Ashley Dickerson
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Sycamore Baseball (21-13, 2-2 MVC) dropped game one of the three-game series with MVC foe Illinois State (9-23, 1-2 MVC) on Friday night. Indiana State rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning to score one, but would fall to the Redbirds 5-1.
The Redbirds came out swinging, scoring one run in the top of the first inning to go up 1-0. Indiana State put runners on in the second and third innings, but could not push any across.
Illinois State scored another run in the top of the fifth inning, just before the Sycamores turned a triple play up the middle, all from the hands of senior second baseman Andy DeJesus. A hard hit ball came flying up the middle, tipping off the glove of senior pitcher Brad Lombard before DeJesus caught it in the air, stepped on second and gunned down the runner at first. This was the first triple play for Indiana State since May 13, 2012.
The Sycamores threatened again in the bottom of the sixth, putting both senior Andy Young and junior Hunter Owen on base, but still would not plate one.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Redbirds rallied to score another three runs, just before the Sycamores plated their first and only run of the game in the bottom of the ninth. Indiana State's rally fell short, as they would fall 5-1.
For the Sycamores, junior Hunter Owen went 3-for-4 while scoring the lone run of the game for Indiana State.
The two teams will return to Bob Warn Field on Saturday, April 16, for game two at 2:00 p.m. ET. Be sure to follow the Sycamores on Twitter and like us on Facebook for live updates.
