Ashley Dickerson
GoSycamores.com
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Indiana State Baseball (3-1, 0-0 MVC) fell to the Little Rock Trojans (2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) in a heartbreaker that ended with the Trojans on top 6-5. Despite an early 4-3 lead headlined by senior Andy Young's base-clearing triple in the fourth, the Sycamores just could not outlast the Trojans. A late, clutch RBI from junior Hunter Owen would not be enough to keep Indiana State perfect.
The Sycamores struck first in the second inning on a senior Andrew Gutierrez RBI. Earlier in the inning, sophomore Tyler Friis singled, then stole both second and third on back-to-back pitches to put himself in scoring position. Gutierrez then made solid contact on a ball that ricocheted off of the Little Rock hurler as Friis made his way home to put the Sycamores up 1-0.
The Trojans bounced back in the bottom of the third after two runners reached safely and Trojan three hole hitter, Dalton Thomas, doubled to put Little Rock on the board. Following Thomas, Little Rock's Matt McDowell added two more RBIs with his single to put the Trojans up 3-1.
In the top of the fourth inning, three different Sycamores were patient at the plate, loading the bases on walks. Young was then hit by a pitch, but brought back to the plate to continue the at-bat. Being hit would not prove good enough for Young as he then crushed a triple down the left field line to clear the bases and change the score to 4-3 in favor of the Sycamores.
The Sycamores and Trojans teetered back-and-forth as the Trojans tallied two walks and a double in the bottom of the fourth to one-up the Sycamores for a second time, now leading 5-4.
Indiana State had another chance to score in the top of the fifth, but stranded two runners. On the defensive end, the Sycamores proved themselves tough as junior Damon Olds entered the game on the mound and worked through a jam to keep the Trojans from plating any go-aheads.
The offensive spark came in the top of the ninth after a pinch hit single from junior Jeff Zahn started a Sycamore comeback. The Sycamore bench rallied behind their hitters as the Trojans then walked Young and fellow senior Andy DeJesus to load the bases. Owen proved himself a clutch hitter once again this weekend as he singled in the infield to tie things up at fives.
The Sycamores went deep into their bullpen, throwing five different pitchers throughout the game. In the bottom of the ninth, the Sycamores went through three different pitchers as the first two Trojans of the inning got on, the third was intentionally walked, and the final batter was eventually hit by a pitch to propel the Trojans to the 6-5 heartbreaking win over the Sycamores.
Young finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBIs and recorded his ninth walk of the weekend. Friis was 2-for-4 with one run scored, and Zahn was 1-for-1 on pinch hit attempts. Olds (0-1) recorded the loss on the mound for the Sycamores.
Senior Kaden Moore finished the weekend with seven hits and seven RBIs, while Owen finished with seven hits and six runs scored. Preseason All-MVC selection Andy Young's weekend boasted five hits, five runs, three RBIs, and nine walks. The Sycamores will head back to Terre Haute going 3-1 to open the season.
The Sycamores will travel to Port Charlotte, Fla. for a five-game stint where they will open up the weekend with the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday at 2:00 p.m. EDT. Follow Sycamore Baseball on Facebook and Twitter for more news and game day updates.
