NORMAL, Ill. – The Indiana State Sycamores split a double header with the Illinois State Redbirds on Friday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field. The Sycamores took the first game 3-0 before falling in the second half of the twin bill 5-4. The Sycamores are now 26-24 overall and 7-13 in the Missouri Valley. The Redbirds are now 27-24, and 9-11 in the Valley.
The Sycamores broke up the scoreless first game in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Andy Young hit his seventh home run of the season, putting Indiana State up 1-0 after three and a half innings.
Indiana State added to their lead in the top of the seventh. Jacob Hayes belted his ninth home run, a solo shot to center field to give the Sycamores a 2-0 lead.
The Sycamores added a more conventional solo run in the top of the ninth. Manny Estevez reached on a fielder's choice and was able to steal second base. Kaden Moore singled to center field to bring home Estevez and give Indiana State the 3-0 lead.
At the plate, every Sycamore recorded a hit, with no one recording more than one. The two biggest hits of the contest were the two solo home runs from Young and Hayes. Moore added the RBI single in the ninth. It was the second time this season that all nine starters had a hit for the Sycamores. The last time was in the second game of the year, a 15-5 win over Grambling State.
On the mound, four Sycamores combined for the two-hit shutout. Jeff Degano (7-3) started and pitched 5.0 innings, striking out five Redbird hitters. Connor Schwienebart worked 1.1 innings, allowing one hit and walking one. Greg Kuhlman finished the seventh and started the eighth, for a total of one inning where he struck out one and walked one. Austin Conway earned his seventh save of the season, going 1.2 innings, and striking out two hitters.
In the nightcap, the Sycamores took an early lead, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. Landon Curry drew a lead-off walk and stole second base. Indiana State had runners on the corners after a ground-out and a Young walk. A failed pick-off attempt from the Illinois State pitcher scored Curry and allowed Young to take third. Hunter Owen drove a single through the left side to bring home Young and give the Sycamores a 2-0 advantage.
Illinois State tied it up in the bottom of the second. After a lead-off double, Dennis Colon hit his fourth home run of the year to left field to tie it at two.
The Redbirds took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the third inning. Three-straight singles from Ryan Koziol, Mason Snyder and Joe Kelch scored a run for Illinois State and gave the Redbirds the 3-2 lead.
Illinois State added to their lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs, Koziol singled and came home on a two-run homer from Snyder and put the Redbirds up 5-2.
The Sycamores battled back in the top of the ninth inning. Taylor Steen delivered a two-RBI single to bring the score to 5-4 before the Sycamores were eventually retired.
At the plate, Hayes, Owen, and Steen finished 2-for-4 with three combined RBI. McClain and Friis each added a hit as the Sycamores were held to eight hits in the second contest.
On the mound, Ryan Keaffaber (1-5) started and picked up the loss. Keaffaber went 6.0 innings giving up seven hits, three runs (three earned), and struck out two. Ryan Cheek worked 2.0 innings in relief, giving up two hits, and two earned runs.
The Sycamores return to action on Saturday, May 16th as they face off with the Redbirds at Duffy Bass Field for the series-deciding game at 2:00 p.m. (ET).
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.
