TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State baseball team dropped the series finale with Evansville on Sunday afternoon, at a chilly and windy Bob Warn Field. The Evansville Purple Aces defeated the Sycamores 9-7. ISU is now 10-13 overall and 2-4 in the Valley, with Evansville improving to 12-11, and 3-3 in the Valley.
Evansville took the lead in the top of the first inning in Sunday's game. After a pair of walks and an infield hit loaded the bases, Jonathan Ramon hit into the 5-4-3 double play to score Josh Jyawook and give the Aces the early lead.
ISU took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Andrew Gutierrez reached after getting hit-by-a-pitch and scored when Kaden Moore launched his first career home run to left field and give the Sycamores the 2-1 lead.
The Sycamores added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Manny Estevez led off with a single and was driven home on a double by Gutierrez. Gutierrez came around to score on a triple from Andy DeJesus, and DeJesus scored on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Friis. The Sycamores led 5-1 after four innings.
The Purple Aces got two back in the top of the fifth on a Kevin Kaczmarski two-run home run, to make the score 5-3 in favor of the Sycamores.
Evansville plated three runs in the top of the sixth inning to regain the lead. UE earned three-straight walks and Ramon was hit-by-a-pitch to score the first run. Eric McKibban drew another bases loaded walk to score the second run, before an infield hit by Shain Showers scored the final run of the inning and take the lead at 6-5.
UE scored three more runs in the top of the seventh inning, using three hits and three walks to their advantage. Kaczmarski picked up an RBI fielder's choice, and Ramon followed with a two-run single to put Evansville up 9-5 after seven innings.
The Sycamores were able to score single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to draw the game to the 9-7 final. In the eighth, Jacob Hayes pinch hit and doubled to left center field. Hayes scored on a double down the right field line by Gutierrez to make the score 9-6. In the ninth inning, Derek Hannahs recorded the first triple of his career and scored on a Hunter Owen single before the Sycamores were retired.
On the mound, Indiana State tied a school record by issuing 15 walks in the contest. David Stagg started, throwing 4.1 innings, allowing four hits, three runs and walking eight. Michael Eberle (1-2) worked in relief and suffered the loss. Eberle went 1.1 innings, giving up three runs, walking three and striking out three.
Trent Lunsford worked in one inning, giving up three runs on three hits and walking two. Austin Conway pitched in a third of an inning, walking two. Connor Schwienebart made his third appearance out of the bullpen, tossing 2.0 innings, giving up one hit, not allowing a walk and striking out four.
At the plate, ISU's Owen finished the day four-for-five, with an RBI. Gutierrez also recorded multiple hits, going two-for-three with two RBI and scoring twice. Kaden Moore hit his first career home run, driving in two. DeJesus and Friis each finished with one hit and an RBI. DeJesus also scored a run in the contest.
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