Skip To Main Content

Indiana State University Athletics

Tyler Friis at Illinois ksndclksndkcns
2
Indiana State INS 12-12
5
Winner Illinois ILL 9-16
Indiana State INS
12-12
2
Final
5
Illinois ILL
9-16
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Indiana State INS 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0
Illinois ILL 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 X 5 7 1

W: Sefcik (3-3) L: Keaffaber, Ryan (2-2) S: Gerber (2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | By Tim McCaughan | GoSycamores.com

Sycamores Struggle with Runners on Base, Fall to Illini, 5-2

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Indiana State dropped the series finale to Illinois Sunday afternoon in Champaign, falling to the Fighting Illini, 5-2 at Illinois Field.
 
The Illini jumped on top early with a sacrifice fly in the first but Ryan Keaffaber got out of the bases loaded jam with a pair of groundouts. The Sycamore (12-12) offense answered with the tying run in the top of the second when Tyler Friis picked up a bases loaded walk, scoring Dominic Bifano from third.
 
That was before a pair of walks came back to bite the Sycamores in the second as the Illini scored three runs on a trio of hits, including a two-run home run from Pat McInerney who finished with a home run in each game of the series.
 
Dane Giesler brought life back into the ISU dugout in the third with a solo home run to left to cut the Illinois lead to just two. It marked the redshirt junior's sixth homer of the year to lead the Trees.
 
The Illini would answer Giesler's home run with one of their own in the fifth as Casey Dodge sent a ball over the left-field wall in the fifth to go up 5-2.
 
Missed opportunities proved to be costly for the Sycamores on the afternoon as they finished 0-for-10 with runners on and stranded 11 runners on the bases. ISU left the bases loaded in both the second and fifth innings.
 
Sycamore starting pitcher Ryan Keaffaber went just 1.2 innings in the game allowing two runs on three hits. Right-hander Jeremy McKinney came out of the bullpen, going 3.1 innings, striking out three while giving up three runs. At one point, McKinney retired seven-straight Illinois batters.
 
Ethan Larrison pitched an effective two innings out of the bullpen, allowing no hits and striking out one in the sixth and seventh.
 
The Sycamores return to action Tuesday when they make the short trek to West Lafayette to take on Purdue. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET from Alexander Field.
 
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.
 
Print Friendly Version