TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamore baseball team defeated the Bradley Braves 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium. ISU used a three- run rally in the ninth for the walk-off victory. In the last four games at Bob Warn Field, the Sycamores have won three in walk-off fashion. ISU improves to 21-22, and 6-11 in the Missouri Valley, while Bradley falls to 30-13, and 8-6 in the Valley.
The Braves scored first in the top of the second inning. A walk to Paul Solka put the first runner on, and Solka moved to third on a single from Drew Carlile. Evan Gruener brought home Solka on a sacrifice fly to right field and put the Braves up 1-0.
The Sycamores tied it up in the bottom of the second inning. Kaden Moore belted his second home run of the season to left field. After two complete, the game was tied 1-1.
Bradley added a single run in the top of the fourth inning. Spencer Gaa led-off with a solo home run to left field to regain the lead, 2-1.
The Braves increased their lead in the top of the seventh inning. Drew Carlile hit a solo homer to left field and put Bradley up 3-1.
ISU was able to gain the lead for the first time in the bottom of the ninth. Three-straight singles from Andy DeJesus, Manny Estevez and Moore led off the final frame. A hit-by-pitch from Landon Curry plated DeJesus for the first run of the rally. Andy Young singled to the shortstop to bring in Estevez, and Hayes lined a single down the right field line to score Moore and give the Sycamores the 4-3 victory.
Ryan Keaffaber started on the mound for the Sycamores. Keaffaber went 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits, three runs (three earned), walking two and striking out three. Michael Eberle pitched an inning in relief, retiring the three batters he faced and recording a strike out. Greg Kuhlman (1-2) picked up the win, throwing in 1.1 innings, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out three.
At the plate, Moore and Young each finished with two hits. Moore was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored; Young finished 2-for-5 with an RBI. Hayes finished 1-for-4 with an RBI. Hunter Owen, Curry, DeJesus, Estevez, and Gutierrez each finished 1-for-4. Curry added an RBI, with DeJesus and Estevez scoring runs.
The Sycamores return to action on Sunday, May 3rd as they host the Braves in the series finale at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium, with first pitch being 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.
