Ashley Dickerson
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Baseball (22-13, 3-1 MVC) picked up their third MVC win against Illinois State (9-24, 1-3 MVC) on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 6-5. Despite trailing in early innings, the Sycamores gradually rallied back, scoring in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to earn the game two win. Freshman Chris Ayers hit his second home run of the season, going 2-for-4 on the day.
The Redbirds struck first in the top of the second as they sent one over the left field wall, going up 1-0 early in the ball game.
In the bottom of the third, junior Tony Rosselli started things off for the Sycamores as he singled to the pitcher before advancing to third on a throwing error. Sophomore Dane Giesler followed with a single to right field to score Rosselli, notching the score at 1-1.
Illinois State fired back, scoring four in the top of the fourth, pulling ahead of the Sycamores, 5-1. Junior Hunter Owen singled in the bottom of the inning, but a double play for the Redbirds cleared the bases.
In the bottom of the fifth, freshman Chris Ayers led off with a double to right center, Rosselli followed with a single, and Ayers went on to score on a fielder's choice RBI from Giesler. Sophomore Tyler Friis then reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a RBI triple from senior Andy DeJesus, cutting into the Redbird lead making it 5-3.
The Sycamores tied things up at 5-5 in the bottom half of the sixth as Owen was hit by a pitch for the tenth time this season, followed by Ayers smashing his second home run of the season over the right field wall.
Indiana State took over the lead in the bottom of the seventh with Friis doubling to left, DeJesus singling up the middle, and senior Andy Young knocking in his 23rd RBI of the season with a single to left center to score Friis. The Sycamores would hold on to the 6-5 lead to earn the game two win.
Leading the Sycamore offense was Chris Ayers who went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored on the day. DeJesus tallied three hits and one RBI for the Sycamores, Owen went 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored, and Rosselli finished 2-for-4 with one run scored. Giesler knocked in two RBIs, and Friis scored twice for Indiana State.
The winning pitcher was junior Jeremy McKinney who threw three complete innings, giving up no hits and striking out three to improve himself to 3-2 on the mound.
Indiana State and Illinois State will return to Bob Warn Field on Sunday, April 17 to finish out the three-game series at 1:00 p.m. ET.
