INDIANA STATE AT WARHAWK CLASSIC
Warhawk Field, Monroe, La.
Feb. 13-15, 2015, 7:00, 3:00, 1:00 (ET)
Setting the Stage
The Indiana State men's baseball team kicks off the 119th season of play this weekend with a trip to Monroe, La. for three games in the Warhawk Classic February 13-15.
The Sycamores will face off against the host Warhawks Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Warhawk Field. ISU then takes the field against Grambling State at 3:00 p.m. Saturday before ending the weekend against Central Arkansas at 1:00 p.m. February 15th.Live Video is available for Friday night's game only with a stream on SycamoreVision for free for premium subscribers.
The Sycamores are looking to improve on a 35 win season in 2014. 2014 also saw the Sycamores earn a spot in the NCAA Bloomington Regional. In the past three years, the Sycamores have a combined record of 102-62, and twice have made an NCAA Regional.
Weekend Schedule
Friday: vs. UL-Monroe, 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Saturday: vs. Grambling State, 3:00 (ET)
Sunday: vs. Central Arkansas, 1:00 (ET)
A Little History
ISU is 4-1 combined against the teams they will be facing this weekend. The Sycamores are 1-0 against UL-Monroe with the victory coming in 1972 by a score of 3-2 at the Centenary Invitational. ISU is 3-1 against Central Arkansas after a four game set in 2011. The Sycamores won the first three games 10-5, 8-0, and 5-2 before falling in the final game 5-6. Grambling State has never faced Indiana State, in 2014 games were schedule but eventually cancelled due to weather.
The First Hurdle
The Sycamores suffered a 0-4 loss to Auburn in the opening game of the 2014 season. In the last ten seasons, ISU is a combined 3-7 in season opening games. Last year, ISU made up for the opening day loss and rattled off 12 straight victories to earn their way to one of the best starts in school history.
Preseason Poll
ISU placed fourth in the MVC preseason poll with 42 points. Dallas Baptist is the preseason favorite to win the conference, earning seven of the eight possible first place votes and 62 points overall. Missouri State picked up the one other and placed second on the list with 53 total points. Wichita State finished a spot ahead of the Sycamores with 43 points. Rounding out the bottom of the conference was Evansville with 28 points, Illinois State with 26, Bradley with 18, and Southern Illinois with 15.
Preseason All-MVC
Ryan Keaffaber was the lone Sycamore to place on the preseason all-MVC team. Keaffaber is a relief pitcher that finished 2014 with a 3-2 record and a 3.26 ERA. He also was named to the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. Other members of the preseason all-conference team are as follows: Paul DeJong of Illiniois State; Spencer Gaa and Tyler Leffler of Bradley; Daniel Salters, Justin Wall, David Martinelli, and Brandon Koch of Dallas Baptist; Dylan Becker, Tate Matheny, and Jon Harris of Missouri State; and Daniel Kihle and Sam Tewes of Wichita State
Stellar Sophomore
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Keaffaber had a freshman season that saw him etch his name into the Indiana State Record Book. Ryan earned a place on the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American Team and was the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. Ryan appeared in 24 games with three earning a 3.26 ERA and a 3-2 record. Ryan served mostly as the closer for the Sycamores during the season. His 11 saves are the third-best total in school history while holding opponents to a .212 average against him. The only other Sycamore to earn Freshman of the Year honors was Mitch Stetter, a former major leaguer with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Keaffaber Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
Ryan Keaffaber was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List. 37 players have been named to the initial watch list for the 11th annual NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award. The Stopper of the Year Award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. In Keaffaber's freshman campaign, he earned a team-high 11 saves in 24 appearances. The 11 saves in 2014 are third-most in a single season in ISU history, and currently tie for fifth all-time. Keaffaber earned a 3-2 record while recording a 3.26 earned run average. He logged 60.2 innings, fourth-most on the team. Opponents batted just .213 against him. Keaffaber struck out 38 hitters, while surrendering 19 walks.
2-for-3
Over the past three seasons, the Sycamores have earned at-large bids into the NCAA Regionals. In 2012, ISU earned a spot in the NCAA Regional in Eugene, Oregon. ISU also earned an at-large bid last season when the Sycamores competed in the NCAA Regional in Bloomington, Ind.
Sycamores against the Big 10
Indiana State did well against Big 10 teams in 2014 earning a 4-2 record. The Sycamores split with Indiana, defeating the Hoosiers 12-8 in Terre Haute on March 26 but lost at Indiana 8-4 on Apr. 9. Indiana State owns two wins over Ohio State (7-3 and 8-6) but lost at Illinois (8-0). Indiana State defeated Purdue 10-3 on Apr. 22. In 2015, ISU is scheduled to face off against the Big Ten seven times, with games against Rutgers, Nebraska, Indiana, and Purdue.
Returning Sycamores
Landon Curry, Jacob Hayes, and Connor McClain return in the outfield. Each player started at least 50 games last season. Landon Curry will take his spot at the top of the order and in centerfield for the Sycamores. Curry (Sr.) has played in 161 games since 2012. He has also led the Sycamores in stolen bases over the last three years. Hayes, an Ohio State transfer, hit in the three-spot of the Sycamore line up in 2014. Hayes ended the season with a .275 batting average, with a team-leading .431 slugging percentage. Hayes led the team in triples (4), home runs (4), and RBI (36) while finishing second with 14 stolen bases.
Second baseman, Derek Hannahs (R-Sr.) and first baseman Jeff Zahn (R-Jr.) are back for their second season on the right side of the infield. Hannahs led the team with a .301 batting average in 2014, while starting in 53 games. Zahn played in 50 games, finishing with a .247 average and driving in 29 runs.
The ISU pitching staff returns David Stagg, a left-handed pitcher who was 7-5 with a 3.22 ERA in 2014. Stagg led the team with 95.0 innings pitched and 89 strike outs. The transfer from Des Moines Area CC looks to improve upon his 3.22 ERA from 2014. Other notable returners are Trent Lunsford and Nick Kolarik. Lunsford finished 2014 with a 2-2 record after appearing in 19 games and making seven starts. Kolarik made a team-high 26 appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 5-1 record and earning a 3.06 ERA.
Lucky Seven
ISU is looking to make it seven winning seasons in a row. The Sycamores earned their sixth-straight winning season in 2014 after going 35-18 and earning an at-large bid into the NCAA Regionals in Bloomington, Ind. The six winnings seasons are the longest such streak since the 17-season streak from 1977-1993.
Look at Me, I Can Be Centerfield
Landon Curry has started in 161 and played in 162 of the 164 games for the Sycamores since arriving in the 2012 season. Curry has a career .290 batting average and has stolen 53 bases. Curry needs 15 stolen bases to tie for sixth-place all-time at ISU. Curry has hit in the lead-off spot 153 times of his 162 games played, and every game since April 24, 2013, a string of 69 straight. Curry made the most of his one career home run, belting a grand slam against Ball State in 2012.
Pitching Prowess
The Sycamore pitching staff led the MVC with a 3.34 ERA and placed second with 17 saves. The pitchers also controlled the running game from the mound, picking off 18 runners. Continuing the pitching prowess, the Sycamores were first in runs allowed (222) and tied for first in the MVC in hits allowed (417).
Return to Action
The Sycamores return to action the following weekend (Feb. 20-22) at the Elon University Tournament in Elon, North Carolina.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Men's Baseball team, make sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
