PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Indiana State Sycamores dropped the rubber match with the defending National Champion Vanderbilt Commodores by a score of 6-0 Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. The loss drops the Sycamores to 3-3, while the Commodores improve to 4-2.
The Commodores scored in the first inning for the second straight game. Lead-off hitter, Bryan Reynolds got on with a single, then advanced to second after an ISU error, and moved to third on a fielder's choice. Zander Wiel tapped a ground out to second to score Reynolds to give the Commodores an early advantage.
Vanderbilt got another run in the second inning, aided by two walks and a hit batter. Reynolds came up with the sacrifice fly to score Will Toffey to put the Commodores up 2-0.
The Commodores added three more in the bottom of the sixth inning. After ISU's Austin Conway retired the first two batters of the inning, Vandy rattled off four-straight hits, highlighted by a Jeren Kendall two-run double to left center, putting the Commodores up 5-0 after six innings.
Vanderbilt tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning on a pinch-hit single by Ro Coleman to score Toffey.
The Sycamores managed just five hits in the contest. Landon Curry, Jacob Hayes, Tyler Friis Connor McClain, and Tony Rosselli with one hit each.
On the mound, the Sycamores used six different pitchers. Greg Kuhlman started and picked up the loss, pitching just 1.1 innings, allowing one hit, two runs, one earned, and walked two. Austin Conway came on in relief, tossing a career-high 4.1 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, both earned, and striking out three.
The Sycamores return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 25th when they travel to Clarksville, Tenn. to play Austin Peay in a midweek matchup before taking on Georgia Tech in a three game series over the weekend.
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.
