Ashley Dickerson
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State Baseball (19-11, 0-0 MVC) is coming off of a five-game winning streak, earning their most recent win over in-state rival, Purdue, 6-1 on Tuesday. In the win for the Sycamores, junior Weston Rivers earned his first win on the mound, and freshman Triston Polley earned his first save as a Sycamore. Junior Hunter Owen knocked his fourth home run of the season, and added a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. The Sycamores are set to open Missouri Valley Conference play on Friday, as they travel to Carbondale, Ill., to take on Southern Illinois (18-11-1, 0-0 MVC).
Week Schedule
Friday: @SIU (5:00pm)
Saturday: @ SIU (3:00pm)
Sunday: @ SIU (2:00pm)
Probable Pitchers
Friday: Jr. LHP Justin Hill
Saturday: Jr. LHP Ryan Keaffaber
Sunday: Fr RHP Tyler Ward
Young Earns MVC Player of the Week
Senior Andy Young has been named the MVC Player of the Week after a standout week for the Sycamores. In Tuesday's Big Ten battle with Illinois, Young went 3-for-4 at the plate, knocking in three runs, while hitting his third home run of the season in the 5-4 win. On Saturday against Butler, Young led at the plate, going 4-for-4, notching his fourth home run, stealing a base and scoring four runs. This week, Young hit for a solid .526 over four games started and played, going 10-for-19 with two home runs, a triple, seven RBIs, nine runs scored, two stolen bases and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
Second Sweep
This past weekend, the Sycamores picked up their second sweep of the season over in-state rival, Butler, defeating the Bulldogs 13-9 in 14 innings on Friday, 7-2 on Saturday, and 6-1 on Sunday. Indiana State returns home to play another Big Ten foe when host the Boilermakers on Tuesday before opening the conference season at Southern Illinois on Friday.
Big Ten Wins
On Tuesday, the Sycamores picked up their third win over a Big Ten opponent as they avoided extra innings with Illinois, winning 5-4 in walk-off fashion. Earlier in the season, the Sycamores faced the Indiana Hoosiers who they beat 5-1 and the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Snowbird Classic in Florida where they out-hit the Hawks in the 11-3 victory.
Keaffaber's Complete Game
Junior Ryan Keaffaber, a southpaw from Wabash, Ind., tossed the first complete game of the season for the Sycamore pitching staff in the 7-2 win over in-state rival, Butler, on Saturday. Keaffaber threw all nine innings, giving up only two runs and two walks, while striking out two. The junior improved his record to 3-2 on the mound in the win.
Grand Slam Walk-Off
In Friday's 14-inning barn burner with Butler, junior Hunter Owen continued to prove that he carries a clutch stick at the plate. After Butler loaded the bases, Owen stepped up and jacked the first pitch well over the left field wall and notching the first grand slam for the Sycamores this year. Owen is currently swinging .369 while knocking in 32 runs, and is tied with teammate Andy Young at 31st in the nation for runs scored with 32.
Kaden Climbs The Ranks
Senior Kaden Moore continues to climb the rankings for the Sycamores, also tallying a home run over the weekend. Moore swung for an impressive 9-for-18 over the weekend, notching a .500 batting average. Moorehas moved into the top spot for Sycamore hitters, swinging an impressive .372, while tallying 28 RBIs.
Southpaw Weston
Junior lefty, Weston Rivers, has performed well on the mound for the Sycamores as he has stepped into a starting position. Rivers threw for six complete innings, giving up only two hits in the 5-4 victory over the Fighting Illini of Illinois, and threw five complete against Purdue on Tuesday, walking only two and surrendering only two hits as he picked up his first win of the season.
A Little History
The Sycamores trail the series 76-94, with the first meeting between the two schools dating back to 1967.
Scouting The Competition
Currently, the Salukis are right below the Sycamores in MVC rankings, holding the number four spot behind Missouri State, Dallas Baptist, and the Sycamores. The Southern Illinois pitching staff is currently second in the MVC behind Indiana State, carrying a 3.50 combined ERA. Leading the Saluki hitters is Greg Lambert (.336, 40 hits, 7 doubles, and 17 RBIs). The top four Saluki hitters are batting over .300, and that list includes Jared Schmidt, Greg Lambert, Braden Mosley, and Dyllin Mucha.
Projected pitching for the Salukis on Friday will be Joey Merciano (2-3, 3.79 ERA, 40.1 innings pitched, 35 hits, 18 runs, 17 earned runs, 18 walks, and 28 strike outs).
Projected Saturday starter: Chad Whitmer (3-0, 2.51 ERA, 43.0 innings pitched, 35 hits, 14 runs, 12 earned runs, 11 walks, and 35 strikeots).
Projected Sunday starter: Michael Baird (5-1, 1.88 ERA, 48.0 innings pitched, 35 hits, 10 runs, 10 earned runs, 10 walks, 30 strikeouts).
The Sycamores are set to open game one of MVC play at 5:00 p.m. on Friday in Carbondale. For information on how to follow to game, check GoSycamores.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
