Ashley Dickerson

GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State is now 24-16, 4-5 MVC after dropping three to MVC-leading, ranked Dallas Baptist. The Sycamores kept both Friday and Saturday's games within reach, even leading the Patriots in all three weekend games before falling in late innings. The Sycamores out-hit the Patriots in Saturday's game and had equal hits on Friday night. 

Indiana State will host their second ranked opponent in a row, as they welcome No.23 Missouri State (28-11, 3-5 MVC) to town for a three-game MVC series, with a double header Friday and one game on Saturday. Due to expected weather, the scheduling for this weekend is as follows: Friday, April 29 at 2:30 p.m. ET., followed by the second game of the double header approximately 30 minutes after conclusion of game one, and finishing up on Saturday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Weekend Schedule
Friday, April 29 - vs. No.23 Missouri State - 2:30pm
Friday, April 29 - vs. No.23 Missouri State - approximately 30 minutes after conclusion of game one.
Saturday, April 30 - vs. No.23 Missouri State - 2:00pm

Probable Pitchers
Game one - LHP Ryan Keaffaber
Game two - RHP Tyler Ward
Game three - LHP Justin Hill

By The Numbers
Indiana State's defense currently ranks fifth in the NCAA and first in the MVC with a .982 fielding percentage. Junior hunter Owen holds the second spot in the MVC for hits with 58, the fourth spot in individual batting with a .363 average, and is eighteenth in the NCAA with 13 hit by pitches. Owen is also 40th in the NCAA with 42 runs scored. Senior Kaden Moore rounds out the top 100 in the NCAA in the RBIs category, as he has tallied 38 so far this season. Indiana State's pitching staff currently holds the second spot in MVC rankings with a combined 3.71 ERA.

Hometown Hero
Junior Tony Rosselli not only started the Sycamores' come-from-behind scoring campaign at Purdue on April 20, but he kept pounding. The Terre Haute native got things going by knocking in two runs in the fourth inning to start ISU's come back from a 4-0 defecit. Rosselli went on to finish the game with eight total RBIs, four hits, three runs scored, two doubles, a home run, and a walk in the Sycamores' 22-4 win over Purdue. Throughout the series with ranked Dallas Baptist, Rosselli was 3-for-9 with a .500 on base percentage. Throughout the week, the junior hit .500, racked up nine RBIs, and scored three runs.

Hot Hitting
Sophomore Dane Giesler has done well in his last few starts for the Sycamores. Giesler stepped up to play first base at Purdue and in this weekend's series with Dallas Baptist. At Purdue, Giesler went 2-for-5 while tallying three RBIs, a walk and a run scored. Throughout the series with conference foe Dallas Baptist, Giesler led the Sycamores offense, going 5-for-11with a double and a RBI.

A Little History
The Sycamores trail the all-time series with the bears, 41-64, with the first meeting between the two teams dating back to the 1972 season.

Scouting The Competition
The Bears come to town ranked No.23 according to the USA Today Coaches Poll. The team ranks number one in the MVC with an overall team batting average of .300, while hitting the most home runs with 52. Jake Burger leads the Bears' offense, batting .370 as he leads the MVC with 61 hits, 46 runs, 54 RBIs, and 17 home runs. Hunter Steinmetz is swinging .344 with 55 hits and leads the MVC with six triples and is 13-14 stolen bases this season. Spencer Johnson also adds to the offensive arsenal, as he is swinging a .299 with 49 RBIs, and Justin Paulsen is also .299 at the plate with 32 RBIs. The weekend pitching for the Bears will be led by Dylan Coleman and Jordan Knutson, with a decision for Saturday's starter pending. Coleman is currently 6-2 with a 3.83 ERA, while allowing 41 hits, 21 earned runs, and striking out 57. Knutson is currently 5-3 on the mound with a 4.37 ERA. Knutson has given up 60 hits, 28 earned runs, and has struck out 64 batters.

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