Austin Peay Invitational
Dates & Location	Feb. 17-19, 2017 // Clarksville, Tenn.
Game 1 (Feb. 17)	vs Illinois State // 12:30 p.m. ET // Live Stats
Game 2 (Feb. 18)	vs Youngstown State // 4:30 p.m. ET // Live Stats
Game 3 (Feb. 19)	at Austin Peay // 4:30 p.m. ET // Live Stats // Listen
Info	Quick Facts | Game Notes | 2016 Season Stats | MVC Baseball | NCAA Baseball
Social Media	@IndStBaseball | SycamoreBaseball

 

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State baseball will kick off the regular season this weekend starting Friday in Clarksville, Tenn. at the Austin Peay Invitational. The Sycamores will kick off the season against Illinois State in a nonconference matchup Friday at 12:30 p.m. before taking on Youngstown State Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The team will wrap up the weekend against the host Governors Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
 
LOOKING AT THE SYCAMORES
Indiana State returns four position starters and six key pitchers from its 2016. The Sycamores will be led offensively by junior Tyler Friis (.293, 58 hits, 30 runs, 4 doubles, 20 RBI) and senior Tony Rosselli (.281, 50 hits, 44 runs, 10 home runs, 34 RBI). Redshirt junior Dane Giesler (.273, 45 hits, 8 doubles, 25 RBI) and sophomore Clay Dungan (.271, 39 hits, 8 doubles, 26 RBI) will add to the offensive fire power for the Sycamores. On the pitching side, Indiana State brings back starters Ryan Keaffaber (6-4, 3.48 ERA, 46 K), Tyler Ward (6-5, 3.81 ERA, 40 K) and Justin Hill (5-2, 4.27 ERA, 48 K), while junior closer Jeremy McKinney (6-4, 3.26 ERA, 46 K, 7 saves), an honorable mention All-MVC choice, also returns to the mound for the Sycamores.
 
SERIES HISTORY WITH THE FIELD
Indiana State leads the all-time series with Illinois State 103-82. The Sycamores took two of three games versus the Redbirds last season in Terre Haute. Youngstown State holds a 2-1 series advantage over ISU while Indiana State leads the all-time series over Austin Peay, 25-15.
 
COMING UP ON 100
Indiana State Head Coach Mitch Hannahs comes into the season just two wins away from 100 career wins. Hannahs, entering his fourth season at the helm of the Sycamores has a 98-65 overall record through three seasons. He has led the Sycamores to a pair of 30+ win seasons in the last three seasons. Only five coaches in the history of Sycamore baseball have eclipsed the 100-win mark in their careers. Long-time skipper Bob Warn leads all coaches with 1,070 career wins at ISU. Hannahs sits sixth all-time on the list.
 
WARD COMING OFF FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN CAMPAIGN
Right-hander Tyler Ward became the 12th player in school history to pick up the honor and the first since Ryan Keafabber in 2014. Ward went 6-5 in his rookie season with the Sycamores, holding a 3.81 ERA with a save and 40 strikeouts. He earned 12 starts in 2016 and made 18 total appearances on the mound for ISU, who finished the season 35-21 overall and second in the Missouri Valley Conference. He went a season-long eight innings in Indiana State's 3-2 win over Illinois State where he struck out five. He fanned a season-high six in a win over Bradley on May 14 and picked up the start in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament matchup versus Missouri State.
 
SYCAMORES PICKED FOURTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Indiana State has been picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll as voted on by the league coaches. The Sycamores are coming off a 35-21 season a year ago and a second-place finish in the conference after a 13-8 MVC campaign. Dallas Baptist tallied 59 points and were named the favorite over second-place pick Southern Illinois (53 points), as the Salukis tallied three first-place votes. Missouri State (51 points) finished third, while Indiana State and Wichita State finished tied for fourth with 36 points. Bradley was selected in sixth place with 25 points, followed by Evansville (20 points) in the seventh slot and Illinois State eighth (8 points).
 
2016 MLB DRAFT
In the history of Indiana State baseball, 125 players have been selected in the MLB Draft. Last season the Sycamores padded that number as Hunter Owen and Andy Young were each selected. Owen was drafted in the 25th round by the Pittsburg Pirates and Young was picked up by the Saint Louis Cardinals in the 37th round. Both were named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Team last season. Young posted a .299 batting average this season for the Sycamores with six home runs and 34 RBI. Young added 16 doubles and three triples with 106 total bases. He led the team and finished fourth in the MVC with 55 runs scored. Young started all 56 of the Sycamores' games at third base. Owen led the Sycamores and the entire MVC with a .350 batting average with six home runs and 47 RBI. Owen added 20 doubles (fifth in the league) and a triple as he earned a start in all 56 games. He boasted a team-best .567 slugging percentage with four sacrifice flies and was a perfect 5-of-5 on his stolen base attempts.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.