Danny PfrankGoSycamores.com
MUNCIE,
Ind.
- The Indiana State baseball team scored runs in five straight innings on
Wednesday, plating 14 runs from innings two through six to pick up a road
victory at Ball State, 14-3.
The win is the first for ISU at Ball State since sweeping a doubleheader during
the 1995 season and snaps a seven-game road losing streak against the
Cardinals. ISU's win also breaks a string of 14 consecutive games in the series
that had been won by the home side.
Indiana State (21-5) began their scoring in the second inning, when junior
Jeremy Lucas dropped a bunt down the third base line to lead off the inning.
After an error moved Lucas to third and put junior Casey McCurdy at first base,
senior Lucas Hileman and sophomore Tyler Wampler tallied back-to-back RBI
singles to give the Sycamores a 2-0 lead.
ISU went up 5-0 with three runs in the third inning, with senior Kyle Burnam
and Wampler driving in runs around a double-steal that scored McCurdy from
third.
The Sycamores added two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to take an 8-2
lead, as Ball State (4-16) scored single runs in both the third and fourth
innings.
Indiana State's big inning came in the sixth, as the Sycamores scored six runs
to move in front 14-2. Four of those runs came on one swing of the bat from
freshman Landon Curry, as the newcomer from Uniondale, Ind., and Norwell High
School launched a 1-1 pitch over the right field fence for a grand slam and his
first home run of the season. It was the first grand slam by the Sycamores
since Jake Hartley hit one at Butler on April 6, 2010.
Freshman Kyle Rupe (5-0) earned the victory on the mound, scattering six hits in
six innings while allowing two runs and striking out three batters. Sophomores
Kurt Kudrecki and Tyler Browning and senior Chris Machado closed out the final
three innings in relief.
Curry led ISU with five runs batted in, going 2-for-5 at the plate along with
his grand slam home run. Junior Robby Ort topped the roster in hits, picking up
three hits on the afternoon.
Indiana State returns to Terre Haute for a three-game homestand this weekend,
taking on Illinois State from Friday, March 30 through Sunday, April 1. First
pitch on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. from Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium.