fielder. The ball was not hit deep by the speedy Strausborger motored home from third ahead of the throw to pull ISU even. Chris Schmidt then reached on a fielder's choice which gave ISU runners at the corners with a pair of outs.
Indiana State plated its fifth run of the inning on a RBI single down the left field line by Dave Brumagin which scored John Feltner. Brumagin, who had a 12-game hitting streak ended on Friday night, got the two-out RBI hit ISU needed to come all the way down from 5-1 to take the 6-5 lead. The frame ended with a pop out by Ciolli, but ISU led 6-5.
Adam Lindsay came on in relief to mow down the Panthers in the sixth, and the Sycamores kept the momentum going in the top of the seventh. Pinch hitter Marcus Artner led off the inning by reaching on an error before Strausborger battled off several good pitches to record a single. With runners on first and second, Feltner loaded the bases up with an infield bunt single towards the second baseman.
With the bases full, Bond stepped to the plate and drew an RBI walk to give the Sycamores a 7-5 lead and kept the bases full with no one out. After Abercrombie struck out swinging for the first out of the frame, Strausborger crossed the plate on a wild pickoff attempt that sailed into centerfield for an 8-5 lead.
Chris Schmidt strolled to the plate with runners at first and second and just one out when both Feltner and Bond posted a double steal to move to second and third. With a 3-0 count, the Panthers' elected to intentionally walk Schmidt, but when they did the fourth pitch sailed wide right of the catcher and Feltner crossed the plate for a 9-5 lead.
After another UNI pitching change, ISU sent Dave Brumagin to the plate with runners at the corners and still just one out. Bond extended the ISU lead out to 10-5 when he scored after Schmidt was picked off first base.
UNI did not wilt despite the Sycamores' nine runs between the sixth and seventh innings, as the Panthers scored three runs of their own off Lindsay in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 10-8.
The Sycamores opened the eighth inning red hot against as Brett Siegmund sent a ball to the base of the left field wall for a single and then Ciolli continued his tear of opposing batting with a double to left center which put runners at second and third. Siegmund scored on a passed ball while Ciolli scored on a wild pitch to stretch the ISU lead back out to 12-8.
UNI inched closer in the bottom of the eighth, when Jamie Ballestreros homered to left field off Lindsay to make the score 12-9. In the top of the ninth, Marcus Artner's RBI single up the middle plated Brett Siegmund for the 13-9 lead. ISU scored its run in the ninth after each of the first two batters were retired.
Matt Shelton finished by going 5.0 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs (three of which were earned). Shelton walked four and struck out four others. He improved to 5-1 on the season with the victory, picking up his second career MVC win, and his first after starting the game. Earlier in the year, Shelton won a MVC game at Illinois State after coming in late relief.
Adam Lindsay tossed 4.0 innings, giving up seven hits and four earned runs in picking up his fifth save of the season. Lindsay struck out one and walked a pair.
Nick Kirk took the loss for UNI, dropping to 3-2 on the season. He pitched five innings, allowed five hits and gave up six runs, three of which were earned.
Ciolli improved his hitting streak to 12 games with a 3-for-5 day in which he scored a trio of runs as well. Strausborger finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs scored as well as an RBI.
ISU won its third MVC game of the season, its second of the year on the road. With this weekend's series tied at one game each, the Sycamores will look for their first MVC series victory on Sunday, since taking 2-of-3 against the Panthers last season at Sycamore Field.
Indiana State and Northern Iowa wrap up this weekend's MVC series with the finale tomorrow at Riverfront Park. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. (ET). The game can be heard live at www.unipanthers.com or live stats can be followed online at www.indstate.edu/athletic/xlive.htm.
