CHARLESTON, IL ? The Indiana State Sycamores rallied from a 6-2 deficit to defeat the Eastern Illinois University Panthers 10-6 Wednesday in a non-conference game played at Coaches Stadium.
The Sycamores won their second straight game and second in two days with the victory. Indiana State defeated Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville 19-4 Tuesday at Sycamore Field.
Indiana State, 10-17 overall, will be on the road this weekend as they visit Arizona for three games. The first game is set for 9 p.m. (ET) Friday with the second game scheduled for 8 p.m. (ET) Saturday and the final game at 4 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.
The Sycamores took the early lead in the top of the first as Ryan Strausborger crunched an 0-1 pitch from Eastern Illinois starter Mike Recchia over the left field fence for a solo home run.
Eastern came back in the bottom half, reaching ISU starter Chad Dawson for three runs on three hits and a Sycamore error.
Indiana State followed the same script in the second as they had in the first cutting Eastern's lead to 3-2. Brian Oliver stepped to the plate with one out in the second and belted a 1-2 pitch from Recchia over the scoreboard in left center field.
Nathan Inman took over for Dawson to start the second and gave up a lead-off solo home run to EIU's Brett Nommensen. The Panthers added another run after an ISU error kept the inning alive as EIU took a 5-2 lead. EIU padded their lead with one in the third but that was all they would get as Inman settled down and held off the Panther offense.
The Sycamores began their rally in the top of the fourth. Zane Chavez was hit by a pitch and Brian Oliver walked before David Brumagin singled to center to score Chavez. Pascual Del Real then blasted a 1-2 pitch over the right center field fence that tied the game at 6-all.
Tyler Brandon relieved EIU's Recchia with two outs, walking Gary King and Strausborger before getting Chris Schmidt to line out to second.
Indiana State took their first lead of the game in the sixth after the Panthers brought in Ross Jeske to pitch. Strausborger and Schmidt hit back-to-back singles and Brady Shoemaker doubled down the right field line to score Strausborger.
The Panthers brought in Brian Morrell who retired the first two batters he faced. Morrell intentionally walked Brian Jett to load the bases and Brumagin made the Panthers pay, driving a three-run double to the fence in right center giving the Sycamores a 10-6 lead.
Ryan Strausborger had a pair of singles and a solo home run to pace the ISU offense while Chris Schmidt and David Brumagin had a double and a single each, Brian Oliver a home run, and Brady Shoemaker and Zane Chavez a double each.
Nathan Inman picked up his second win of the season and improved to 2-1 overall. Brian Oliver earned his third save of the season.
