TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamores earned their first season sweep over the Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) Redhawks on Sunday afternoon at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium. ISU took the finale 8-7 and improve to 24-23 on the season. SEMO falls to 31-20. ISU is now 5-0 against SEMO on the baseball diamond.
The Redhawks took the lead in the top of the first inning. Jason Blum singled and advanced to second on a ground out. Andy Lennington brought home Blum on a single to left to give SEMO the early 1-0 advantage.
ISU tied it up in the bottom of the first inning. Landon Curry led off with a single through the right side and was able to steal second base. Andy Young then hit a double down the left field line to bring home Curry and tie the game up at 1-1.
The Sycamores took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Kaden Moore belted his third home run of the season, a solo shot to put ISU up 2-1 after two innings.
ISU added to its lead in the bottom of the third inning, plating three runs. Curry led off with his 54th career hit by pitch, and moved to third on an Andy DeJesus double. Manny Estevez legged out an infield hit to score Curry, and a throwing error on the play allowed DeJesus to score from second. Brian Romero stepped in and delivered a single to center field to bring home Estevez and put the Sycamores up 5-1 after three innings.
SEMO cut into the Sycamore lead, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth. Dalton Hewitt led off with a bunt single and stole second base. After advancing to third on a passed ball, Hewitt scored on a single from Hunter Leeper. Leeper scored from second on a fielder's choice in which the Sycamores failed to record an out. SEMO cut the lead to 5-3 after three and a half innings.
ISU got a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hunter Owen led off with a double to left-center field. Owen advanced to third and eventually home on two ground outs from Connor McClain and Curry.
The Redhawks continued to rally back in the top of the fifth inning. Branden Boggetto led off with a hit-by-pitch and moved to third on an Andy Lennington double. Boggetto scored on a sacrifice fly from Hewitt to cut the Sycamore lead to 6-4.
Indiana State's Jacob Hayes led off the fifth inning and was hit by a pitch. Estevez moved him to second after he was hit by a pitch, and Hayes came around to score on a single from Brian Romero and put the Sycamores up 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth.
The Sycamores scored another solo run in the bottom of the sixth inning. McClain walked to start the inning and moved to second after Hayes drew a walk. Young singled to center to bring in McClain and extend the lead to 8-4.
SEMO rallied to score three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Boggetto singled and moved to second when Hewitt drew a walk. Ryan Rippee singled to bring home Boggetto. Leeper drove home Hewitt and Rippee after doubling to center field and cut the lead to 8-7 ISU.
At the plate, the eight Sycamores recorded hits as Owen led the way with a 3-for-4 performance. Romero and Young each added two hits and two RBI. Curry finished 1-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. DeJesus and Hayes each added a hit and a run scored. Estevez and Moore finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
On the mound, Greg Kuhlman started his third game of the season, going 4.1 innings, allowing five hits, four runs (three earned), walking three and striking out seven. Ethan Larrison worked in relief, going 2.1 innings, allowing four hits, three runs (earned), walking one and striking out two. David Stagg made his third appearance out of the bullpen, facing two hitters and striking out one. Two strong innings from Ryan Cheek and Connor Schwienebart earned the victory for the Sycamores. Cheek (2-0) worked a scoreless eight to earn the win and Schwienebart earned his first save, walking one and striking out two hitters in the ninth.
The Sycamores return to action on Tuesday, May 12th as ISU hosts SIU Edwardsville at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium for the final home game of the 2015 season. Game time is set for 6:00 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.
