WESTFIELD, Ind. – The Sycamore baseball team earned a 9-3 victory over the Penguins of Youngstown State. The game was played at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. Indiana State improves to 4-6 on the season and the win snaps a four-game losing skid. YSU falls to 0-4 on the year in their first game action since Opening Weekend.
The Penguins struck first in the top of the first inning. Shane Willoughby reached on a walk and moved to third on a double by Alex Larivee. Willoughby scored on a Jeff Degano balk.
ISU tied the game up in their half of the first inning, when Landon Curry got on by getting hit by a pitch, and eventually scored on an infield hit by Andy Young. The Sycamores tacked on two more in the second inning. Tyler Friis led off with a walk and was driven home on a Connor McClain triple. McClain scored on a Kaden Moore ground out.
The Sycamores added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. After three-straight singles, Tony Rosselli hit a ground ball to third base to score Friis and extend the lead.
Youngstown added a solo run in the sixth inning after Matt Sullivan reached on a dropped third strike and scored on a fielder's choice.
ISU added two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. McClain led off the inning with a walk and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Curry. Derek Hannahs added another RBI when his single scored Rosselli.
YSU cut into the Sycamore lead on a solo homer by Matt Sullivan.
The Sycamores tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Curry led off with a walk and scored on a Hannahs double down the left field line. Hannahs scored on an Andy Young ground out to make the score 9-3.
Jeff Degano (3-1) picked up the win for the Sycamores with his third straight quality start. Degano went 6.0 innings, allowed three hits, two runs, one earned and struck out 10. It is the first time an ISU pitcher has struck out 10 batters since David Stagg fanned 10 against Dallas Baptist on April 25, 2014. Austin Conway earned the first save of his Sycamore career tossing 3.0 innings, allowing one hit, one run and striking out six.
At the plate, Friis, McClain, Moore, and Hannahs had two-hit performances, while Young led the team with three hits and two RBI. Hannahs and Moore also had two RBI. Friis scored three times and McClain and Curry each scored twice.
The Sycamores return to action tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. in Westfield, Ind. for the second game against the Penguins.
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.
