CHARLESTON, S.C.  ? Indiana State was hoping to get off to a hot start in its season opener at The Citadel on Friday and that exactly what happened.  The Sycamores (1-0) tallied 12 runs on 13 hits against the Bulldogs (0-1) to come away with a 12-8 victory at Joseph P. Riley Park.

Senior Michael Manus got the start for the Sycamores and pitched five solid innings to start the game, as he gave up just one earned run on two hits while striking out six Bulldog batters.  Junior transfer Scott Harlan eventually picked up the win in relief of three Sycamore relievers, as he surrendered just one run on four hits in two and a third innings to close out the game.  Drew Mahaffey suffered the loss for the Bulldogs after giving up two runs in just two thirds of an inning in relief.

“It certainly wasn't the way we wanted to win the game but we will take it,” said head coach Lindsay Meggs.  “We expected to be a bit behind early offensively because we haven't spent a lot of time outside against live pitching.  So, to get out to an early lead and close it out was a positive sign.”

Indiana State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as the Sycamores scored three runs in the top of the first inning all with two outs.  Junior Nick Ciolli got the two-out rally started with a single to left field and then advanced to second base after senior Brady Shoemaker was walked after working the count full by Citadel starter Wes Wrenn.  Senior Brian Jett was up next and hit a home run down the left field line, the first home run of the season for ISU and fifth in Jett's career, to put the Sycamores up 3-0 after one inning of play.

The Citadel answered quickly with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 3-1.  Nick Orvin drew a one-out walk and later advanced to second base when Sonny Meade reached on an error by Manus.  Richard Jones then singled and brought in Orvin from second base to cut the lead to two runs.  However, Manus battled back and forced back-to-back fly outs by Chris McGuiness and Bryan Altman to get out the inning with just one run.

Both pitchers settled down from there, as neither team scored until the top of the fifth inning when the Sycamores tallied a pair of runs.  Junior Ryan Strausborger led off the inning with a single and advanced to third base on a double by Ciolli down the right field line.  Following a strike out by Shoemaker, Jett was then intentionally walked to load the bases with nobody out for Luke Fieser.  Strausborger crossed home plate as Fieser hit a grounder to Bulldog shortstop Legare Jones which forced out Jett at second base.  However, on the attempted turn of the double play, Jones made an errant throw that allowed Fieser to reach on a fielder's choice and Ciolli score from second base to make the score 5-1 in favor of ISU. 

ISU tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-1 lead.  Strausborger walked to start the inning, stole second advanced to third on an infield single by Ciolli.  Shoemaker then singled through the right side to pick up a RBI as Strausborger scored.  Shoemaker then stole second as Ciolli stole third for a well-executed double steal.   Jett was up next and grounded out to shortstop to pick up his fourth RBI of the game as Ciolli scored.

However, that six-run lead would not last as the Bulldogs seven runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for the first time in the game.  A three-run triple by Bryan Altman highlighted the inning for the Bulldogs, as they scored seven runs on just three hits to take an 8-7 lead after seven innings of play.

ISU did not go away though, as the Sycamores tallied three runs in the top half of the eighth inning to regain the lead at 10-8.  Freshman DH Kyle Burnam walked to lead off the inning and then stole second base. Strausborger then reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop as Burnam was put out at third base trying to advance.  Following a pitching change by the Citadel and a strikeout by Ciolli, Shoemaker was hit by a pitch which allowed Strausborger to advance to second base.  Junior Ben Caple then pinch hit for

Jett and walked to load the bases for Fieser, who tripled to right field to clear the bases and put the Sycamores up by three runs.

Following a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning for the Bulldogs, ISU added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning.  Senior Bronco Lafrenz singled through the left side to start the inning and Pascual Del Real put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Lafrenz to second base.  Burnam then stepped up and hit a two-run home run to left field to secure the 12-8 victory for the Sycamores.

Jett and Fieser each finished the game with four RBI for the Sycamores, while Ciolli added three hits and three runs scored in the win for ISU.  Strausborger finished with two hits and three runs scored while Lafrenz and Burnam each tallied two hits.

“Several of our players got a lot of first out of the way today,” said Meggs.  “Now, I think the team can just focus on playing baseball and relaxing out there.  We used a lot of arms today, so the offense will have to productive tomorrow for us to compete in 18 innings of baseball.”

The Sycamores will continue their four-game series with The Citadel tomorrow, with a double header scheduled to begin at Noon EST.  Right hander Jacob Petricka will take the mound to start game one for ISU and junior Joe Rodriguez will toe the rubber in game two at Riley Park.