TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State baseball team earned a dramatic 8-7 come-from-behind victory over the Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) Redhawks on an eventful evening at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium. The Sycamores improve to 22-23 on the season, while the Redhawks fall to 31-18.
The night started with an hour and five minute weather delay. In the top of the third inning, Bob Warn Field experienced a power surge which shut the lights off and added a 15 minute delay. In the fifth inning, the home plate umpire had to leave the game after taking a pitch to the knee, which prompted a 20 minute delay as the third base umpire left the field to don his home plate equipment. The entire contest took 3 hours and 54 minutes to complete, not including the delay before the first pitch.
The Redhawks drew first blood in the second inning when Ryan Rippee hit a solo home run to left field to put SEMO up 1-0.
SEMO added to their lead in the top of the fourth inning. Jason Blum led off with a single and moved to second after Branden Boggetto was hit by a pitch. Blum and Boggetto moved into scoring position following a wild pitch. Cole Ferguson drove in Blum with a ground out to second, and Hunter Leeper brought home Boggetto on a single up the middle.
ISU cut into the lead in the bottom of fourth inning. Derek Hannahs singled to lead off the inning and moved to second when Andy Young drew a walk. Jacob Hayes ground out to move the runners into scoring position when Hunter Owen singled down the third baseline to bring in the two ISU runs and cut the lead to 3-2.
SEMO added a run in the top of the fifth inning. Trevor Ezell singled and scored after two walks and a hit batter. The Redhawks led 4-2 after four and a half innings.
The Sycamores scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Connor McClain led off with a walk and moved to third after a bunt and a wild pitch. Hannahs drove home McClain on a ground out to second and cut the lead to 4-3 in favor of the Redhawks.
Southeast Missouri State added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning. Leeper led off with a solo home run. Brendon Neel followed with a single and stole second base. A sacrifice bunt moved Neel to third and later scored on a ground out from Jason Blum and put the Redhawks up 6-3.
SEMO added another run in the top of the eighth on Leeper's second solo home run of the night.
The Sycamores used a five-run eighth inning to take the lead and eventually the ball game. Owen led off with a walk, and back-to-back singles from Andy DeJesus and Manny Estevez loaded the bases. Kaden Moore singled down the left field line to score two, and brought McClain to the plate. McClain delivered his third home run of the season, driving a ball over the left field wall to score three and put the Sycamores ahead 8-7.
Austin Conway worked the ninth, earning his sixth save while striking out two Redhawks.
At the plate, the Sycamores were led by McClain who finished 1-for-2 with three RBI, and two runs scored. Owen finished 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored. Moore went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Hannahs also finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. DeJesus and Estevez combined for three hits and two runs.
On the mound, Jeff Degano started, throwing in 5.1 innings, giving up seven hits, six runs (six earned), walking two and striking out eight. Connor Schwienebart (4-1) earned the win in relief, going 2.2 innings, allowing two hits, and one run (earned), before giving way to Conway in the ninth.
The Sycamores and the Redhawks will continue their series Saturday evening at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium on senior night. There will be a pregame ceremony honoring our 13 seniors, who are competing in their final home series of their careers.
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.
