TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamore baseball team made it five-straight victories over the Ball State Cardinals on Wednesday evening at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium. ISU defeated the Cardinals by a score of 14-5, improving their record to 12-13, while Ball State drops to 19-9 on the season.
Ball State got the ball rolling, scoring in the top of the second on a solo home run by Jarrett Rindfleisch.
The Sycamores responded in the bottom of the second inning. Andy Young led off with a hit-by-pitch and was driven home by Jacob Hayes' fourth triple this season. Hayes scored when Andrew Gutierrez singled through the right side. Kaden Moore kept the hit parade going, hitting his first-career triple down the right field line. Andy DeJesus singled to bring home Moore and give ISU the 4-1 lead after two innings.
The Cardinals got two runs back in the top of the third inning. Matt Eppers and Sean Kennedy had back-to-back singles and were driven home on a single to left field by Rindfleisch.
Indiana State added four more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Young again led off by getting hit-by-a-pitch and scored on a ground out by Gutierrez. Moore drove a ball to right field that was misplayed by the right fielder allowing Moore to make it to third base, and allowing Tyler Friis to score. Derek Hannahs added a two-run single to make the score 8-4 in favor of the Sycamores.
Ball State cut into the Sycamore lead in the top of the sixth inning. Colin Brockhouse led off with a single, and moved to second and a Scott Tyler walk. Brockhouse scored from second on an infield hit by Sean Kennedy. The Sycamores led 8-4 after five and a half innings.
Indiana State scored three runs in the seventh inning to increase the lead to 11-4. Young again led off by with a hit-by-pitch, and scored on Hayes' second triple of the ball game. Hayes scored on a ground out from Moore for the second run and DeJesus singled through the right side to score Friis who had reached on a walk.
The Cardinals got one back in the top of the eighth inning. Nick Hollowell belted a pinch hit single and advanced to second after a Tyler single. Hollowell then scored when Matt Eppers hit into a potential double play, but the relay throw was high and went out of play, resulting in Hollowell scoring and Eppers advancing to second.
The Sycamores tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Hannahs reached on a lead-off walk and moved to third on a double from Hunter Owen. Young ground out to third to plate Hannahs and Owen scored on a Cody Gardner ground out. Friis walked and moved to third on a Gutierrez double before scoring on a wild pitch to push the lead to 14-5.
The Sycamores were led by Moore at the plate. Moore finished the contest 3-for-4 with three RBI, and two runs scored. Hayes was 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored, and two walks. Owen and Gutierrez finished 2-for-5 with a run scored, Gutierrez added two RBI. DeJesus finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run, with Young going 0-for-2 with three runs scored. Friis scored three runs in the game, Hannahs finished 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
On the mound, Trent Lunsford started, going 3.2 innings, allowing six hits, three runs; all earned, and walking two. Ryan Cheek (1-0) earned the victory in relief. Cheek went 4.1 innings, allowed five hits, two runs; one earned, walked two and struck out five. Nick Martin pitched in relief throwing in the ninth inning, retiring all three hitters he faced.
The Sycamores return to action Friday, April 3rd as they travel to Wichita State to take on the Shockers in the third Missouri Valley Conference series of the season.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, make sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
