TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Things did not look good for Indiana State heading into the bottom of ninth, as ISU faced a 10-7 deficit heading into the game's final inning against visiting Illinois. However, the Sycamores (28-13) battled back and scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to come from behind for an 11-10 victory over the Illini (27-13) at Sycamore Field.
With the win, the Sycamores improved to 14-2 at home this season, to 3-0 against Big Ten Conference opponents and extended their season-long winning streak to eight games in a row.
Indiana State reliever Brendon Smith (2-1) picked up the win, after allowing one hit and getting the final out in the top of the ninth inning for the Sycamores. Illinois reliever Aaron Martin (3-2) suffered the loss, after allowing four runs on three hits while not recording an out in the ninth inning after pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
Illinois jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, thanks to three costly errors by the Sycamores. The Illini scored two unearned runs off ISU starter Kevin Mann in the top of the second inning and then pushed three runs across the plate on three hits and an error in the top of the third inning to take the early advantage.
The Sycamores answered with three runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Illini lead to 5-3. Ryan Strausborger drove in the first run of the inning with a single up the middle and Nick Ciolli added a two-run single later in the inning to give the Sycamores some life back.
After a scoreless fourth inning by both teams, the Illini tacked on a run in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 6-3. That lead would not last long though, as the Sycamores four runs in a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning to take a 7-6 lead.
Brady Shoemaker walked to begin the rally and Ciolli singled through the left side to give the Sycamores a couple of base runners. Luke Fieser reached on a fielding error by Illinois second baseman Josh Parr to load the bases for Tyler Graham, who proceeded to rip a single into center field to score two runs for ISU and cut the lead to 6-5 at the time. Bronco Lafrenz then got into the act and ripped a double to right field to score Fieser from third and Graham from second and give the Sycamores a one-run advantage.
From there, the game became a pitchers duel until the ninth inning when the game became a nail biter. ISU closer Matt Shelton came on to secure the win for the Sycamores, but struggled with his control and gave up four runs on three hits in the inning. Josh Parr picked up the first RBI of the inning with a one-out single up the middle and later scored on a two-out double down the left field line by Brandon Wikoff.
That ended the day for Shelton, who gave way to Smith. Smith then gave up a RBI single to Dominic Altobelli, which capped off the four-run rally and gave the Illini a 10-7 lead.
However, the Sycamores would not go away and were very patient at the plate against Martin. Ciolli and Fieser walked to lead off the inning, with Koby Kraemer coming in to pinch run for Fieser. Graham the reached on an infield single to load the bases for Lafrenz, who drew a bases loaded walk to pick up a RBI as Ciolli scored to cut the lead to 10-8.
Cole Standridge then came in to pinch run for Lafrenz, as Brian Jett came to the plate against Illinois' new pitcher Wes Braun. The senior first baseman then singled through the left side to drive in Kraemer and Graham and tie the game at 10-10, while he and Standridge advanced to second and third, respectively, on a throwing error on the play. Pinch hitter Kyle Burnam was then intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a force out at home. Strausborger then drew the bases loaded walked to pick up the game-winning RBI as Standridge scored from third to give ISU the come-from-behind victory.
Lafrenz finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Graham finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Jett, Ciolli and Strausborger also chipped in two hits each in the win while Fieser extended his team-best hitting streak to 16 games.
The Sycamores return to action on Friday, when they begin a three-game weekend set against Missouri Valley Conference foe Wichita State in Wichita, Kan. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST on Friday night at Eck Stadium, with Eric Valdez taking the mound for ISU against WSU's Tim Kelley.
