TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Redshirt junior Dane Giesler sent Sycamore fans home happy Sunday afternoon at Bob Warn Field when he hit an RBI infield single to walk off Oakland in the ninth, 5-4.
 
After battling illness for the past week, junior Tyler Friis made his presence known as he led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to center, putting all the pressure on the Golden Grizzlies.
 
Friis moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before Oakland loaded the bases, looking for a double play. That was when Giesler belted the first pitch he saw to the first base side to give ISU the win.
 
Oakland tied the game in the top of the ninth after their leadoff man Tyler Pagano reached after being hit by a pitch, eventually coming in on a single out to left.
 
The Sycamores (10-9) jumped out on top in the second on a wild pitch before adding to their lead on an RBI groundout by Chris Ayers.
 
However, Oakland answered the ISU runs with one of their own in the third on a solo home run from Tyler Janish. The visitors would go on to take the lead for the first time in the sixth after scoring a pair of runs to make it a 4-3 game.
 
Indiana State again answered right back when Clay Dungan tied the ballgame with one swing of the bat on his second home run of the season. Catcher Dominic Bifano gave ISU the lead in the eight in a squeeze play, scoring Giesler from third.
 
Giesler led the way for the Trees with a 3-for-5 day at the plate that included a double and two runs scored. Cody Gardner added a trio of his as well in the game.
 
Second-year man Tyler Ward picked up the no decision after going 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. The right-hander was unlucky on several occasions as OU picked up two of those runs in the sixth after a ball was lost in the sun and dropped in the outfield for a triple.
 
Austin Conway picked up the win, improving to 1-1 on the season.
 
The Sycamores will wrap up their homestand Tuesday when they welcome Eastern Illinois to Bob Warn Field for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
 
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.