TERRE HAUTE, IN ? The Indiana State Sycamores were in trouble from the first pitch, falling to the Missouri State Bears 16-3 in a game called after seven innings at Sycamore Field on Saturday.
Indiana State (13-28 overall and 6-11 in the MVC) and Missouri State (32-14 and 15-5) will play the final game of the three-game series at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday.
The pitching woes for the Sycamores started early in Saturday's game as ISU starter Matt Shelton walked the first three Missouri State batters. Indiana State was able to get out of the inning with just two runs being scored against them.
Indiana State cut that lead in half in the bottom half of the first. David Brumagin struck out but reached first safely on a passed ball. Chris Schmidt's sacrifice bunt advanced Brumagin to second with Brady Shoemaker hitting a two out double to score Brumagin.
The Bears came back with four in the second and four in the third to build a 10-1 lead. Shelton was relieved by Brendon Smith in the second with Josh Varno coming on in the third for the Sycamores. Missouri State's Josh Mazzola belted his third home run of the weekend, this one a solo shot to left field to lead off the fourth, giving the Bears an 11-1 lead.
Pascual Del real scored ISU's second run of the game on an error by Missouri State. The final Sycamore score came in the bottom of the seventh. Brian Jett pinch hit for Brian Oliver and singled, coming around to score on a double by Nick Ciolli.
The Sycamores had six hits in the game led by Ryan Strausborger, Brady Shoemaker and Nick Ciolli who had a double each. David Brumagin, Chris Schmidt and Brian Jett had a single each.
Matt Shelton (3-5) was the losing pitcher for the Sycamores, lasting just over an inning, allowing five runs on three hits. Brendon Smith worked an inning and two-thirds with Josh Varno pitching three and a third and Chad Dawson going to the mound for the final inning.
