TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamores earned another walk-off victory on Saturday night at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium. ISU defeated the Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) Redhawks 4-3 in 14 innings. ISU improves to 23-23 on the season, while SEMO falls to 31-19. It is the fourth walk-off victory in the last three weeks for the Sycamores.
The Sycamores scored the bulk of their runs in the bottom of the first inning. Landon Curry and Derek Hannahs drew lead off walks, and Andy Young drove them home on a home run to left field and put the Sycamores up 3-0.
SEMO got a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Dalton Hewitt was hit by a pitch, then came home on a Branden Boggetto home run to left to cut the lead to 3-2 ISU.
The Redhawks tied the game up in the top of the eighth inning. Trevor Ezell doubled down the right field line and moved to third on a wild pitch. Garrett Gandolfo singled to second base to bring in the tying run in.
After 12 scoreless innings, the Sycamores were able to get on the board in the bottom of the 14th. A lead-off walk to Curry started the inning, and Young was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Jacob Hayes delivered a double to the wall in right center to bring home Curry and earn the 4-3 walk-off victory.
At the plate, Hayes and Curry finished with multiple hits. Curry was 2-for-4 with two runs scored while walking three times. Hayes went 2-for-5 with the game-winning RBI. Young added to the damage for the Sycamores, finishing 1-for-3 with three RBI, a run scored and drawing three walks. DeJesus, Estevez, and Moore each added a hit.
On the mound, Ryan Keaffaber started, throwing 7.1 innings, allowing five hits, three runs (three earned), walking one and striking out seven. Austin Conway pitched in relief, going a career-long 5.0 innings, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out a career-high eight. Michael Eberle worked 0.1 innings, before being lifted for Nick Kolarik. Kolarik worked 0.2 innings, striking out one hitter. Trent Lunsford (1-2) earned the victory, getting an inning-ending double play in the top of the 14th.
The Sycamores return to action on Sunday, May 10th as they host SEMO for the series finale at 1:00 p.m. at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium. There will be mother's day and senior day ceremonies prior to the start of the contest.
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.
