Ashley Dickerson
GoSycamores.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Indiana State Baseball (21-12, 2-1 MVC) earned the series win over the Southern Illinois Salukis (19-13-1, 1-2 MVC) in the opening weekend of Missouri Valley Conference play. After dropping game one on Friday, the Sycamores bounced back with stellar performances on the mound from junior Ryan Keaffaber on Saturday and freshman Tyler Ward on Sunday. Ward earned his fourth win of the season in seven complete innings of work, and the Sycamores are now nine games above .500 for the first time this season.
For the Sycamores, Ward retired 13 batters in a row during the middle part of the game, giving up only four hits on the day. Ward improved himself to 4-3, walking only one and striking out one in Sunday win.
The Sycamores scored in the first inning for the sixteenth time this season, plating one in the top of the first. Senior Andy Young tacked up the first hit and run of the game when he doubled and then scored on a Saluki throwing error.
Striking again in the fourth inning, the Sycamores scored two as both freshman Clay Dungan and junior Tony Rosselli reached on walks before sophomore Dane Giesler sliced one down the right field line to put Indiana State up 3-0.
In the seventh inning, Giesler led off with a single, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a ground out from sophomore Tyler Friis. Giesler made his way to home on another wild pitch to move the Sycamores ahead 4-0.
Indiana State added another insurance run, going up 5-0 in the top of the ninth, as they loaded the bases, and then plated Friis when senior Kaden Moore was hit by a pitch.
Southern Illinois showed some fight in the bottom half of the ninth, scoring one, but the Sycamore defense would hold them to that, as junior Jeremy McKinney picked up his fourth save of the season in the 5-1 win.
The Sycamores shut out the Salukis in 17 of 18 innings throughout the last two games of the series. Giesler went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored, as four other Sycamores had a hit each in the win.
Indiana State Baseball returns to Bob Warn Field next weekend as they continue Missouri Valley Conference play with a three-game series against Illinois State starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET. For more information on Sycamore Baseball, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
