CHARLESTON, SC ? The Indiana State Sycamores broke a three-all tie in the top of the eighth with a pair of runs and then added one more insurance run in the ninth to defeat College of Charleston 6-3 Sunday.
The Sycamores split the four-game series with College of Charleston, dropping the first two games (13-1 on Friday and 9-4 in the first game of Saturday's twinbill) but won the final two games (26-20 in the second game Friday and 6-3 on Sunday).
Brian Jett went 3-for-4 at the plate and started the Sycamore rally in the eighth with a single through the right side. Pascual Del Real was hit by a pitch with both runners moving up a base as Brian Ramirez grounded out to the pitcher. An error by the Cougars first baseman allowed Jett to score the go-ahead run with Del Real coming home on a single by Gary King to put ISU up 5-3.
In the ninth, Ryan Strausborger hit a two-out single, stole second and then scored on an RBI single to right by Jett.
Indiana State opened the game by scoring a run in the second. Brady Shoemaker opened the inning with a double and advanced to third when Dave Brumagin grounded out to second. Jett was hit by a pitch and Del Real walked to load the bases with Ramirez also getting a free pass which forced Shoemaker home with the first run of the game.
The Sycamores went up 2-0 in the third and, for the second straight inning, had the bases loaded. Nick Ciolli and Shoemaker were each hit by a pitch while Zane Chavez singled to load the bases with just one out. Brumagin became the third ISU player in the inning to be hit by a pitch which forced Ciolli home.
The Cougars came back with a run in the fourth but the Sycamores answered with a run in the sixth. Brumagin and Jett each hit a single and Ramirez walked to load the bases, the third time in the game that the Sycamores had the bases loaded. Indiana State was only able to get one run in, however, as Brumagin scored on a wild pitch.
College of Charleston fought back with two in the seventh to tie the game at 3-all but the Sycamores shut down the Cougar attack in the eighth and ninth innings to win their second straight game.
Josh Varno started on the mound for the Sycamores and went five innings before giving way to Clay Kovac in the sixth, who earned the win. Chad Dawson worked the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
Jett finished with three singles in the game while Shoemaker had a double, and King, Ciolli, Shoemaker, Chavez and Ramirez each had a single.
The Sycamores will try to make it three next weekend as they open Missouri Valley Conference action on the road, visiting Southern Illinois University. Indiana State was scheduled to visit Austin Peay State University on Tuesday but that contest was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. Indiana State is now 4-10 on the season while the College of Charleston falls to 13-6.
