TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Baseball dropped its fifth-consecutive game on Saturday afternoon at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium, 7-4 to the Southern Illinois Salukis. ISU falls to 13-19 overall and 3-8 in the Missouri Valley, Southern Illinois improves to 7-27, and 3-5 in the Valley. The five-game losing skid is the longest of the season.
Southern Illinois scored first in the top of the first inning. After a lead-off walk for Chase Sloan, Will Farmer laid down a bunt and reached on a throwing error by the ISU third baseman. Greg Lambert then singled to bring home Sloan. Nick Hutchins singled to center field to bring home Farmer and put the Salukis up 2-0.
The Sycamores took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brian Romero led off with a single and Taylor Steen drove him home. Andy DeJesus reached on a fielder's choice, while Derek Hannahs delivered the big hit in the inning, a two-run single to centerfield to put ISU up 3-2 after four innings.
The Salukis regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Farmer and Lambert led off with back-to-back singles and scored on a Will Blackfan double. Blackfan moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a Hutchins sacrifice fly to center field to put Southern Illinois up 5-3 after five and a half innings.
Southern Illinois extended their lead to 6-3 in the top of the seventh inning on a solo home run by Parker Osborne.
ISU cut into the lead 6-4, in the bottom of the eighth inning, when DeJesus doubled and scored on a Hannahs single.
SIU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. Hutchins led off with a double and came around to score on a single by Osborne to complete the scoring at 7-4 in favor of the Salukis.
Ryan Keaffaber (1-3) started on the mound for ISU. Keaffaber went 7-plus innings, giving up eight hits, six runs; three earned, walking two and striking out a career-high eight while taking the loss. Greg Kuhlman pitched an inning in relief, taking over after two hitters in the eighth. Kuhlman induced a 4-6-3 double play and struck out the two batters he faced. Nick Kolarik worked in the ninth inning, giving up a hit and an earned run. Connor Schwienebart finished out the game on the mound, giving up one hit and no runs.
At the plate, the Sycamores were led by Hannahs, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. Curry finished 2-for-5; DeJesus went 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Steen added an RBI and a run, Romero also scored a run.
ISU returns to action on Sunday, Apr. 12th against Southern Illinois at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
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.
