DALLAS – Dallas Baptist took Friday's series opener over Indiana State in a slugfest, 20-12 at Horner Ballpark behind a two home run, five RBI game from first baseman Austin Listi. With the loss, the Sycamore drop into a second-place tie with the Patriots in The Valley Standings.
 
Coming into the game, Indiana State (18-17, 4-3 MVC) pitching had allowed no more than two home runs in any game this year, but that changed in hitter-friendly Horner Ballpark as the Patriots knocked out a season best five home runs in the game led by Listi who had two in the game.
 
The Patriots (22-15, 4-3 MVC) scored eight runs in the first two innings as they took advantage of five walks and a pair of home runs. It looked to be all DBU until the Sycamore bats began to click in the third.
 
Indiana State sent 14 men to the plate and recorded nine base hits in the frame as they tied the ballgame with eight runs. Jeff Zahn and Clay Dungan each drove in a run to kick off the frame before junior Dane Giesler hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season with a three-run knock to right center. The Sycamores weren't done though as Kyle Moore doubled home Chris Ayers and Dominic Bifano singled in Moore to make it 8-7 DBU.
 
With the bases loaded and one out, Tyler Friis sent a ball up the third base line that would stay fair and allow Bifano to score and tie the game.
 
The eight runs set a new season best for runs in an inning.  
 
The momentum didn't last long for the Trees as Listi picked up his second home run of the game with a two-run knock to left and the Patriots wouldn't look back. DBU scored the next seven runs of the ballgame to take a commanding lead before ISU put up a four-spot in the sixth after a two-run home run from Moore and a two-run triple from Friis.  
 
DBU added three runs in the seventh and eighth on two wild pitches and a passed ball as the ISU pitching staff struggled with their control on the night with six wild pitches.
 
Indiana State outhit Dallas Baptist 18-17 in the game led by a four-hit performance from leadoff man Tyler Friis. Friis, an Auburn, Washington native recorded his first triple of the season in the sixth when he drove in two of his three RBIs. Dane Giesler and Kyle Moore each finished with a home run and three RBIs in the game.
 
It wasn't Jeremy McKinney's night as the junior right-hander was hit for eight runs in just 1.1 innings as he walked a season high five batters and gave up a pair of home runs in the outing. The Franklin, Indiana native threw 74 pitches and struck out one in the no decision.
 
Dallas Baptist continued to pour it on the Sycamore bullpen through the first five innings, scoring multiple runs in each frame until Triston Polley and Damon Olds combined to hold the Patriots scoreless in the sixth.
 
Sycamore reliever Tyler Grauer (0-1) was charged with the loss after giving up the go-ahead runs in the third. In the outing, Grauer gave up four hits and two runs. Lefty Triston Polley was knocked around for seven runs in 3.1 innings.
 
DBU reliever Dalton Higgins improved to 6-0 on the year after pitching 2.1 scoreless innings after ISU hit Patriots starting pitcher Ray Gaither for eight runs in 2.1 innings.
 
The Tree struggled with men on, stranding 10 in the game. Senior Tony Rosselli was the only Sycamore to be held hitless, finishing 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.
 
The Sycamores and Patriots will return to the diamond Saturday afternoon in game two of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT from Horner Ballpark. Right-hander Tyler Ward will get the start on the mound for the Sycamores.
 
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