WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamore baseball team defeated the Purdue Boilermakers by a 7-6 score at Alexander Field on Tuesday evening. ISU improves to 17-21, while Purdue falls to 12-28. The teams split the regular season matchups, with Purdue winning on April 7th, in Terre Haute.
The Boilermakers scored first in the contest, plating a run in the first inning. Cody Strong singled and took third on a single from Brandon Krieg. Krieg was caught in a run down and an ISU throwing error allowed Strong to score.
The Sycamores took the lead in the top of the second inning. Andy Young led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Connor McClain made it hurt, belting his second home run of the year over the right field wall to put ISU ahead 2-1.
Purdue regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring four runs. Four-straight hits led off the inning, two plating runs. Alec Olund hit into a fielder's choice to score Kyle Johnson and a single from Harry Shipley scored the fourth run of the inning, giving the Boilermakers a 5-2 advantage after four innings.
ISU cut into the Purdue lead in the top of the sixth. ISU was able to load the bases on Young's second hit-by-pitch, a McClain single and an Andy DeJesus walk. Manny Estevez delivered the big hit, singling through the right side to bring home Young and McClain and cut the lead to 5-4 Purdue.
The Sycamores were able to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Jacob Hayes doubled and the bases were loaded after back-to-back walks to McClain and DeJesus. Estevez came through again, singling up the middle to score Hayes and McClain and give ISU a 6-5 lead.
Indiana State added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. McClain led off with a walk and moved to third on a fielder's choice and a throwing error. Estevez ground up the middle and reached on the fielder's choice which allowed McClain to score.
The Boilermakers cut into the lead in the ninth, Jack Picchiotti homered to right to bring the score to 7-6 in favor of the Sycamores.
Trent Lunsford started on the mound for the Sycamores, going 3.0 innings, giving up six hits, five runs; all earned, walking one and striking out three. Connor Schwienebart (3-0) picked up the win in relief. Schwienebart tossed 3.0 innings, giving up one hit, and walking one and striking out two. Austin Conway (5) earned the save. Conway also logged 3.0 innings, giving up three hits, one run; earned, and fanning four.
At the plate, Estevez finished 2-for-5 with five RBI. McClain was 2-for-3, with two RBI on the home run, earning two walks and scoring four runs. Hayes and Kaden Moore each finished with two hits. Landon Curry, Derek Hannahs and Andrew Gutierrez each picked up a hit in the contest.
The Sycamores return to action on Friday, April 24th as the host Arkansas-Little Rock in a three game series at Bob Warn Field. Friday and Saturday's game times are 6:30 p.m. with the Sunday finale at 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.
